DEAR READERS: Today is Election Day. I feel compelled to write about it, because I know how important it is to make your vote count.

Perhaps the most precious truth about our country is that it is a thriving democracy. The very nature of a democracy is that the people get to choose their leaders. As citizens of the United States, we have a huge stake in who will lead our government and our people.

I would venture to say that this election cycle has brought more awareness to avid news consumers and regular folks who don't pay that much attention to the candidates and their views. Social media and 24-hour cable news programs are likely the reasons that the airwaves are seemingly flooded with political content. I know some people feel overwhelmed by the amount of information out there, while others are tired of the endless flow. Regardless, I urge you to add your voice to the political conversation today -- if you have not voted already.

For generations, activists have fought to extend the right to vote to all people, including women and African-Americans. If you are 18 years old and are an American citizen in good legal standing, you have the right to vote.

Because the presidential race is so tightly contested, it is even more important for you to cast your ballot. Why? Can you imagine how you would feel if your candidate were to lose your state by a dozen votes, and you had stayed home? It really is true that in a race this close, a single vote counts. And if not enough people go out to vote, the man elected as president may not be a true measure of Americans' political pulse. Don't let anything or anyone stand in the way of voting today!

Even more, if you have children, take them with you. I have taken my daughter to the polls since she was born and told her about the process. She is almost 9 now, and she is excited about going into the ballot booth with me. Naturally, today she favors the candidate I favor. But my husband and I have been exposing her to both candidates and sharing their views, so she can learn what they think and what her parents' opinions are of their thoughts.

Our goal is to inspire her to be an independent thinker so that when her time comes, she will be able to make her own decisions and act on them. This is what my parents -- one a Republican, one a Democrat -- did for me. This is what I am passing on to her and recommending to you.

Vote.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I am planning to study abroad in Paris next semester. I have a friend (if you can call her that -- she drives me crazy, but I am nice to her) who keeps asking about where I am studying abroad and wanting to know all the details. I am afraid she will want to do the same program as me.

What should I do or say? I don't want to ignore her, but I don't want her coming with me, either. -- Going Solo, Syracuse, N.Y.

DEAR GOING SOLO: It may be hard for you to hold fast, but I think you are doing the right thing by not telling your friend where you are going. If your gut tells you that she will want to tag along -- and if you don't want that -- don't help her figure it out.

You can tell her that you have decided not to talk about your study plans for next semester. In that way, you aren't lying by saying you don't know yet -- which, by the way, only keeps her asking questions as she tries to find out when you have made up your mind. If she asks why you don't want to talk about it, tell her that you want this experience to be unique for you, and you want to do it alone. It's not being mean to be clear about your intentions. It's actually more unkind to be vague.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I am taking yoga at a new venue that is cheap and easy for me to get to from where I live. I have been going for several weeks. The woman who leads it picks favorites in the class and doesn't acknowledge the rest of us, except to tell us we are doing it wrong. She doesn't even try to learn our names and sticks with the people she knows and likes.

I don't want to quit, but I want to have a positive experience and enjoy going. What should I do? -- Yogi, New York

DEAR YOGI: The point of doing yoga is to have a peaceful, harmonious experience. If you cannot tune out the teacher's favoritism and center yourself while you are at class, you are in the wrong place.

The students your teacher interacts with may have been coming to class for a long time, and so she naturally gravitates toward them. The irony is that yoga is designed to inspire keen awareness, yet your teacher appears to be oblivious that she is playing favorites.

You could speak to the instructor privately and tell her your concerns before giving up. Tell her what you like about the class and the specifics about what bothers you. Apart from that, the good news is that New York City has many yoga studios. Do some digging, and chances are you can find another affordable studio more suited to your demeanor and in line with the spirit of the practice of yoga.

DEAR HARRIETTE: A good friend recently referred me to a therapist. I feel comfortable talking to the therapist, and I've finally been able to talk about some of my issues.

I was feeling really lucky about this, and I mentioned it to my friend. I thanked her for giving me the referral, and then she said, "Oh, yes, she said that you all were having good sessions." My friend went on to mention a particular issue about my life that she said she and the therapist discussed.

I was mortified. It's one thing for me to talk to my friend about my life, but isn't it against the rules for a therapist to talk about what she discusses with her clients?

Now I feel betrayed and don't think I can go back to her, even though she has been really helpful. What should I do? -- Stressed and Betrayed, Detroit

DEAR STRESSED AND BETRAYED: It's great that you are going to a therapist, and it's awful that she overstepped her bounds in discussing your life with your friend. This is true even if your friend brought up the subject. The therapist has a responsibility to tell your friend -- or anyone else -- that your work together is confidential. Nothing else should be said.

But before you leave this relationship, especially since you feel you have benefited from it, speak to your therapist. Tell her that you feel your trust was violated when she talked about your situation with your friend. Ask her what happened. Have her explain herself.

Of course you can get another therapist. But the reason I want you to speak to her is twofold -- you want to find out what she believes happened, and you want to see if there's space for the two of you to move forward. Since you like working with her, it may be possible to continue.

DEAR HARRIETTE: My in-laws called and told me, not my husband, that they are coming to visit for a month at the end of the year. They did not ask. They just said this is how it's going to be. Never mind that there are five of them and four of us, and that we live in a two-bedroom apartment.

How are we going to manage this? I didn't want to say no, nor did I get a chance to say that. But a month is too long for all of us to coexist without some kind of explosion. -- Overwhelmed, Bronx, N.Y.

DEAR OVERWHELMED: Ask your husband for his input. Find out if there is a bed-and-breakfast or other affordable lodging -- likely outside the city -- that you can recommend to them as an option. Call them back and tell them they can visit for a shorter time.

You do not have to agree to their terms simply because they asserted them. Decide with your husband what you can manage, and let them know.