ArcaMax

DEAR HARRIETTE: I've been fasting for years -- sometimes for my faith, sometimes for my health -- and overall, it's been a meaningful practice for me. The structure I follow is usually water or tea throughout the day, then one meal after 6 p.m. The challenge is, I've started to notice that when I go long stretches without food, my mood can shift. I can become irritable or snappy sometimes. I know people joke about being "hangry," but it feels real in my case. It's frustrating because fasting is supposed to center me, not make me short-tempered. Since I plan to continue fasting, I want to find a better way to manage this. How can I regulate my mood and emotions during fasts so that I'm honoring the practice without negatively affecting myself -- or the people around me? -- Hangry

DEAR HANGRY: How often are you fasting? It sounds like you may be overdoing it. You should get a physical. Check in with your doctor or a dietitian to evaluate your intake and how it is affecting your body. Yes, fasting can be great. It is an age-old spiritual practice, but it has its limits. It could be that your fasting practice needs some tweaking.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I have been single for quite some time, and my best friend decided to set me up on a blind date. I was excited to go because my friend keeps only high-quality people around her and what she told me about this man was promising. For our first date, the guy took me to a fancy steakhouse; however, things started to go wrong quickly. First of all, he showed up 30 minutes late and left me sitting in the restaurant alone, feeling both embarrassed and uncomfortable as I waited. I tried to be understanding, thinking maybe something unexpected had come up, but he didn't text or call to let me know he was running behind.

When he arrived, he gave a quick, casual apology, but he didn't seem concerned about how long I had been waiting. He spent a lot of time on his phone, occasionally scrolling or responding to messages, which made me feel like I didn't have his full attention. The conversation felt one-sided, with him talking a lot about himself, his job and his accomplishments, but not asking me many questions in return. I don't want to see him again, but I don't want to offend my friend. How should I tell her I didn't like the man she set me up with? -- Bad Date

DEAR BAD DATE: Stop worrying about your friend and take one more look back at that date. It was disastrous. Unexcused lateness followed by the bravado of an ego display does not make for a great shared experience. Your friend should know how this guy behaves so that she thinks twice before setting him up with anyone else. You can say, "Sorry, I don't have a good report for you about this guy, but I thought you should know." Then proceed to give her the highlights -- or lowlights -- of a date gone wrong.

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(Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams. You can send questions to askharriette@harriettecole.com or c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)

Copyright 2026, Harriette Cole

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