DEAR HARRIETTE: I have wanted to get some sort of rebellious piercing for a while. I have shied away from anything extreme on my face and ears for fear of losing professional success. I spoke to one of my friends about how I'd feel more self-confident, and she suggested I get a nipple piercing. I told her I don't want people to see me sexually, and we got into a spat at our dinner. I looked into it, and even young supermodels are hopping on the trend of getting exotic piercings. I guess the tides are turning, but I don't know if I'm too old (and not a supermodel) to try this out. -- Need Something New, Boston
DEAR NEED SOMETHING NEW: I've got the cold-water-in-your-face question: Why? Why do you want a rebellious piercing? Figure out the driving force -- if you can -- as that will help to guide your steps. You may just need to do something that shakes up your life in a very different way. Could that be a vacation rather than a permanent hole about which you are completely unsure? What about some kind of kooky investment, like a piece of your favorite art? Stock in your favorite company? Dinner at a really expensive restaurant? My point is that you can do something that feels crazy but that matches your mood without being physically compromising.