DEAR HARRIETTE: My wife and I work for companies that require us to travel 85 percent of the year, and we rarely see each other. Last week I saw my wife a total of five hours. We are feeling the strain of not being together, and I am looking for solutions. What are some ways my wife and I can maximize our moments together? -- On the Road Again, Brooklyn, N.Y.

DEAR ON THE ROAD AGAIN: You and your wife need to get organized. Review your schedule for the next three months. Write down everywhere you know you will be, including when you both will be at home. Figure out if you can visit each other at any of your business stops along the way. Schedule phone calls and Skype times so you are sure to communicate every day. By all means, schedule a vacation when you can be together without the pressure of work.

Looking at the big picture, determine together how long you believe you can live with this extreme travel schedule. Some couples are able to manage for years. Others buckle under the pressure of not being together very often. You two will have to figure out how well you are managing with so much time apart. Check in regularly to ensure that you both continue to be comfortable with the decisions that you make.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I received a phone call from a former business partner a few weeks ago. He is interested in having me work with him on a project that has the potential to be very lucrative. The offer sounds interesting, but I have some major reservations about working with him again. My friend told me to give him call in two weeks with an answer, and I am planning to decline his offer. I am worried that our relationship as friends will be strained because of my declining the offer. How can I make sure our friendship will be undamaged? -- Unfriended, Queens, N.Y.

DEAR UNFRIENDED: Business is business. Speak to your friend directly about your decision not to work on the project with him. Be clear that you do not want to work on this project and out of respect for him you want to let him know right away. Thank him for extending the invitation to you.

You can never control how people will respond to you. You can improve your chances of having a positive outcome, though, by being forthright and kind as you communicate with him. Tell him you value your relationship too much to be indecisive, and this particular project is not right for you at this time. If he has a problem with that or tries to persuade you further, stick to your decision. If you can think of someone to refer him to who may be interested, do that. But do not give in. Trust your instincts. Time will tell whether he gets over it or not.

DEAR HARRIETTE: My boyfriend and I have been together for about five months. He works from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. I've been friends with his brother for five years and with his sister-in-law for 20 years. His brother and I almost dated a few years ago, and his sister-in-law and my boyfriend dated in the past. Every time I go over to their house to hang out with them while he's at work, he seems to get upset about it. They have children around my daughter's age, so she can play with her friends. I've asked him what his problem is with me going over when he's at work, and he said he doesn't have a problem with it. I don't go over when he's home because I want us to have alone time then. I'm not sure whether to see them anymore or not. -- Torn, Shreveport, La.

DEAR TORN: It sounds like your combined relationships with your boyfriend's family are layered, to say the least. Your boyfriend may consciously or even unconsciously be a bit concerned that you being at their home without him may lead to some kind of intimacy. Is that a fair concern? Who knows?

Out of respect for him, you should honor his wishes and not go over there right now. Instead, go with him the next time you are together. Even though it seems counterintuitive, it isn't. Give up a little alone time to spend as a family with your daughter and all of them. Let your boyfriend get comfortable around everyone. Once he feels at ease, he may change his mind about being OK with you going there without him.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I just read your response to "I Am Not Even Hungry." Although the response was "sensible," I suggest that you investigate the 12-step program Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous.

For those of us who have experienced compulsive eating, it has been the answer to our prayers.

If possible, the best use of your time would be to attend a meeting. There are no fees, weigh-ins or sign-ins, only a request for your first name so we may welcome you.

In the future, we hope you will want to include our website, foodaddicts.org, along with the recommendation to see a doctor. -- In the Know, Ann Arbor, Mich.

DEAR IN THE KNOW: Thank you very much for sharing information on dealing with food addiction. You are absolutely right that 12-step programs can be amazing supports to people who are struggling with a range of addictions. This is true for people with other eating disorders as well.

I hope that anyone who is reading this who is struggling with a food addiction would reach out for help right away. It is possible to beat this illness. Getting help is essential.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I am becoming increasingly lazy. I rarely exercise, and I have lost my motivation to do so. I worry that I will start to get really out of shape. Despite my awareness, I have trouble getting myself up and out to try and stay fit. Other people I know belong to gyms or have personal trainers to motivate them, but I have neither. How can I start a fitness regimen that I will be interested in maintaining? I want to look my best for beach season! -- Fearing the Flab, Bayonne, N.J.

DEAR FEARING THE FLAB: Your first step is to commit to fitness. Next, make a plan that you can do at home. Quite a few cable channels feature exercise programs in the morning. You can follow along with the teacher on such a show to ensure that you are doing the moves correctly and reduce the chance of injury. You can also purchase exercise DVDs at many stores or online. With the support of a virtual teacher, commit to exercising at least three days a week.

Give yourself time benchmarks that will help you stay the course. For example, if you know you are going to the beach on a particular date, mark that on the calendar to help you keep your focus.

If you have a friend in your neighborhood who is also interested in getting fit, you can find out of he or she would like to buddy up with you to walk several days a week as well. You can do it!

DEAR HARRIETTE: I am supposed to speak at my class's graduation, and I don't know where to start. I have written down a speech with various ideas, but I am nervous about them being in a jumble and about my speech not having an impact. I mean, I am not worried about messing up because people will forget about it in a few weeks -- but I am not sure I want people to forget about the speech! I want it to have an important enough impact for them to remember it, but I am not particularly philosophical or profound. I also want it to be light enough for people to laugh. Where do I start? -- Stage Fright, Philadelphia

DEAR STAGE FRIGHT: Start by thinking about the big message you want to share with your class. What stands out for you as emblematic of the class? What are your class strengths? Do your best to remember funny stories and moving moments that you can use to reflect on your time together.

Write an outline for your speech just as you used to do in English class. Build out your thoughts in an organized manner. Sprinkle in humor throughout while maintaining the tenor of the core theme you want to convey. As you write your speech, stick to your outline. Then read it out loud a few times to see if it works as a spoken piece. Ask someone you trust to listen to you to help you edit and refine.