DEAR HARRIETTE: I'm a 50-year-old woman who recently divorced her husband. We had been married for 20 years and mutually decided to end the relationship because we didn’t feel any genuine love between us anymore. I now find myself co-parenting our three teenage daughters with my ex. I'm feeling overwhelmed by the responsibilities and changes in my life. Balancing work, parenting and self-care has become a daunting challenge. I also find myself feeling lonely when my children are away at their dad’s house, and I’m wondering if I made the right choice. Can you provide some advice on how to navigate this new chapter to ensure a healthy and happy environment -- not only for my daughters, but for me as well? -- What’s Next?

DEAR WHAT’S NEXT?: You have to give yourself time to adjust to your new life. Transitioning from a 20-year way of living to something new takes time and patience. You need to establish new routines, especially during your alone time. What do you enjoy doing solo? Reading? Taking walks? Going to the gym? Try things out to see what interests you.

You also have to put yourself out there. Cultivate interests that take you out of your comfort zone and put you in the company of others. Look to see what cultural activities are happening in your neighborhood. Get up and go to something. Your joy is important for your daughters’ well-being, as they can sense your state of mind. If you need more support, go to a therapist who can help you sort through this period of transition.

DEAR HARRIETTE: My fiance and I were supposed to get married at the top of next year, but that was before he decided to pursue his master’s degree in legal studies. Now, all of his time and energy are going to his education, and our wedding has to be put on the back burner until he finishes. I know his degree is important, and I’m really proud of him, but I can’t help but be disappointed. I even suggested a small courthouse ceremony, but he refused because he said he wanted a large ceremony. Is it wrong for me to be upset? I know it sounds silly, but I can’t help feeling that maybe he doesn’t really want to marry me, and his master’s degree is a convenient excuse to put off our wedding. -- Overthinking

DEAR OVERTHINKING: The fact that your fiance changed the rules without consulting you is concerning. Yes, it’s great that he is getting his master’s degree, but as you plan a life together, it is critical for you to plan out the big steps together. That may be what’s bothering you the most. Tell him you want to sit down with him and plot out the next few years. Admit that it has upset you that he made such a big decision without talking to you, and you are concerned about how the two of you will work together to make decisions for your life. Get him to agree to map out a strategy together. Otherwise, there’s a good chance he will continue to make big decisions independently, and that will not work.

(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 am a 23-year-old who just moved to San Francisco. My dad recently came to visit me, and I was excited because I hadn’t seen him in six months. My excitement was dampened once he got here and had nothing positive to say, just complaints the entire time. He hated my apartment, thought it was too exhausting to walk up the hills in the city and didn’t like how expensive the city was. I was really frustrated because I've been loving my life here. I found a small apartment that’s in a great location and have been really good at budgeting. Despite his complaints, I decided to try and keep a positive attitude and continue to tour him around the city. I don't want our relationship to be strained, and I want him to see that I'm doing well here. How can I address my dad's negativity and help him see the positive side of my new life in San Francisco? -- Crack a Smile

DEAR CRACK A SMILE: Choose the positive. Thank your Dad for coming to visit you and spending time together. Tell him how much you appreciate his effort. Then move on to recapping what you like about your life as you are establishing independence as a young adult. You can leave it at that, or, if you feel so inclined, you can remind him that you are budgeting well in an expensive city. You are enjoying the beauty that the city has to offer, meeting new people and building your life.

Your father does not have to love your city, your home or anything else about your life. Just know that his complaints probably are based on his love for you and his knee-jerk reaction to protect you. He may only see that he would find it hard to live there. You can see the potential.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I have a few friends who have birthdays coming up in the next few months, and I realize that I don’t remember the exact dates of their birthdays. I’m sure I wrote it down at some point, but I used to have all those dates in my head. I have not been as closely connected to these people in recent years, and I guess not having them top of mind hasn’t helped my memory. Anyway, I want to celebrate their special days, but I don’t know when they are. Would it be all right for me to send a card or text to each one saying that I know their big day is coming up and I hope they are well? Should I admit that I can’t remember what their exact birth date is? What should I do? -- Want To Celebrate

DEAR WANT TO CELEBRATE; Think about the friends in question. If any are particularly sensitive and might take offense that you forgot the date, just make the general overture. You can say, “I’m celebrating with you all month. Enjoy!” For those who may have no issue with reminding you, tell the truth. You know their big day is coming, but you can’t remember the date. Honestly, if someone gets upset with you because you are attempting to celebrate them, that is their problem anyway.

(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’m a 17-year-old high school student. I have been struggling with mental health issues for some time now. Unfortunately, my parents do not seem to believe that I am struggling. They accuse me of exaggerating and even outright lying about my feelings. I understand that it can be hard for someone who hasn't experienced these challenges themselves to understand, but it is extremely frustrating to feel like I am not being believed. Do you have any advice on how I can get through to my parents and get the support I need? – Lacking Validation

DEAR LACKING VALIDATION: Can you talk to the nurse at your school and ask for support there? Do you have access to your health insurance information? If so, the nurse may be able to help you find a mental health specialist who can support you. Likewise, if you have a pediatrician, you can ask the doctor to refer you to someone who can help. Of course, if you feel that you are in an emergency situation, you can reach out for help without insurance. You can call 988, which is the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline for 24-hour support.

As far as your parents go, they probably don’t understand mental health challenges. It may not be that they are intentionally brushing you off. A lot of people don’t have a sense of what mental illness looks like, as it is less tangible than a cold, flu or some other disease. Ask your parents to be kind and love you even if they don’t understand. Tell them what you need if you can -- a hug, restraint from dismissing your concerns, help finding a doctor -- but also find others who can help you if your parents are unable or unwilling.

DEAR HARRIETTE: My work colleague has a bad habit of constantly interrupting people midsentence, and it's beginning to wear thin on me. Even worse, she doesn't even realize she does it. She does this even when we're speaking with clients, which completely annoys them and everyone else in our meetings. I don't know how to approach this, as I am not her superior. How do I make her aware of this without coming off as rude? -- Let Me Finish

DEAR LET ME FINISH: Next time your colleague interrupts you, stop her. Say something like, “Hold on. I was saying something, and you interrupted me. Let me finish.” Privately, you can remind her of that moment and tell her that you have noticed that she regularly cuts people off. Tell her that you find it off-putting. Ask her to stop. If she shrugs it off, give her a couple of examples of when she has cut others off, including in meetings. Suggest that she wait to let people finish their sentences before she jumps in. She may or may not heed your advice, but you do not have to be her supervisor to attempt to support her and the rest of the team.

(Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams. You can send questions toaskharriette@harriettecole.com or c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)