DEAR HARRIETTE: I recently ran my first half marathon, and it was one of the most fulfilling experiences I’ve ever had. I had been training for months, and over time, running became more than just exercise; it became a passion, a stress reliever and something I truly looked forward to each day. It gave me structure, confidence and a sense of accomplishment I hadn’t felt in a long time. Unfortunately, not long after the race, I had a bad fall and broke my ankle. My doctor says I’ll need several weeks to heal, and even after that, it’s unclear when I’ll be able to return to running at the level I was at before.

I’m absolutely devastated. Not only do I feel physically limited, but I’m also struggling emotionally. Running gave me a clear outlet and helped me feel strong and capable; now I just feel stuck. I miss the routine, the goals I was working toward and the community I had started to build through running. I know I should be grateful that this injury is temporary, but right now I’m finding it hard to stay positive. How can I cope with this loss of a hobby that brought me so much joy? How do I stay mentally strong and maybe even find purpose while I recover? -- Injured

DEAR INJURED: Create a wellness calendar with clear weekly goals. Put your all into your recovery, including physical therapy, at-home exercises and healthy, nutritious eating. Meet new people wherever you go, including at therapy. Strike up conversations with folks who are struggling just as you are. Make the absolute most of the moment by engaging with those around you. Don’t give up on your goal to run again. Just recognize that the road to recovery is long. Pay attention to the little victories along the way. This will help you to stay motivated.

DEAR HARRIETTE: My husband is a procrastinator. Anything important that needs to get done, he puts at the bottom of his list of priorities. When I mention that he needs to pay attention to something, he shrugs it off and gets snippy with me. This includes getting an annual physical. My husband is getting up in age, and I’m worried that he doesn’t even have awareness of his health status. How can I get him to take these things more seriously? Right now I’m tied up in knots worried that something terrible is going to happen. I don’t think he has had a physical for more than five years, just as an example. -- Make a Move

DEAR MAKE A MOVE: Do you think your husband would go inside if you surprised him with a doctor’s appointment? Try it. Schedule an appointment and take him to the doctor. He may be mad at you, but at least he will have had the appointment -- assuming he goes in.

Beyond that, sit down with him and tell him you are concerned and want him to get a physical so that he has an evaluation of his health. He can decide what he wants to do about whatever he learns, but the American medical system is known for its excellent diagnostics�. Encourage him to take advantage of that for your peace of mind.

(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 husband and I recently planned a weekend trip out of town, and we arranged for our children to stay with their aunt, my husband’s sister, while we were away. We thought everything was going well until, halfway through our trip, we received a call from her saying that one of our kids had started acting out. She told us that she doesn’t tolerate that kind of behavior in her home and insisted that we come pick him up immediately. I was shocked and honestly upset. I understand that our son can be a handful at times. He's going through a bit of a rebellious phase, but I feel like she overreacted. We trusted her to help us out, and instead of trying to manage the situation or even calling us for advice on how to calm him down, she made us cut our trip short and made us feel like we were being irresponsible parents for going away in the first place. Now there’s tension between us, and I don’t know how to approach this. Am I wrong for feeling like she could have handled things differently? -- Not Helpful

DEAR NOT HELPFUL: Did you inform your sister-in-law of your son’s recent behavioral shifts? It sounds like you knew that he could be difficult, but you may not have communicated that clearly to her. Sure, she could have tried harder to care for your children and give you and your husband a much-needed respite. It also sounds like you could have communicated more specifically about your children’s needs and idiosyncrasies.

Both of you could have done better. To mend the situation, speak to her and admit that you could have been more communicative about your son’s potential challenges so that she would have been better prepared. Tell her you wish she hadn’t given up so quickly as you really needed some time away. Acknowledge that you both could have handled the situation differently. Ask for forgiveness and move on.

DEAR HARRIETTE: My friend loves using online dating to find guys. I see that this is common right now, but what I don’t like is how she is teaching my 22-year-old daughter how to use it. I guess I should accept that my daughter is legally an adult, but she is pretty naive. I don’t want her out there meeting random guys through some app. That’s not how I learned to date. How can I get my friend to back off and allow my daughter to date the old-fashioned way? -- No Online Dating

DEAR NO ONLINE DATING: Welcome to the new world. Whether your daughter learns about online dating from your friend or someone else, this is the way that most people are meeting each other these days. If approached with care and thoughtfulness, she may be able to meet someone who shares her interests. Trying to prevent her from accessing online dating sites is not likely to work. It may trigger deception or stop her from talking to you about her dating life at all. Instead of blocking, encourage your daughter to think about what she wants in a partner and to be specific about that when she creates her profile and when she talks to potential suitors.

(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.)

DEAR HARRIETTE: I’ve been swamped with work. I work in a high-demand environment and have recently been securing a number of new high-end clients. This means early days, late nights and busy lunches. My girlfriend is not happy with how rigorous my work schedule has been these past few months; she’s expressed it to me, but I haven’t had time to do anything about it. Recently, she started filling her time with one of our friends -- a guy. It started off mostly as a casual shared dinner here and there, but it’s been a lot more consistent lately, and it has expanded to other activities such as movies, walks and more. I’ve tried expressing that I don’t appreciate how close they’ve gotten, but I don’t have much of a leg to stand on. She always blames me for her being lonely. I don’t want to seem insecure, but it makes me uncomfortable. -- Working Hard

DEAR WORKING HARD: The next time you have a moment to be still and have a full conversation with your girlfriend, invite her to talk. Apologize for being so busy of late. Explain that your work is extremely busy right now, and in order for you to prosper at your company, you have to show up and give 100%. Tell her you understand that she misses you and is lonely. Do not promise her something that you cannot offer, even as you tell her that you want to find time to be more present for her in the coming months.

That said, next tell her that you are concerned about the relationship she has with the man who is becoming her constant companion. Acknowledge that you know she is lonely, but you worry that this may slip into a more intimate relationship simply due to how much time they are spending together. Ask her what the status of their friendship is now. Implore her to be honest with you even if she thinks it may hurt your feelings.

Let her know what behavior would represent a dealbreaker for your relationship. Don’t be vague. Be upfront so that she is clear about the consequences of her actions.

DEAR HARRIETTE: Over the years, my mom and I have struggled to forge the ideal smooth-sailing mother-daughter bond that other people have. We used to bump heads a lot. Now that we no longer bump heads, we just have a hard time connecting and enjoying each other. I want things to get better, but she often compares my relationship with her to the one I have with my dad. My dad and I are pretty playful together, and he’s easy to talk to. I think my mom constantly mocking the dynamic I have with my dad is her version of banter or “breaking the ice,” but I wish she would stop comparing so that she and I could find our own groove. How do I get her on the same page as me? -- Mommy Issues

DEAR MOMMY ISSUES: Invite your mother to do things with you without your father. When she makes comparisons, change the subject. Find one thing you both like, and suggest that you explore that together regularly. Focus on her and let her see that you want to spend time with her independent of your father. Accept that your bond with her is unique, and be OK with that.

(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.)