ArcaMax

DEAR HARRIETTE: I have a close friend who is always upbeat, kind and full of energy, which is why I was surprised when she recently confided in me that she has been struggling with her mental health. She didn't go into too much detail, but I could tell that it's been weighing on her for a while.

I want to be a good friend and offer her the ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I recently broke up with my boyfriend, and even though I know it was the right decision, I can't seem to stop thinking about him. We were together for a long time, and he was a big part of my daily life. Now that he's gone, everything feels empty. I keep catching myself wanting to text him, wondering what he's doing and replaying...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: My boyfriend recently proposed to me, and I said no -- not because I don't want to marry him, but because of how he did it. He proposed at a baseball game in front of a huge crowd, and it felt completely wrong for me. I don't even like sports, and he knows that.

I've always dreamed of a more intimate and meaningful proposal, ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: All of my friends are into running, and lately they've been talking about training for a marathon together. They keep encouraging me to join them, saying it would be an amazing challenge, a great bonding experience and something I'd feel proud of accomplishing. The problem is that I hate running. I've never enjoyed it, and I have...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I'm getting out of prison soon, and I'm worried about what comes next. When I left home, things were a bit rocky with my family. Some people have stayed in touch, and others created distance, but I wonder if there is space for reconciliation. I am truly sorry for any difficulty I have caused my family. How can my family and I ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: A woman at my job has been giving me hell. She works nonstop. She's often sending emails at 9 p.m. or 4 a.m. -- and she actually expects a response! Recently she chewed out one of my colleagues because she requested something at 6 a.m. and didn't hear back until 8 a.m., which is still outside of our normal business hours. It may ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I've been dating my boyfriend for over a year now, and we get along great in most areas. However, I've noticed that we have different approaches to money. I'm focused on saving, investing and planning for the future, while he prefers to live in the moment and spend freely. He likes to buy random infomercial items off of the ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I think one of my friends might be working for a pyramid scheme. I can't be sure, but he basically plays the role of a financial adviser and "helps" people invest their money. When they turn a profit, he gets a percentage. The more they invest, the more he gets paid. He offered me his services recently -- encouraging me, really ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I recently went to see a musical that I had been looking forward to for months. The theater was packed, and the performance was absolutely amazing. About halfway through the show, though, I realized I needed to use the restroom. I tried to hold it until intermission, but eventually I just couldn't wait any longer. Since the ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: Our daughter wants to go away for a study-abroad program this summer. She is in high school, and her only real experience being away from home is the occasional sleepover and sometimes spending a week with her grandparents. Yes, my husband and I are very protective of her. Plus, she hasn't expressed interest in summer camp or ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I currently live with my boyfriend -- in part because I have nowhere else to go. When we were first dating, I was living alone, but about two years into our relationship I lost my job, and my boyfriend graciously invited me to move in with him. At the time, it felt OK. I didn't like being in a position of need, but that aside, ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I bought property a few years ago. I'm not happy about how my Realtor operated during that initial transaction, but I kept working with her. She has now asked me to share her details on my personal social pages to help her get more business. Honestly, I wouldn't recommend her if someone asked me privately, so I don't care to ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: About a month ago, I accidentally got my friend sick. I had a bad cold and didn't realize how contagious I was until she caught it from me. Unfortunately, her symptoms were even worse than mine. She had a high fever and was completely out of commission for days. The worst part is that she was supposed to go on a vacation she had ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: My neighbor sometimes seeks out my husband before she thinks to call me. She is a bit older than me and my husband, and we've been friends for the past 20 years or so, but I wonder why she is so fond of my hubby. She and I hang out sometimes, too, but the other night she seemed to be feeling ill and asked my husband to stop by ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: There is someone in my life I care about deeply. She is kind to me and encourages me to pursue my dreams, travel more, explore new hobbies and a whole lot more. I show up for her, too, and do my best to be supportive, but I struggle with romance and affection. I've never been good at those things, and it never felt like a ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: Last month, I received some concerning news about my health, and it made me realize that I need to take better care of myself. I want to start working out, meditating and eating healthier, but honestly, I don't know where to begin. The idea of completely changing my lifestyle feels overwhelming, and I've never been great at ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: My husband and I have been blessed with five children. When we got married, we didn't plan for this many. We've decided that we are happy with our family size as is and do not want to have any more children. We both had the bright idea that the other person should undergo the necessary procedure to make that happen. Since we ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I am going through a tough time emotionally. My mom is in hospice care, which means she is nearing the end of her life. We are very close. It is obvious that she has a limited time to live, but it's still hard to witness.

When I talk to friends about it, I realize that most people don't listen. I have called my closest friends ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I threw my 2-year-old daughter a birthday party last week and invited my husband's family and my family. I was so excited to have everyone together to celebrate, but the day quickly turned stressful when our mothers got into a heated argument. It started as a few passive-aggressive comments, but it escalated when my mother-in-law...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I am the mother of a wonderful, bright and kindhearted 10-year-old daughter who is autistic. She is creative and has a deep passion for animals and art, but she struggles with social interactions. Making friends has never been easy for her, and now that she's in a new school, it seems even harder. She tells me often that other ...Read more