life

Reader Questions Whether to Confront Former Boss

Sense & Sensitivity by by Harriette Cole
by Harriette Cole
Sense & Sensitivity | April 11th, 2018 | Letter 1 of 2

DEAR HARRIETTE: As so many Me Too stories are coming to light, I have remembered what happened to me at my job years ago. When a superior tried to force me to be intimate with him, I told my boss -- each time. I didn’t get much help, though. In the end, I avoided him until I stopped working there.

Now that people are talking about their experiences, I want to add my voice to the conversation. This man is retired now, but I know how to reach him. Do you think I should write him a letter or contact him in any way to tell him how much he violated me back in the day? I am not interested in money or anything. -- Me Too, Baltimore

DEAR ME TOO: It is true that this movement to hold (primarily) men accountable for sexual misconduct has reached a loud roar in our culture. As a result, many people are remembering and speaking up. It is good for you to get it out so that you can purge yourself from this bad experience.

Approaching the man who violated you is tricky. You must figure out what you want out of it. If speaking about what happened to you is enough, send the letter. It is unlikely that he will respond. If you can find his phone number, you may get more satisfaction from saying it to him and hearing any reaction he may have. Sadly, many men who engage in this behavior never admit their sins.

life

Sense & Sensitivity for April 11, 2018

Sense & Sensitivity by by Harriette Cole
by Harriette Cole
Sense & Sensitivity | April 11th, 2018 | Letter 2 of 2

DEAR HARRIETTE: I’ve been dating a woman for about a year and a half. I like her enough to marry her, and I have told her as much. We are both in our 40s. That’s why I don’t like playing games. She, however, has been doing some things that bother me. For example, she never identifies herself as being in a relationship on social media, even though she posts regularly, often with sexy pictures of herself. I’m not trying to control her or anything, but it seems weird to me that she says we are close and that she wants to be committed to me, but the commitment is never public in the social media stratosphere. I feel funny about that. I don’t want a wife in private who acts like she's single in public. What can I do? -- Claiming My Lady, Shreveport, Louisiana

DEAR CLAIMING MY LADY: When you consider marrying someone, you need to figure out if this person is compatible with you and if she shares your values. A shared life has many twists and turns, but if you don’t start out on the same page, it will be very difficult to find comfort together down the line.

The new frontier of social media is alluring to some people and distressing to others. Some use it as a place to play out their alter ego’s fantasies. If that is what your girlfriend is doing, you have a problem, especially if she is not including you in that fantasy. Talk with her about your concerns. Ask her to explain why she is making these choices and what she wants for the future. Tell her that if you two plan to marry, you think it’s important that you agree on many things, including social media use.

(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.)

life

Underemployed Reader Worried Girlfriend Will Leave

Sense & Sensitivity by by Harriette Cole
by Harriette Cole
Sense & Sensitivity | April 10th, 2018 | Letter 1 of 2

DEAR HARRIETTE: I feel like I never catch a break. I have a low-paying job, debt from school loans and bad choices, and a car that is cutting out on me. I could keep going, but it gets depressing just thinking about it. I have cut back my expenses dramatically since I have had this job, but I can’t seem to get out of the hole. Just trying to pay minimums on my credit cards is close to impossible.

I have a girlfriend, and I can hardly take her out on dates. I know I got myself into this situation, but it makes me so sad. I feel like if I don’t get it together, she is going to leave me. I try to put on a good face, but who am I fooling? I am tired of pretending like it’s getting better when it isn’t. I don’t have the skills to get a better-paying job right now. What can I do to turn the corner? -- Drowning in Debt, Denver

DEAR DROWNING IN DEBT: You have taken the first step by admitting your problem. The next step is taking action. You can get support to help figure out a path to financial freedom by engaging a credit counseling service. Often, it will look at your finances and recommend debt consolidation that it negotiates on your behalf to drive down interest rates. The challenge with this is that your credit will be frozen during the period that you are paying down your debt. The good news is that when it’s finished, you will be able to rebuild your credit starting with a clean credit history. To learn more, go to advantageccs.org/services/online-credit-counseling.

One other thing you can consider is to get a second, part-time job to supplement your income. Many people work two jobs to make ends meet. You will have to deal with time management challenges, but you can figure that out, too.

life

Sense & Sensitivity for April 10, 2018

Sense & Sensitivity by by Harriette Cole
by Harriette Cole
Sense & Sensitivity | April 10th, 2018 | Letter 2 of 2

DEAR HARRIETTE: In a recent column, you advised a woman with a drug-addict boyfriend to attend Al-Anon, which you said was for people with a relationship with an alcoholic and/or drug addict. It is not. It is for families and friends of alcoholics. For families and friends of drug addicts, there is Nar-Anon; for drug addicts, there is Narcotics Anonymous. -- Clarification, Memphis, Tennessee

DEAR CLARIFICATION: Thank you for letting us know about the support groups available for drug addicts and families and friends of drug addicts. I do know that in some instances, Al-Anon has helped people whose loved ones were drug addicts, but I believe it may have been because they were alcoholics, too. Nonetheless, it is helpful to be specific in directing folks to resources that can help them. I appreciate your writing in.

For anyone who is suffering from substance abuse, I urge you to get help. You do not have to travel this journey alone. Same goes for families who are struggling with loved ones who can’t seem to get clean. Being isolated can be disabling. Get help. You deserve it.

(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.)

life

Mess Reader Unsure About Inviting Over Next-Door Neighbor

Sense & Sensitivity by by Harriette Cole
by Harriette Cole
Sense & Sensitivity | April 9th, 2018 | Letter 1 of 2

DEAR HARRIETTE: My neighbor recently had a baby, and I am so happy for her. I like her a lot and want to support her, but I do not want to invite her to my apartment. As much as I try, I am not neat -- my friends even call me a hoarder. My common areas are clean enough, but I am still embarrassed to invite her over.

Because my neighbor is staying at home, she has asked in one way or another for us to get together. I feel like it’s odd that I don’t extend an invitation to my place. Should I invite her over and let her decide? I am super private. I’m also always thinking I will get it together one day and have a tidy house. But right now, my next-door neighbor needs me. Should I open my door? -- Pre-Hoarder, Brooklyn, New York

DEAR PRE-HOARDER: Here is a perfect opportunity for you to face your demons as you reach out to your neighbor. You have not described the degree of your hoarding. If you believe that your home is unsafe for a child, it would be wise for you to get help to clear out your home so that you can safely invite a family with an infant to visit. If you are just messy, you can be honest with your neighbor and tell her that you want to invite her over, but you are concerned that your home might not be clean enough. Suggest that she come by alone first. If she thinks your common area is acceptable, you can invite her to bring her baby over.

Mothers with newborns need connection. If your home is not an unhealthy environment for her and the baby, your neighbor may be able to look past the mess.

life

Sense & Sensitivity for April 09, 2018

Sense & Sensitivity by by Harriette Cole
by Harriette Cole
Sense & Sensitivity | April 9th, 2018 | Letter 2 of 2

DEAR HARRIETTE: I referred my cousin to a company for work because she was out of a job and I knew she would do great work for them. She was hired, and she has done well. Her problem is that the employer doesn’t pay minimum wage, even though the job calls for a professional employee. She likes the work, but is barely scraping by. Whenever she approaches her boss about overtime or her salary, she gets the brush-off. Her boss says that she is being ungrateful and maybe she should leave. That sounds like a threat to me. I want to complain on her behalf, but I know she needs the work. How can I help her? -- Helping My Cousin, Syracuse, New York

DEAR HELPING MY COUSIN: Your cousin should think about her next job even as she considers lobbying for better wages at her current job. Standing up for yourself is part of the American way, yet it is often incredibly difficult. If your cousin can gather facts and figures to tell her boss why she deserves more pay, she can present that. Even better would be for her to find another job where she feels secure and respected.

It is the law that all employees, except those who make tips, are paid minimum wage, so long as the business earns more than $500,000 per year or if any transactions occur across state lines. For more information, go to dol.gov/general/topic/wages/minimumwage.

(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.)

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