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Furniture, Family and Boundaries

Life Advice / Dear Annie /

Dear Annie: My husband and I recently agreed to sell our old lounge furniture, since we're in the process of buying a new set. We made the decision together, so I assumed we'd also agree on who it would be sold to.

He later called to say he found a buyer, which I was happy to hear -- until he added a twist. The buyer would be paying in ...Read more

Millennial Life: You Cannot Be All Things to People (And That's Okay)

There's a quote that's been following me around lately, showing up in podcasts, books, and the back of my own mind: "You can do anything, but not everything." Supposedly, that's from author David Allen, but it feels like the whispered wisdom of every millennial who's run headlong into the wall of their own limits.

I bounced off that wall again ...Read more

Asking Eric: Parent feels loss when college-aged kids stay away all summer

Life Advice / Asking Eric /

Dear Eric: Summer months are upon us and most students will soon be heading home from college for their vacations, except mine. Every summer since starting college they have worked a summer job that required them to live on-site, a couple hours’ drive away from home.

This year, because that seasonal position was eliminated, they have found a ...Read more

A Father's Day Reflection

Life Advice / Dear Annie /

Dear Readers: Today is Father's Day, a day that means something different to each of us. For some, it is a time to fire up the grill, hand Dad a new set of tools and enjoy the kind of quiet, comfortable time that fathers often prefer. For others, it is a bittersweet day, filled with memories, longing or unresolved emotions. Wherever you find ...Read more

Asking Eric: Grieving a lost pet, letter writer fears being unfair to new pet

Life Advice / Asking Eric /

Dear Eric: I am in my 70s so I should know better. Almost two years ago I had to put my 13-year-old Yorkshire Terrier named Shorty to sleep. This broke my heart.

Within a couple of months, I decided to get another dog, this time a Gold Dust Yorkie named Buddy. I realize now this was such a big mistake. I should not have done this so quickly.

...Read more

Retroactively Regretting a Raving Good Time

Life Advice / Dear Annie /

Dear Annie: Last year, I married the nicest guy I've ever met. I'm 40 and wish I'd met him sooner, but better late than never. On our month-long honeymoon in Europe, we attended a music festival. During the festival, my husband and I saw some other women in pasties, and in a moment of flirting, I did something totally out of character and ...Read more

Asking Eric: Adult children’s fight sours every family gathering

Life Advice / Asking Eric /

Dear Eric: I have three adult children. About three years ago there was an issue, and my oldest, Doug, and middle, Linda, disrespected each other. It wasn't a small issue, but (in my and my wife's opinion) it wasn't a huge offense.

Neither will apologize. They refuse to speak to each other.

We have tried many ways to try and bridge the gap, to...Read more

Tired of Playing by Grandma's Rules

Life Advice / Dear Annie /

Dear Annie: My husband and I have two kids under 5, and we both work full-time. As you can imagine, our lives are pretty hectic. My mother-in-law lives about 30 minutes away and expects us to visit her almost every weekend. If we don't, she lays on the guilt pretty thick -- talking about how she "never sees the kids" or implying we don't value...Read more

Dreamstime/Dreamstime/TNS

Ask Anna: Feeling behind in gay dating? How to date confidently as a newly out adult

Life Advice / Dating Advice /

Dear Anna,

I'm 34 and just came out to myself (and a few close friends) as gay after years of thinking I was just "bad at dating men" or "too picky." Looking back, all the signs were there, but I genuinely thought my lack of attraction to boyfriends was normal and that romantic love was just something that happened in movies. I've spent the ...Read more

Asking Eric: Hoarder’s friend wants to help but doesn’t want to risk causing shame

Life Advice / Asking Eric /

Dear Eric: I have a friend of several decades and recently learned she is a hoarder. We always met outside our homes for coffee or lunch. I just assumed it was more convenient.

A few months ago, she texted to tell me she's been embarrassed for me to find out her "secret". She also asked me for help. I was thrilled and offered to help, but she ...Read more

Showing Up After Silence

Life Advice / Dear Annie /

Dear Annie: A couple I've been friends with for over 20 years is about to celebrate their daughter's high school graduation. I recently received an invitation from the daughter, and while I was touched to be included, I'm feeling a little conflicted.

Over the past few years, the parents -- who were once very close to me -- have gradually ...Read more

Single File: Mystery

Life Advice / Single File /

I love mystery. No, not the murder-mayhem crime scene. The mystery that moves me (and maybe you after you consider my words) is the aura, the enchantment and the spell we can weave around ourselves. But before we get to that, know that my kind of mystery has nothing to do with game playing or trickery in relationships; in my value system, they'...Read more

Dreamstime/Dreamstime/TNS

Ask Dating Coach Erika: 'Why did he tell me that on our first date??'

Life Advice / Dating Advice /

I got a question recently from a woman asking me whether she should be concerned that the man she just went out with (he’s 57; she’s 51) had previously been in a relationship with a 23-year-old. My response, based on no additional information about either of them, was: It’s unclear.

To be honest, it was less the age gap that raised a red ...Read more

Asking Eric: ‘Goody-two-shoes’ sister rejected by drug-addicted sibling

Life Advice / Asking Eric /

Dear Eric: My sister suffers from alcoholism and drug addiction from way back. I am the exact opposite of her in almost every way – rarely drink, never do drugs. She perceives me to be a “goody-two-shoes,” and I was given a nickname of “miss maturity” by her and other siblings. It was not a positive nickname.

She is my only sister. I ...Read more

Learning to Love From Afar

Life Advice / Dear Annie /

Dear Annie: I'm 63 years old, and I live alone in a quiet little house with my dog, Rosie. I like to sit on the porch in the evenings and watch the sun go down, but lately the silence feels heavier than it used to.

My daughter, who is in her 30s, moved to Texas with her husband about a year ago -- and since then, she hasn't spoken to me. Not ...Read more

Asking Eric: Uncle’s ‘joking’ text to niece offends mom

Life Advice / Asking Eric /

Dear Eric: I’m married with four kids and have a sizable extended family. One son, who is in seventh grade, runs track and finished the season with personal records in his events, which also happen to place second in his school’s all-time best records.

I sent out a family text to all of our extended family raving about his achievements. ...Read more

It's Never Too Late for Love

Life Advice / Dear Annie /

Dear Annie: I've had dogs all my adult life, and I've always dreaded the moment they start to slow down. That fear of the inevitable was especially strong after my divorce, when I began living alone with the three dogs my ex-wife insisted I take. One passed away peacefully just three months later, as if to spare me the pain of a final trip to ...Read more

Asking Eric: Letter writer can’t get answers about friend’s death

Life Advice / Asking Eric /

Dear Eric: Via complete happenstance I have recently become aware of my oldest friend's death about a year ago. Mary and I grew up across the street from one another in the ’60s and ’70s. I played with her and with her older brother as kids, and our families were close.

She had been my friend for about 60 years.

I have been desperate to ...Read more

Family Means Showing Up

Life Advice / Dear Annie /

Dear Annie: My husband and I have been married for nearly 39 years. He has always had a tendency to put himself first -- even before our sons, and now even our toddler grandson -- but I'm at my wits' end over his latest act of selfishness.

His only sister recently suffered a traumatic fall. She was airlifted to a trauma center with a ...Read more

Millennial Life: Ni De Aqui, Ni De Alla

I'm flying home in two weeks, and for the first time, I'm apprehensive. This time, I'm an official delegate representing one of my homes to another. Representing countries is a role I've had my entire life, but this has brought up an identity crisis that I had smothered with work, raising kids, and even running for office. It's thinking about ...Read more

 

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