ArcaMax

DEAR HARRIETTE: Recently, I saw that one of my cousins came out on social media. She posted herself and a partner kissing, and a lot of her friends were commenting, congratulating them and admiring their courage.

My cousin is 11. Some of the photos are of her and her partner holding hands, some show kissing and some seem set at home or in their...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: My cousin decided to plan a family reunion this year. We have a large family spread throughout a few states and a few countries. My cousin refused to allow anyone else in the family to help her plan this grandiose reunion, despite several people asking. It was a huge undertaking, and in the end, there were a lot of missteps. Many...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I've been working in tech for the past five years, and I've saved up a decent amount of money with the intention of taking a year off to travel. It's something I've dreamed about for a long time. I want to see the world, experience different cultures and give myself space to reflect on what I really want in life. Lately, though, ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I work remotely, and while I've enjoyed the flexibility and freedom it provides, I've started to feel increasingly isolated and unmotivated. At first, it felt like a dream: no commute, more control over my schedule and the comfort of home. Lately, I've noticed that I'm missing the daily interactions, spontaneous conversations and...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: My aunt is hosting an old friend of hers, "Fran," who moved here for more work opportunities. Fran arrived nearly two years ago as travel nursing became increasingly popular and lucrative in the post-pandemic era. Originally, Fran moved in because she was trying to save money; since my aunt and her husband live by themselves and ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I work in midtown Manhattan, and as you probably know, there was a mass shooting there recently. New York City is known for its chaos, but this still feels so unreal to me. I work in the building immediately next door to the one this gunman targeted. Luckily, I happened to leave work just early enough to avoid the awful ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: Over the past three years, my ex and I have found our way back to friendship. When we first broke up, we left each other alone, which was probably for the best. Lately, we check in from time to time and cheer each other on in new endeavors. About a month ago, I found myself in a jam: My car broke down late at night, and I needed ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: My 13-year-old daughter has recently started refusing to attend family gatherings like birthday parties or Sunday dinners at my parents' house. She says they're "boring, fake and a waste of time." I understand that she's a teenager and trying to find her own identity, but it's really starting to hurt my parents' feelings. They ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: My boyfriend is deeply passionate about international humanitarian work. It's a huge part of who he is and, honestly, one of the reasons I admire and love him so much. Recently, he told me he's planning to move abroad to work in a conflict zone for an extended period. He sees it as an opportunity to make a real impact, and he ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I was skinny for most of my life -- uncomfortably so. Then I had my son, and I gained a lot of weight. It has been more than 20 years, and I have yet to get back to a slim size. To be honest, I am overweight. I feel like I hated how I looked when I was younger because I was too small, and now I'm shy about how I look because I'm ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: A few months ago, I was offered a job abroad in a city where I've always dreamed of living. The position was exciting and well-paying, and it aligned perfectly with my long-term goals. When it came time to decide, I panicked. I worried about being far from my family, not knowing the language and whether I could really handle such...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I'm feeling really terrible because I forgot my best friend's birthday, and now she's not speaking to me. We've been best friends for over 10 years, and I've never missed her birthday before. This year, I ended up working a double shift the day before her birthday, and I was so exhausted that I slept basically the entire next day...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I recently ran my first half marathon, and it was one of the most fulfilling experiences I've ever had. I had been training for months, and over time, running became more than just exercise; it became a passion, a stress reliever and something I truly looked forward to each day. It gave me structure, confidence and a sense of ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: My husband and I recently planned a weekend trip out of town, and we arranged for our children to stay with their aunt, my husband's sister, while we were away. We thought everything was going well until, halfway through our trip, we received a call from her saying that one of our kids had started acting out. She told us that she...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I've been swamped with work. I work in a high-demand environment and have recently been securing a number of new high-end clients. This means early days, late nights and busy lunches. My girlfriend is not happy with how rigorous my work schedule has been these past few months; she's expressed it to me, but I haven't had time to ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I have always prioritized my credit. For our entire relationship, I have known that my fiance has been working on improving his credit, eliminating debts and being more fiscally responsible. Months ago, when he proposed to me, some of my fears came up and we discussed that I'd be more comfortable with a wedding date that's ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: My mom is gearing up for her next big step in life -- RETIREMENT! She couldn't be more excited, and my siblings and I are so happy for her.

So much has been going on in my own life, it didn't cross my mind to plan a proper celebration for her. Earlier this week, my older sister reached out and asked if we should throw a shindig,...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: My best friend and I are roommates. No one told me this might be a risky decision, but I guess I'm learning the hard way. Sometimes she can be moody, and when she gets that way, everyone is subject to her heavy, somber, icy energy. It can be draining. If she has a bad day, she can't conceal it. Maybe she thinks she is hiding it ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: Since I was young, I've found that I've always had strange anxiety-induced habits -- pulling at the edges of my hair, sucking my thumb, picking at scabs, etc. Over time, I'd find a solution, or I'd just sort of grow out of it. At present, I scratch the insides of my palms when I'm nervous, stressed or frustrated. I think I may do...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: My friend and I were watching a reality show where contestants try to find love. At one point, we got into a friendly debate about whether one of the couples on the show was genuinely in love. She was convinced that they were, while I had my doubts and said I didn't think their connection seemed all that real. What started as a ...Read more