DEAR HARRIETTE: I feel awkward saying this, but I don’t really know what Juneteenth is. At my new job, we get the day off, which is nice. I always appreciate paid time off, but I want to be informed so that I can talk about it or at least not sound stupid. Can you explain it to me? And why is it getting popular only now? -- New Celebration

DEAR NEW CELEBRATION: June 19th, commonly known as Juneteenth, became a national holiday in 2021. That’s when it reached national recognition, though it has been celebrated both small and wide since 1865. It recognizes the day -- June 19, 1865 -- when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, were informed that they were free. That date came two full years after the Emancipation Proclamation, which was to serve as the official announcement of the end of slavery, but the message didn’t reach Galveston until much later. Galveston was the last place in the country to give enslaved people their freedom.

People in Texas have long celebrated this moment of emancipation. Over the years, communities in the South, in particular, have hosted events in honor of this pivotal day in American history. Many signed petitions and marched to create the national holiday, including 95-year-old Fort Worth native Opal Lee, who is known as the grandmother of Juneteenth. To learn more about her, go to: juneteenthftw.com/opal-lee.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I often run into a former teacher of mine in my community, and it's always an awkward encounter. She taught me when I was around 15 or 16 years old, and I'm in my late 20s now.

The problem is that every time I see her, she tells me another story about myself that definitely did not happen. The stories are usually her recalling a time that I misbehaved or got in trouble in class. I was a straight-A student, and I was always respectful and responsible in school. It's frustrating and upsetting to have her remember me in this way, and I'm not sure how to handle it. I thought maybe she had me confused with someone else, but she insisted that she didn’t. Next time, should I have a serious conversation with her about this? Should I let it go and avoid her? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. -- Bad Memory

DEAR BAD MEMORY: Seek her out and invite her to tea or coffee. Sit with her and ask her to tell you about her life. Get a sense of where her mind and thoughts are. If you have positive memories of her as your teacher, share those with her. Give her stories she may not recall that can replace the inaccurate ones.

Then tell her that you aren’t sure with whom she is confusing you, but assure her that you were a conscientious, straight-A student, and you enjoyed her class. If she continues to insist on her memories, invite her to let them go and share your positive stories instead.

(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 feel stuck in life right now because I am hearing a lot of “noes” from opportunities that I am applying to. I had a lot of goals this past year, and I didn’t meet a few of them due to the fact that I got rejected. As a goal-oriented person, I am disappointed in myself, and I feel that if I had better interviewing skills and more leadership experience, I would’ve gotten yeses from these specific programs.

I feel discouraged, but I know I need to continue to try to gain access to opportunities and programs that could help my career journey in the future. What should I do to overcome this feeling of discouragement and continue pursuing opportunities for my career? -- Next Steps

DEAR NEXT STEPS: Seek out online or in-person classes that can help you boost your interviewing and leadership skills. Practice talking about yourself. Learn how to tell your story so that what you share about yourself is compelling for others to hear. Practice in front of the mirror as you describe who you are and what you want to do with your life.

Research the opportunities that come your way, and figure out what about you is a perfect fit for them. To be chosen, you have to prove that you can help solve whatever problem or fill whatever need they have. It’s not about how smart or creative you are unless you can channel those skills into their specific objectives. When you do that, you make yourself invaluable.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I am a concerned mother who is worried about her son. My son lost his job earlier this year and decided to take out a second mortgage on his house to make ends meet. While I understand the urgency of his situation, I am afraid that he may have made a huge mistake.

My son has always been independent and strong-willed, which is admirable. However, I fear that his pride and determination to survive might blind him from making sound decisions. He is not one to ask for help, even when he is struggling, which worries me all the more. I do not know what advice to give him, or even how to approach the topic without sounding intrusive or judgmental. My son is a grown man who has his own life, and I respect that. But as his mother, I cannot help but worry about his well-being. What can I do to support my son without overstepping my boundaries? -- Worried Mom

DEAR WORRIED MOM: The hardest job you have right now is to stand down. You have to let your son live his life and make his own mistakes. You cannot live his life for him. You cannot helicopter him now, either. As you say, he is a grown man. He has to make choices for himself and live with the consequences. If he asks you for your opinion, you can share it. Otherwise, you must let him live his life. The last thing he needs right now is his mother telling him what to do. Losing his job was a huge blow. Taking out the second mortgage may not be right in your eyes, but he did it, so he has to deal with it. Countless others have done the same. Let him be. And, as a loving mother, be there to support him when he calls. But do not try to run his 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.)

DEAR HARRIETTE: A guy that I used to date -- and remained good friends with -- recently told me about his plans to propose to his girlfriend. He was asking for advice. We have remained friends after our breakup, but I never expected him to seek my input on such an intimate matter. To be honest, it hurt my feelings more than I thought it would. I understand that he values my opinion and trusts me, but I cannot help feeling a bit upset. I do not want to let my discomfort be too obvious by pulling back. I value our friendship, and I do not want to cause any tension or awkwardness. Do you have any advice on how I can manage my emotions and continue to be supportive of my friend? -- Uncomfortable

DEAR UNCOMFORTABLE: Tell your friend the truth. You are happy for him and want the best for his life, but you do not feel comfortable helping him figure out his proposal. Admit that while you have no desire to be in a relationship with him anymore, you also cannot be the one who helps him sort out this event. If he pushes back and says how much he respects your opinion, ask him to respect your heart by not involving you in this detail of his life. Assure him that you are not abandoning him. You hope to remain friends with him and his wife, but you have to draw the line on helping him sort out the intimate details of his proposal.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I went to my cousin's graduation party this past weekend and was reminded that my extended family members aren't close with one another at all. I am awkward every time I go to events because I feel as if I am sitting in a room with a bunch of strangers who don’t know me or want to know me. It hurts to see this because I have only one side of the family in the United States, and we all want nothing to do with each other. I see my best friends' extended family more than I do my own. They all seem so close, and it’s something I wish I had had growing up. How can I navigate or create a closer connection with my extended family despite the current distance and lack of closeness? -- Reaching Out

DEAR REACHING OUT: Think about your extended family members individually. Who among them are you drawn to the most? Who stands out as someone who may be amenable to developing a relationship with you now? Select a person and work at cultivating a bond with them. Be honest. Say that you want to get to know your family better, and you hope they feel the same. Suggest that you two get together outside of the traditional family gatherings. Invite them to a social event that you are attending or just for the two of you to hang out. Make the effort and see what happens over time.

(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.)