You will easily be able to tell dead palm leaves from their brown color and dry texture. Palm leaves can become damaged from a variety of reasons but the most common is because of weather. Be sure to only cut the leaves and do not yet prune the stems or trunk.  Start from the outermost layer of leaves and work your way in. If you want to prune the stem all the way back to the trunk because of damage, you should note that this will probably affect the flowering capability. Cut the stalk with a clean and sharp knife about ½ to 1 inch from the trunk. Regular pruning will allow your banana plant to remain looking lush. Make sure you have waited until you have harvested any fruit and until your plant has flowered before you prune the stem. If any suckers have sprouted away from your main banana plant, you will need to cut them down as they have a tendency to spread. It is suggested to leave at least one main sucker for your actual banana tree. The main stalk is often referred to as the maiden or mother plant. If you have a fruit bearing tree, a stalk will only bear fruit one time.
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One-sentence summary -- Trim any brown dead leaves with garden shears. Use a sharp blade or knife to prune the stem. Cut any suckers that have sprouted.


Combine the sugar and the yeast in a large measuring cup. Add the lukewarm water and stir to combine. Allow the mixture to sit until bubbles begin to form on its surface, about five to ten minutes.  If the mixture does not bubble in this amount of time, your yeast may no longer be alive. Start over with a fresh package of yeast. Make sure the water is not too hot, as this will kill the yeast. If it’s too cold, the yeast will not proof. The water should be warm to the touch.   Empty the dough onto the surface and begin to knead it (see  How to Knead Dough for more instructions). Add more flour as necessary to prevent the dough from sticking. Knead for a couple of minutes, stopping when the dough forms a cohesive mass and becomes shapeable. Form it into a ball. Allow the dough to rise until it has doubled in size.  If you place the bowl in a warm, dry spot in your kitchen it should double in size in several hours. Alternatively, you may place the bowl in your refrigerator and let it double in size overnight. Sprinkle flour over your counter or table and knead the dough again, this time working with it until it becomes elastic and smooth. If you stored the dough in your refrigerator overnight, let it come to room temperature on the counter before you begin the second knead. Allowing it to rise slowly overnight also gives the bread a deeper flavor. Cover with plastic wrap and allow the dough to rise a second in a warm, dry place on the counter. Wait until the dough has expanded over the top of the pan, then remove the plastic wrap. While the dough is rising, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Allow it to cool before turning the bread out of the pan. Serve with butter, or slice into sandwich bread.
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One-sentence summary -- Proof the yeast. Combine the flour and salt in a medium-sized bowl. Add the yeast mixture to the flour mixture and stir to combine with a wooden spoon. Sprinkle flour on your countertop or kitchen table. Place the dough in an oiled bowl and cover it with a kitchen towel. Knead the dough a second time, incorporating the olive oil. Shape the dough into a loaf and place it in an oiled loaf pan. Bake the bread for 40 minutes, or until the top is golden brown.


Know that when a person is jealous of you, it has nothing to do with you and everything to do with them. Be confident in yourself. Don’t allow a jealous person to affect your confidence or to create self doubt.  Keep doing what you're doing, and don't allow others to stop you. Focus on people that support you. Remind yourself that they're jealous because you are doing something well. Although it’s hard to do, ignoring mean comments from jealous people tells them you are not going to validate their feelings. When ignoring someone is not an option, approaching the situation directly may help release the jealous tension. Have a conversation to confront them about their behavior.  "I want to have a positive working relationship; what can I do to help promote that environment?" "While I appreciate your constructive criticisms, I feel that you sometimes come across a little harsh." If you can change your environment or social dynamics it will reduce the jealous person’s ability to influence you.  Hang out with people who support you, so the hater is less likely to confront you when you're with a group. When you see the jealous person, be the first to speak with a polite greeting then move on. Become friends with their friends to make them feel like the outsider. Take a different path when walking, use a bathroom in another hallway, or see if you can switch your schedule to change classes or shifts. Don’t feel like you have to continue to listen to a jealous person vent to you all the time. Set boundaries to distance yourself from the person. Make a mental time limit for how long you will engage with a negative person, then politely excuse yourself from the conversation.  Give yourself 1 minute when you talk to them, then walk away saying "I need to go check something." Keep track of negative comments, and after 3, end the conversation. While you don't want to be rude and upset the person further, making them aware of how they are making you feel may cause them to change their behavior.  "I feel uncomfortable with the way you speak to me." "Your approach when we talk makes me feel bad. Can we change our interactions to be more positive?"
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One-sentence summary --
Avoid taking it personally. Ignore the jealous and hateful comments. Address haters in your daily life head on. Reduce your negative interactions with the person. Change your routine so you don't cross paths with the hater. Set boundaries. Let the person know that you don't appreciate the negativity.