DEAR HARRIETTE: On my daily walk to work, missionaries stand on the sidewalk and attempt to convert anyone they can by handing out pamphlets. I really don't ever want to have conversations about religion, especially at 8:45 in the morning. I have been struggling to find a way to show I do not want to speak to or support them, but I always get lured into a conversation. I don't want to be rude and start a fight, but I also don't want to waste time pretending to be converted on the sidewalk. -- No Chit-Chat, Denver

DEAR NO CHIT-CHAT: It is time for you to toughen up. Just because those missionaries are hanging out on a sidewalk that's part of your daily path, it does not mean that you have to talk to them. You do not even have to make eye contact. There is no rule of social engagement that says that you have to speak to anyone on the street.

That said, it is friendly to acknowledge the people who cross your path. In many cities, the common way of doing this is to smile and sometimes nod your head. You may feel more comfortable doing that rather than averting your eyes. But if one of these missionaries -- or anybody else for that matter -- tries to stop you in your tracks and have a prolonged interaction, just don't do it. Keep walking. You can say, "I don't have time to talk now." You can also tell them that you aren't interested. That is not rude. That is you asserting your rights.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I always had a hard time going to sleep until I finally began shutting off my electronics an hour before bed. It's a rough transition in the age of social media where we constantly try to stay connected, but it makes a world of difference when I am all wound down and ready for bed. My husband, however, has a stressful job and stays on his phone sending out last-minute emails up until the moment he falls asleep. Although the light from his phone bothers me, I am more worried about his quality of sleep. How can I get him on the same sleeping path as me so we can both wake up rested? -- Digital Age, Seattle

DEAR DIGITAL AGE: Without badgering your husband, you can share stories with him of how your sleep and energy have improved ever since you shut off your electronics in advance of preparing for bed. Suggest to your husband that he try it out for a week as an experiment. Acknowledge that you know how busy he is and how much pressure he is under at his job. Suggest that he may actually be able to do his job better if he allows his mind and body the time to recharge each night without electronic distractions.

Do your best not to push him on this. If he refuses, you may want to tell him that the constant light flickering from his devices is distracting to you. You can ask him to limit his usage in the bedroom because it is interrupting your sleep.

(Harriette Cole is a life stylist 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 Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)

DEAR HARRIETTE: My son has been involved in musical theater from a very early age. He is 10 now and wants to create social media accounts. I believe his accounts should be made private because he is so young and you never know who is lurking on the internet. He thinks he should have public social media accounts so he can be discovered. My son's dreams of being on Broadway are important to me; however, his safety should always come first. Am I making too big a deal about this? My husband says they should be public accounts so they'd be like a virtual resume. -- Public or Private, Detroit

DEAR PUBLIC OR PRIVATE: Striking a balance between privacy and safety and opportunity can be tough. Your job, of course, is to figure it out for your child. What some families of child actors do is to create a stage name for their children that is different from the child's given name. Yes, the child's likeness will be out there, but being able to physically find the child becomes a bit more difficult if his identity is different.

You should check with SAG-AFTRA to see when you should register your child's proper name for professional reasons. But in terms of creating some form of protection between him and the outside world, a stage name may work. You should also make it clear that you will regularly access and review any and all content on your son's social media accounts, even as he gets older. Don't simply tell him you will do this. You must go in periodically and look at his interactions so that you truly do know who is contacting him.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I am a 19-year-old college student who is 6 feet tall. Although you probably imagined a male, I am actually a very tall woman. Because of my height, I can't wear heels to dates, parties or formals. I always feel so casual wearing flats, and everyone else looks so fancy in their heels. Finding a guy taller than me is hard enough, yet I also have to struggle with finding appropriate shoes. How can I find dress-up shoes that don't have a heel? -- Gumby, Miami

DEAR GUMBY: I want to encourage you to embrace your height. As odd as that may seem right now, I can assure you -- from one tall woman to another -- that the sooner you revel in your height, the less of a big deal it will be, whether men are taller than you or not. Really! Many loving couples feature women who are taller than their men. You may end up being one of those people.

To that end, don't limit yourself to flat shoes. Consider kitten heels, which are typically very low but come in dressy styles, or even higher heels. So what if you gain a little height? As far as flat shoes go, there are options with sparkles and metallic leather, including ballet flats that look dressy. If you also have long feet, check out www.longtallsally.com for ideas. Or Google your size and preferred shoe style and enjoy exploring the many options that come up.

(Harriette Cole is a life stylist 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 Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)

DEAR HARRIETTE: After upping my fiber intake following a trip to my doctor, I have been having a very rumbly stomach. I need to pass gas much more frequently than in the past. I've been eating a ton of beans and broccoli, so my weight is going down, but my embarrassment has been going up. Sometimes I cannot even excuse myself. What can I do about this completely mortifying problem? My doctor did not tell me to expect this. -- Toot Trouble, Brooklyn, New York

DEAR TOOT TROUBLE: The first thing you should do is call your doctor. Check in with him and describe exactly what your diet has been, including what the increase in fiber has been. Your doctor may choose to have you modify the quantity of fiber that you are consuming.

You should also drink a lot of water. In order for the fiber and nutrients to move through your body easefully, you need to be properly hydrated. Adding fiber without balancing that addition with at least an equal amount of water could be clogging your system rather than helping it to cleanse.

Finally, do some research on fiber sources. Beans are known to produce gas for many people. Look for foods that are gentler on your system that will lead to the same goal.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I have been working at my current company for a few months now. Recently, my boss CC'd me on an email describing a work trip to China. I am ecstatic about this opportunity; however, I've never taken a professional trip. How can I make sure I don't make any rookie mistakes when traveling overseas? The trip is for a week and would include three employees plus my boss. -- International Success, Chicago

DEAR INTERNATIONAL SUCCESS: What an exciting time this is for you! To prepare for your trip, start with your boss. Ask to have a brief meeting to talk about the trip. Come with a list of questions about how the meetings will be run, what the expectations will be of you, and whether there are any social customs that your boss feels are important for you to know and follow.

From there, do your own research. Read about cultural mores in China, particularly in the town that you will be visiting. Learn about food delicacies, greetings, dining etiquette, business etiquette and professional attire. Check in with your HR department to learn if there are any guidelines in place that your company typically follows. The more questions you ask, the more you will learn.

When you are on your trip, take your cues from your boss. Be observant. Notice how your colleagues interact with your local hosts and business colleagues. Be bright and friendly. If you do make mistakes, which is quite common, stay pleasant and willing to learn the appropriate way to handle a situation. It's not as important for you to make no mistakes. It is important for you to recover from them with grace and dignity.

(Harriette Cole is a life stylist 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 Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)