DEAR HARRIETTE: I have a neighbor I used to be close with, growing up in the same apartment building, but we grew apart when we got older. I want to rekindle our friendship, but I have no idea where to start. We have taken vastly different paths in our lives and lack any common ground. He doesn’t seem to be very sociable nowadays, and our small talk has been trite. How can I get him to open up to me so we can be friends again? -- Friendly Neighbor

DEAR FRIENDLY NEIGHBOR: It is natural for some people to grow apart as they grow up and their lives change. This doesn’t mean that either of you did anything wrong. It could simply be that your lives have naturally evolved in different directions.

Since you are missing the camaraderie you once shared with your neighbor, you may want to say as much to him. Instead of allowing the trite, superficial conversation to become the norm between you, tell your neighbor that you miss him and wish that you could rekindle a friendship again. Invite him to hang out with you, and see what happens. You may want to start by asking him questions about his life and what he has been doing of late as you share details about yourself. See if this gesture leads to more space for the two of you to enjoy each other’s company again.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I recently learned that my 18-year-old daughter and many of my daughter’s friends -- both male and female -- use the dating app Tinder.

They have told me that Tinder can be used in different ways, it is a good way for young people to make friends and they are cautious and verify people on social media before meeting them. It still concerns me. Is this just a generational difference, or is it something that I should be concerned about? -- Tinder Skeptic

DEAR TINDER SKEPTIC: It can be frightening for parents to think about how our children are finding dates. When it comes to online dating and apps like Tinder -- especially ones that originally, anyhow, were used to find sex partners -- it can be hard for a parent to step back and watch the experience unfold. Yet there is not a lot that you can do.

Remind your daughter about your values. As far as dating in general and via this app, she should remember that it is important not to put herself in unsafe situations with people she doesn’t know. When first meeting a potential date, she should meet in a public space. Though she may feel she has the right to do whatever she wants with her body, remind her that her body is a sacred temple, and she should not allow just anybody into that temple. If she continues to treat herself with respect and honor, she will create space for others to treat her the same. When her friends are around, I would repeat these principles. Your daughter may not like you spouting off about your beliefs, but at least you will be sharing your truth.

As much as you may not want to accept it, there is a chance that sexual activity may be involved at some point, so you should also share the importance of safe sex practices.

(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: Can women and men really be friends with no strings attached? Someone brought it to my attention that men pursue friendships with women initially because they are attracted to them and think about one thing only. My friend then said that men befriend other men if they have something in common.

I think it’s possible for people of opposite sexes to be friends. Whether you're a man or a woman, common interests bring people together regardless of physical attraction. -- Age-Old Question

DEAR AGE-OLD QUESTION: The funniest depiction of this classic question appeared in the film "When Harry Met Sally." Even through that movie, the answer wasn’t completely clear.

In my opinion and experience, I can say that it is certainly possible for people to be “just friends” with the gender they are attracted to, and for those friendships to be meaningful and long-lasting. To your point about sharing common interests, I believe that this is one powerful reason for people to notice each other in the first place.

This does not discount another common reality -- one person in a friendship, at least, may have started out being romantically attracted to the other person, even if that interest was never pursued. Perhaps what’s more important in friendships is whether two people can find a way to genuinely love and support each other, no matter what that initial spark may have been.

DEAR HARRIETTE: How can I appropriately shop in a hurry? I know my general style, but I hate going into fitting rooms to try things on. I'd rather be able to look at an outfit and know by the material and size if it will be a good fit. As someone in the fashion world, do you have any quick tips to help me pick clothes in a non-time- consuming way? -- Hate Shopping

DEAR HATE SHOPPING: Ready-to-wear clothing is meant to fit many bodies who have the measurements of a particular standard size. If you know your measurements, theoretically you should be able to look at a garment, check the size and be able to fit it.

In reality, it’s not that easy. People carry their body weight differently. Height, weight and proportions figure prominently into whether a garment will fit you. If you have a sense of what shapes look best on your body, go for those silhouettes. This will, at least, get you closer to a good fit right away. Look for fabrics that stretch, as they are more forgiving in their fit.

Finally, shop at places that will allow you to return everything within a manageable period of time. In this way, you can purchase what you are interested in and try the items on in your own home rather than in the confines of a dressing room.

(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 recently started suspecting that my sister is involved in an abusive relationship. This wouldn't be her first time dealing with a toxic partner, but I thought she would have used her past experiences to never return to the same situation. I am not 100% sure, but there are a few signs that I am picking up on that let me know that things aren't going well for her. For instance, I noticed she had two broken nails wrapped up in a bandage. When I gently asked her about the situation, she told me it was her boyfriend who was the cause. She explained how they were just playing, and he's too rough at times. This doesn't sit well with me. I don't want to overstep my boundaries because she always protects his image and would get defensive if I accused her boyfriend of such a serious thing. However, I want to find out for sure if she really is in an abusive situation. How can I help find out and help my sister, without it being too obvious? -- In Danger

DEAR IN DANGER: Unless you physically witness your sister’s boyfriend hurting her, it will be difficult for you to prove anything. What you can do is talk to your sister and remind her how much you love and appreciate her. Tell her that you are worried about her well-being and that you hope that she will tell you if she ever feels unsafe or is in trouble. Tell her that you will do whatever she needs to help keep her safe. Encourage her to do things with you and with friends outside of the relationship. Resist the temptation to judge her. Be a good listener.

You can also suggest she learn more about getting support by calling 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). You can read more at thehotline.org/help/help-for-friends-and-family.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I have a 5-year-old and a 3-year-old. My 5-year-old has been in preschool and is picking up bad habits from other kids. One of her teachers explained to me that there is a kid in her class bullying and hitting my child whenever the kid is upset. When my daughter comes home from school, she in turn hits my youngest daughter out of anger whenever she gets in trouble.

I hate how she learned this bad behavior and practices it at home with her sister. I also hate that she is going through this at her school. The teacher said this has been going on for a while, but I'm confused as to why she hasn't taken the appropriate steps to stop it. What can I do as a mother to change this situation? -- No More Bullying

DEAR NO MORE BULLYING: Talk to the school administrator immediately to find out why this bullying has not been handled and reported to you earlier. You should have been told at once. It is negligent of the teacher to have allowed this to continue.

You should look for another preschool in which to place your child. It is not worth it for her to have to endure this behavior. At the same time, you need to talk to her about managing her anger so that she unlearns that bad behavior.

(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.)