The Gift of Gab: Learning to Talk to Each Other Again
Social skills need a refresh after the isolation of the pandemic? Guest contributor Cindy La Ferle talks about the skills that will give you the gift of gab.
Quarantine Fatigue: Single, No Work and No Travel
Like many of us feeling a sense of quarantine fatigue, a 60-year-old reader feels alone while maintaining social distance with no end in sight.
Is It Disloyal To Talk To A Friend’s Enemy?
I pride myself in being a loyal, good friend. However, recently I have run into a problem. I don’t know how to handle myself in the company of people that my close friends consider their “enemies.”
Slowly Being Excluded From An Adult Clique: What Could Have Happened?
I am looking for some advice on adult female friendship cliques. If the group matters, it’s best to find out why.
When A Friend Asks A Favor, Are We Obliged To Say Yes?
When a friend asks a favor, a true friend will be open to your response rather than assume that you’ll say yes. They will also be ready to accept no for an answer.
My Friend Suddenly Shut Me Out of Her Life
I have a friend that I felt was my best friend. She was in my wedding and we were pretty much attached at the hip. She called me a couple times a day, texted me, hung out with me or talked to me online (Facebook, AIM) almost every day.
A Reader Asks: Is This Lifelong Friendship Toxic?
A discordant lifelong friendship extending over decades between two “third-age” friends falls apart and one woman wants out.
Getting Over A Friendship With A Next-Door Neighbor
A woman asks what to do after a friendship with a next-door neighbor goes sour and she has to come face-to-face with her all the time.
Retired and Feeling Disconnected
Many people are feeling disconnected during the pandemic. This retired therapist has lost her friends and seeks advice.
Would Life Be Sweeter In A Coronavirus Bubble? It Depends.
To help allay the isolation and anxieties associated with the pandemic, some people are creating or joining a coronavirus bubble.
What Do You Do When An Online Friendship Begins To Feel Creepy?
A teenager is involved in an awkward online friendship that is making her feel increasingly uncomfortable. She asks what to do.
Pandemic-Related Losses: How To Show A Friend You Care
A reader wonders how to respond to friends experiencing pandemic-related losses. QUESTION I have several friends right now who are going through VERY trying situations. In a few instances, I’ve sent people emails expressing my commiseration but I’m wondering what, if anything, to do next when I don’t hear back from them. Do you think […]
Recent Posts
My Clingy Friend Calls Me Too Often
Having a clingy friend can be very stressful and demanding. You need to decide whether you want to keep the friendship on the same track or make some changes. QUESTION Hi Irene, My clingy friend calls me too often, a minimum of ten times per day! I have done the whole “I’m busy, my grandson […]
The Trauma Queen Always Has A Calamity To Share
A group of women doesn’t know how to handle a “trauma queen” amongst them who consistently dominates conversations with her problems.
My Friend Is Avoiding Me: What Can I Do?
When a close friend is avoiding you, it’s hard not to take it personally but that may not be the case. Try to find out what might be causing her to withdraw.
