Life Advice
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Asking Eric: Nephew plans wedding for same weekend as relative’s milestone birthday party
Dear Eric: Our family will be celebrating our mother’s 100th birthday this fall. We were planning on having an open house to include my mom’s only living sister, family and community neighbors to honor a 100-year legacy that doesn’t happen for everyone.
My niece’s son proposed to his girlfriend in February and decided to set a wedding ...Read more
Spring Has Sprung
Dear Readers: Wishing you and your families a very happy Easter and Passover. Spring is a time to get outdoors and play. It is a time for new beginnings and fresh starts. It is a time when the flowers begin to bloom and kittens are born. Below are some of my favorite poems about spring and joy and the innocence and beauty of childhood.
"Spring"...Read more

Asking Eric: Readers share ways to talk about a child after loss
Dear Readers: On March 16, I shared a letter from “Mother of Three,” who lost her daughter five years ago and felt unsure about how to respond when people ask, “how many children do you have?” A number of readers wrote in with thoughtful and empathetic suggestions. I’d like to share four with you today.
Dear Eric: I lost my beautiful,...Read more
When a Snub Becomes a Breaking Point
Dear Annie: My daughter-in-law and I have never had a good relationship, but we tolerate each other because of my son.
I have tried to be a good mother-in-law. I never visit unannounced. When my DIL had surgery for breast cancer, I took her to her appointments, and I was even the one to go with her when she rang the bell at the end of her ...Read more

Asking Eric: In-law’s demands test family patience
Dear Eric: I would like to get along better with my niece's wife, and I'm hoping you might offer some strategies.
The wife's a nice person, but she's high maintenance in ways that make whatever group she's in bend to keep her comfortable. The boat tour has to go a certain speed, so she doesn't get queasy. She has to drive whatever car she's in,...Read more
Seeing the Red Flags She Can't
Dear Annie: My best friend, "Claire," has been dating her boyfriend, "Jay," for three years. I really liked him when they first started dating, but lately, she's been confiding in me about some things that are making me a little nervous. For example: Jay goes through her phone, gets angry when she spends time with friends and even will ...Read more

Asking Eric: Professor asked to eulogize difficult former colleague
Dear Eric: I am retired after 40 years of teaching at the same institution. Recently,
a former colleague of mine died. I was never close to this woman, but we were in the same department and had to collaborate on many projects and initiatives. Dealing with her was a challenge, but I tried my best to be professional. She was often unpleasant to ...Read more
I'm Always There for Her -- but What About Me?
Dear Annie: My best friend, "Sarah," and I have been close since college, but lately, our friendship feels one-sided. She's going through a rough time; she broke up with her boyfriend, she hates her job and she's been struggling with anxiety. I've been there for her every step of the way, listening to her vent, offering advice and checking in ...Read more
Single File: The Second Look
Admit it. You've been bowled over by the good looks and smooth manner of someone who shall remain nameless. Who among us hasn't been?! But the last time your eyes locked with his/hers, it just wasn't the same celebration; sparks refused to fly. And there you were, in the middle of a perfectly scrumptious fantasy, when that old devil Reality came...Read more

Ask Anna: Breaking free from emotionally exhausting relationships
Dear Anna,
Hi Anna. I’m 40 years old and single. I met someone over a year ago. Things started off well. She mentioned that she wants to spend time together, but when the time comes around I get a reason as to why she can’t make it and it's a repeat process. I feel like I’m being dragged around. What should I do? — Looking At Some ...Read more

Word nerds unite: A great way to meet a date
Every May, I fly from New York to Austin, Texas, to compete in the annual O. Henry Pun-Off World Championships. Yes, this is a thing … and it’s serious. I’ve now attended five times and have twice come home with a third-place medal and once with a first-place trophy. Win or lose (though hopefully win — fingers crossed!), I know I’m ...Read more

Asking Eric: Fiancé’s freeloading daughters are blocking marriage
Dear Eric: I am a 62-year-old woman engaged to a 59-year-old man. He is my best friend. The problem? His 25- and 29-year-old daughters do not work or contribute to the household at all. They stay up all night and play games and sleep all day. Thankfully, I have my own home. I refuse to marry him until these "lumps" move out.
We have been ...Read more
Invisible at the Office
Dear Annie: I'm struggling with something at work that's starting to affect not just my motivation but also my self-worth.
My boss has taken credit for my work on several occasions. These aren't minor tasks; I'm talking about full-scale projects I've managed from start to finish, ideas I've brainstormed and developed, and presentations I've ...Read more

Asking Eric: Coworker’s outfits create conversation, but HR won’t help
Dear Eric: A woman who works for me dresses in a provocative fashion. We work in a formal professional setting. She wore a black lace dress with cleavage on a Monday and I blurted out “boy, you’re dressed up for a Monday!” Her response was that she had a date that night.
I get complaints from coworkers that her flesh-baring outfits are ...Read more
Owed Money, Lost Sleep
Dear Annie: I have a close friend I care about a lot, but there's something that's starting to get under my skin -- and I'm not sure if I should say something or let it slide.
Whenever we go out -- whether it's lunch, drinks or concerts -- we usually agree to split the cost. But somehow, I always end up paying more. She's "forgotten her ...Read more

Asking Eric: Friend refuses to get medical care, despite scary symptoms
Dear Eric: I have a friend who I've known since childhood. Our relationship has always been platonic. Through the years we have gone our separate ways but always stayed in touch. I was living in another state when he had and beat cancer.
I've been back in my hometown for a few years now and have spent quite a lot of time with him doing things ...Read more
Making Peace Without Answers
Dear Annie: My husband hasn't heard a word from his mother in over 20 years -- not even after the deaths of two of her sons. She's now 94, and we recently heard she's still alive, still isolated, and still unwilling to speak to him or anyone else in the family.
It breaks my heart. I remember the early years of our marriage -- sending her ...Read more
Millennial Life: Tugging at the Same Roots
I waited to return her call until I had all the information I could get. Unfortunately, the ultimate why for the destruction of the trees was beyond my reach.
She left a message in a resigned panic. She couldn't stop those cutting down the old mesquite trees, even though she tried to reach out to the postmaster at two of the post offices in ...Read more

Asking Eric: Infidelity makes wedding weekend an awkward affair
Dear Eric: It has recently come to light that the father of my goddaughter has been cheating on his wife for almost the entirety of their 30-year marriage. For some reason, the wife has decided to stay with this man. My goddaughter’s destination wedding is coming up soon. I don’t want to be in a room with this man, let alone hug or converse ...Read more
The Quiet Signs of Emotional Abuse
Dear Annie: My mom and I read your column every day, and we always find your advice thoughtful and compassionate. Lately, I've been thinking about something I witnessed years ago while working in a shelter for abused women. It's stayed with me -- the way emotional abuse often begins so subtly, with little comments that chip away at someone's ...Read more