DEAR HARRIETTE: I am concerned with my mother's health. She works for a transit company and is underground most of the time, exposed to chemicals and germs. It takes a toll on her body, and she has developed asthma from this career. I tell her all the time that she should consider doing event planning because she is great at it. She feels that she is too old to start a new career, especially one that would be her own. I am really afraid that if she keeps this job, her health will continue to plummet. What can I do to help her? -- Mom's Health
DEAR MOM’S HEALTH: Your mother is a grown woman and is not likely to change her career at this stage in her life. That said, you don’t have to give up suggesting alternatives. Do some research into event planning companies in your area. Look for larger firms that might have the capacity to hire staff. Call around to see if there are any openings. If your mother could find a job where she wouldn’t have to build a business from the ground up, she might consider getting involved in the field.
Regarding her health, ask her to check with her doctor to see what preventive care she can engage in to support her lungs and her overall health. Even though she works in a toxic environment, there may be some measures she can take to help her a bit.
(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.)