DEAR HARRIETTE: My best friend and I have shifted from talking and texting most days to interacting only via social media. It didn’t happen overnight, but at some point, I felt as though I was always initiating communication. I was in a tough season recently, and when I didn’t have it in me to call or text loved ones, I realized I didn’t hear from her. Since then, our friendship has felt distant, at least to me. She comments on my social posts regularly, but that feels superficial. Maybe she doesn’t realize or care about the shift in our dynamic, but I feel like our friendship has completely faded. Now I wonder, was our friendship even real? -- Internet Friend

DEAR INTERNET FRIEND: In your evaluation of your friendship, what did you like about being close to this person and what didn’t quite work? Could you have missed signs that you weren’t as close as you thought? What do you want from this friendship now? It could be that your friendship has simply changed over time, or you may have always been more committed than her.

Either way, now is the time for you to decide if you want to rekindle the closeness you once treasured or acknowledge it for what it is and move on. Surely you don’t expect a “best friend” to be someone you connect with on social media only. Act accordingly.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I’m tired of being the only planner in my family. All family events, paperwork and major decisions fall to me, despite having two older siblings. My parents’ 30th anniversary just went by, and six months prior my siblings and I discussed throwing them a well-deserved celebration with all our friends and family. As the big day approached and I realized my siblings were dragging their feet, I began sending out invites and reaching out to vendors. As I began to secure certain things, I’d write to my siblings, asking how they could help and when they were available. Sometimes my messages would go unanswered, or they’d say they’d let me know soon and not follow up at all. I ended up planning it all alone.

On the day of the party, my brother, amazed, told me he knew I didn’t need any help because I’m “so great at this.” My hypercritical sister kept asking about small details that she didn’t like or that I had missed completely. Either way, I didn’t like it. Why can’t I rely on my siblings? What am I doing that makes them view me as the safety net? -- Family Planner

DEAR FAMILY PLANNER: You are taking action and proving to them that you won’t drop the ball. For the next activity, assign them specific tasks rather than asking them loosely what they will do. Yes, it will mean that you are still the organizer, but at least this way you may get some help in executing a plan. Give them deadlines and schedule required weekly meetings to review progress. By guiding them through the process, you will be showing them how to take some of the load off of you in the 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: I think my son may be harboring some resentment toward me. We have a strained relationship, and even though I want us to be closer, the distance seems intentional on his end. If I try asking questions, he gets defensive or gives short responses only, and sometimes it turns into an argument or disagreement. On more than one occasion, he’s referenced times in the past where I might’ve overstepped a boundary, spoken up on his behalf or been overbearing. How can I move forward with my son if he won’t forgive me for the past? I wish he could realize that those things I did were just a mama bear looking out for her cub. -- Boy Mom

DEAR BOY MOM: Ask your son if the two of you can have a meeting where he shares all of his memories and concerns about your relationship. Ask him to let it all out so that you can hear whatever is on his heart. Do your best not to interrupt him. Clearly, things have occurred that have hurt his feelings. He needs to be able to say them all without backlash from you.

Apologize for whatever he mentions. Let him know that you never meant to hurt his feelings and that what you did was your way of being his mom and trying to protect him. Admit that you know you aren’t perfect and that you are sorry if anything you did -- whether you continue to think it was justified -- hurt him.

Ask him if he is willing to put the past aside and work to build a new relationship with you now. Remind him that you love him and want nothing more than to be close to him. Be patient and ready to take this next step together. Be mindful of not taking over. Become a good listener.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I have a close friend who has been out of work for two years. I have helped him as much as I can, including fronting him rent money so that he doesn’t go homeless and giving him carfare to go to job interviews. I love him and want to support him, but so far, he hasn’t gotten a job. I have to support my family; I can’t take on his financial burdens much longer. How do I address this with someone who is obviously in dire need? Part of me can’t help but feel that I’m enabling him. Yes, it’s hard to find work, but he knows I’m not going to let him be out on the streets. -- Broken Lifeline

DEAR BROKEN LIFELINE: Sit down with your friend and give him a timeline. Express how much you love him and want to have his back as you have had for the past two years, but you can no longer support him financially. Suggest that he look at social services to get short-term government support so he can buy food and keep his home. Give him a deadline at which point you can no longer give him money. This is difficult, I know, but he has to figure out his own 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: For many years, I worked in corporate America with a strict 9 to 5, Monday through Friday schedule. Recently, I made the switch -- as the economy demanded -- to working freelance. I now work in media and do a lot of event-based work. It is way more fast-paced, and my schedule is completely different every single day. I quite enjoy the change, but my boyfriend, not so much. We’ve lived together for the past three years, so he’s used to the old version of me. He expressed that he feels neglected and that he believes I put my work before him. He may be right. I want to be more present, but I feel so alive with this new career path that I really have not prioritized balance. How can I continue to excel in my career and relationship at the same time without compromising one or the other? -- Workaholic

DEAR WORKAHOLIC: Sit down with your boyfriend and remind him that your life has changed a lot and you are discovering what your new rhythm will be. Tell him the truth: You enjoy the new pace and energy of your work, while at the same time, you are not intentionally neglecting him.

Do your best to strike a balance. Carve out time daily to chat with him, to eat together whenever possible and to have a date at least once a week. Establish new patterns that prioritize the two of you even as you continue to figure out how to grow in your new work life.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I live in an apartment with very thin walls, and my neighbor has recently started practicing the trumpet every night at 10 p.m. I completely understand and appreciate that he is passionate about his music and wants to improve, but the sound travels so clearly into my apartment that it’s becoming impossible for me to fall asleep. I’ve tried wearing earplugs and playing white noise, but nothing seems to block it completely. I don’t want to be the person who stifles his artistic pursuits, but I need to maintain my own well-being and get enough sleep. I’m worried that if I bring it up, I might come across as unreasonable or annoying. It’s starting to affect my mood and productivity the next day, and I feel increasingly frustrated each night. I just wish there were a way for both of us to enjoy our space without conflict or discomfort. How can I approach my neighbor respectfully about the situation, or is there a compromise that could allow both of us to exist peacefully? I feel torn between being understanding and protecting my own comfort, and I don’t know where to draw the line. -- Noise Control

DEAR NOISE CONTROL: Before calling your landlord, reach out to your neighbor. Let him know you see that he has started a new hobby, and while it sounds good, his playing is starting too late for your health. Ask him if he can refine his schedule so that you can go to sleep at a decent hour.

Check to see if there are noise ordinances in your town that require reduced noise at a particular time. In many places, that time is 10 p.m. If he is unwilling to budge, engage your super or landlord.

(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.)