DEAR HARRIETTE: I recently started dating a nice man who is attentive when we are in each other’s company, but he is largely absent during the day. He rarely calls or checks in as the day progresses and generally sends me a text message in the evening. He used to work nights and I think he is still on an odd sleep schedule, but I don’t like it. Being in touch as the day goes on makes me happy. I just got out of a relationship where my partner was more absent than present. I don’t want to bring baggage with me, but this is a bit of a red flag. How can I address this with him without seeming whiny? -- Be in Touch

DEAR BE IN TOUCH: Your man is not a mind reader. You have to tell him what you want and appreciate in order for him to know. You don’t have to complain about what you didn’t have in the past. Instead, describe the type of interaction that makes you happy. If you want him to call or text you during the day, ask him to do it. Tell him that it makes you happy to be connected to him in that way.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I need advice on a personal problem involving my sister, her husband and their religion. My parents died when I was 12, and I have been living with relatives since. My married sister offered to take me in, which I gladly accepted. Within a month of staying with her family, I caught my sister crying over an argument with her husband. This isn't just a one-time occurrence; I often hear them shouting at each other. Apparently, my brother-in-law is insisting that I join his religion, but my sister doesn't want me to feel pressured. My sister married young, and her husband supported her education. Now he wants to do the same for me, but with the condition that I convert to his religion in exchange for financial support. Personally, I am not religious, especially not in their faith, though I will not mention what exactly it is. However, I don't want to witness my sister's ongoing conflicts. -- Faithless Wanderer

DEAR FAITHLESS WANDERER: You have not told me your age, so it’s hard to say if you are at the stage where you can be independent. What you need to do is evaluate your options. If you stay with your sister, what kind of life can you have with her husband in the background making uncomfortable demands that impact both you and your sister? Do you still have the option to go live with other family members, such as the ones who initially took you in when your parents died? Finally, can you apply to schools and look for financial aid or scholarship money to support you rather than rely your brother-in-law’s financial support? Do your research so that you can find a way to live your life in peace and with the potential for an independent future.

(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: My friend recently told me that she thinks we shouldn’t be friends anymore because I am so closed off. This has hurt me because I value our friendship, but I also understand where she is coming from. I am naturally introverted, and I tend to keep my thoughts and feelings to myself. It’s not that I don’t care about her or our friendship; it’s just that expressing myself openly is challenging for me. I often find social interactions draining, and I need a lot of alone time to recharge. This can make me appear distant or uninterested, but that’s not the case at all. I care deeply about my friend and our relationship, and it hurts me to think that my introverted nature is driving a wedge between us. I don’t want to lose her as a friend, but I also don’t know how to change this aspect of who I am.

I have tried to be more open and communicative in my friendships, but it feels unnatural and exhausting. I’m worried that if I push myself too hard to be someone I’m not, I’ll end up feeling even more isolated and stressed. On the other hand, I don’t want my friend to feel neglected or undervalued. How can I find a balance between honoring my introverted nature and being a good friend? -- Reconnecting

DEAR RECONNECTING: You are a good writer. Why not write your friend a heartfelt note telling her what you have said here -- how much you value her and her friendship and revealing your introverted nature. Ask her not to leave the friendship, but to have patience with you. Pledge to do your best to say more about what you are thinking and feeling. Then make a big effort to communicate with her.

DEAR HARRIETTE: My partner and I have been in a long-distance relationship for six months now. I'm based in New York City, pursuing a fashion-related job, while my partner lives in Sydney. We met in university and have been inseparable, until now. The 14-hour time difference and our demanding schedules have recently made communication challenging, leading to a growing sense of disconnection. How can we bridge this distance and maintain our intimacy despite the time-zone gap? What strategies do you recommend for our cross-continental relationship dilemma? -- Longing in New York

DEAR LONGING IN NEW YORK: How long do you anticipate being 14 hours apart? It is surely possible to survive a long-distance relationship -- many have done so -- but it helps to have a timeframe. From there, get creative with how you communicate and when. Find times when you can steal a moment to have a FaceTime call. Send each other messages via WhatsApp or other apps that you can receive when it’s convenient. Send gifts and messages that show each other that you truly do care. Keep a countdown calendar for when you will see each other again.

On the weekends -- or whenever you have free time -- take each other to a new favorite place using video chat so that you explore your new environment together. Remind each other of your love and commitment, and don’t give up.

(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: Six months ago, my grandmother passed away and left me a significant inheritance. I'm 24, and my 25-year-old husband unexpectedly quit his job without consulting me, believing the inheritance meant he would no longer need to work. I had made it clear that we needed to save the money for our future and continue living as we were.

Despite my efforts to make him understand the importance of saving, my husband refuses to apply for new jobs, leaving me to cover our bills for the past few months. How can I handle this situation? I want to honor my grandmother's legacy by using this money wisely. -- Burdened Inheritor

DEAR BURDENED INHERITOR: Sit down with your husband and tell him that your grandmother’s inheritance is off-limits. You will no longer be using any of it for your daily life, so he will have to get a job. If he refuses and assumes that you and your inheritance will now be the principal provider for your family, you will have to decide whether this is a dealbreaker. A healthy marriage requires shared values, planning, compromise and flexibility. If he is unwilling to budge on how to use your money, that should be a huge red flag.

I have a friend whose husband inherited a sizable amount of money from his family. They agreed that this money would be reserved for their children, should they have any, but not earmarked for any current use. In this way, the money would remain in the family for the next generation -- it was a plan for the future. Recommend something like that.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I'm a single parent to my amazing 11-year-old son, and I've come across a career opportunity that could really advance my professional growth. However, pursuing this chance would mean longer hours and occasional travel, and balancing my career aspirations with my responsibilities as the sole caregiver is quite challenging. With how the world works today, I feel hesitant to leave my son in the care of other people without my supervision, even when they are relatives. What advice do you have for maintaining a healthy balance between work and family life in this demanding situation? Your guidance would be greatly appreciated. -- Single Parenthood

DEAR SINGLE PARENTHOOD: Look at your network of family and friends. Who do you trust to look after your son when needed? Talk to those people to discover their willingness to help. Don’t give up on your dream. Instead, plan it out carefully. Yes, some trust is needed, but many communities work together with families to ensure that the children are well cared for.

When my career shifted when my daughter was very young, even with a husband, I hired a nanny and enlisted friends and family to help. You have to be discerning and follow up a lot to make sure that whoever is caring for your child is following your guidelines, but it can and usually does work. Congratulations on this career opportunity!

(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.)