DEAR HARRIETTE: When I was younger, my dad took my siblings and me to church every Sunday. We attended the hourlong mass and then went to Sunday school afterward. I attended a private Catholic elementary school, which incorporated some religious practices into the school curriculum.

I am now 26 years old, and I haven’t gone to church in years. I feel disconnected from my religion, and I want to start attending mass again. I think going to church might help me clear my head -- especially now that I am going through a rough time in my life. How can I get involved in church again? -- Can I Be Religious Again?, Shreveport, Louisiana

DEAR CAN I BE RELIGIOUS AGAIN: It is common for young adults to distance themselves from the religious practices they grew up in, only to come to a moment when they realize that faith is important in their lives. You are at that point, and it is up to you to embrace the religious practice that will support and guide your steps. You have no reason to feel ashamed or uneasy about immersing yourself in your religious practice and getting involved in your faith again.

Pay close attention and learn how to incorporate religious practice into your daily routine. You may want to keep a journal of observations about your life. Take note of how you handle challenging situations and see if incorporating religious rituals helps you to navigate them with greater ease.

DEAR HARRIETTE: My boyfriend and I are just about to graduate from college. We attended different schools, but we both plan to move to New York City after graduation, since that is where both of our jobs are.

Recently, my boyfriend has been making comments about us moving in together once we graduate. As much as I love him, I don’t think I am ready to live with him. I want to experience living in the city with my girlfriends or living on my own. This is not to say that I never want to move in with my boyfriend or that I don’t think it will happen one day; I just don’t think right now is the right time. How do I express my concerns to my boyfriend without making it seem like I am doubting our relationship? -- Don't Want to Live With Boyfriend, Philadelphia

DEAR DON’T WANT TO LIVE WITH BOYFRIEND: Well in advance of moving to New York City, you two should discuss your plans. Have you talked about marriage at all? If you think you will get married, you may want to add that to the discussion and point out that while you plan to spend your lives together, you want to live independent of him first. You want to learn to live on your own before settling down, so you are not ready to live with him yet -- that's all.

(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.)

DEAR HARRIETTE: Next weekend, my girlfriend and I are attending the wedding of one of her college friends. She is a bridesmaid in the wedding alongside some other college friends. I am excited that we are going to a wedding together, but I am also a bit nervous that I don’t know anyone attending besides my girlfriend. Because she is in the wedding party, I know she will be busy for much of the wedding, leaving me alone. Weddings are social events; there is always a lot of small talk and mingling, which is hard to do when you don’t have any mutual friends to speak to. Do you have any advice on how I can be more comfortable at the wedding? -- Loner at a Wedding, Boston

DEAR LONER AT A WEDDING: It is understandable that you are concerned about feeling awkward since you don’t know other guests. One way to help the situation is to have your girlfriend introduce you to the significant others of the rest of the wedding party. There’s a good chance that there are other boyfriends or husbands who will be loners at this party. If the bridesmaids consciously connect all of you, at least you have the bridal party in common. Talking about that can be an icebreaker. Also, during the wedding reception, your girlfriend should not be totally absorbed in wedding details. The bride will be with her husband. The bridesmaids typically will be on call but free to eat, dance and enjoy the reception -- which means being able to spend some time with you.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I am 54 years old. I have been married to the same man for 27 years. We fell out of love about 10 years ago, but still live under the same roof and raise our children together. We are civil toward each other, but we both know that we are not meant to be married. I have not left for financial reasons. When we had our first child, my husband and I decided that I would stay at home and raise the children while he worked. Everything we have is from the money he earned for our family. The house, the car and all of our other belongings are under his name. What should I do? Do I stay married to a man I am estranged from and be financially stable, or divorce him and risk starting from nothing? -- Should I Get a Divorce?, Los Angeles

DEAR SHOULD I GET A DIVORCE?: What you should do is get a good lawyer. In your state, the law suggests that you would split the resources that exist in your family, whether your husband is the principal breadwinner or not. You do not need to stay in a loveless marriage to be financially stable. Talk to an attorney, and figure out how to proceed legally. Know your rights.

You don’t have to ask for a divorce immediately. Instead, talk to your husband about your life and ask him what he wants to do. Tell him your concerns and talk through your options. It may be easier than you think.

(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.)

DEAR HARRIETTE: I found out that my mother-in-law spanked my child. I don't spank my children, and I don't believe in that type of discipline. I asked her to not hit my child, but she keeps finding other ways to discipline, like pinching or plucking his hands when he does something “bad.” I constantly tell her not to use corporal punishment on my son and have given her the ways we discipline him at home, but she thinks they aren't effective.

She is my son’s grandmother, so she thinks she has rights, but she must stop. I need her to respect me and the way I raise my child. How can I get my mother-in-law to stop hitting my child? -- Distressed Daughter-in-Law, Brooklyn, New York

DEAR DISTRESSED DAUGHTER-IN-LAW: It is essential that the ways in which you discipline your children remain consistent among anyone who is allowed to discipline them. Period. That goes for your mother-in-law.

Since your mother-in-law refuses to follow your rules, you may have to limit her interaction with your son. This may seem harsh, but it may be your ultimate recourse. Tell her that if she will not curb her disciplinary tactics, she will not be allowed to be with your son alone anymore. This will horrify her, perhaps enough to get her to stop. If she continues, you will need to follow through until she listens to you.

DEAR HARRIETTE: My boyfriend and I want to move in together, and we both have been saving for a new apartment. We decided that we would save the first and last month's rent before we moved in. I have my portion ready, but he doesn’t. I don’t think he is taking moving in seriously because he has only half of the amount we agreed on. How can I encourage him to save more so we can move in sooner? -- Frustrated, Cincinnati

DEAR FRUSTRATED: Slow down. Moving in with anyone, including a boyfriend, is a huge commitment. Your boyfriend’s inability to have the financial resources required to move in could be a sign that he is not financially responsible or committed in the ways that you are. Consider this a red flag. Stop hounding him, and watch to see what he does. Yes, you want to take the next step in your life together, but you need to be on the same page. Being a quiet observer in this moment will allow you to witness how your boyfriend behaves when it’s time to make a decision.

You may want to give yourself a deadline after which you will speak up about the apartment again. If you need to move, you may also need to consider another roommate. What you should not do is let your boyfriend live with you rent-free. How you start your life together makes a huge difference as to how you design your life.

(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.)