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Dear Harriette

Consumer questions ethics of buying from certain companies

DEAR HARRIETTE: I am a college student who often relies on fast food and strives to stay current with trends. However, the recent controversies surrounding major companies have made me question my perspective, and I am unsure how to address these concerns. For instance, if I continue to purchase products from Apple because I genuinely…

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Mother’s comments on daughter’s weight strain relationship

DEAR HARRIETTE: I am a 30-year-old woman with a mother who continually comments on my weight whenever we interact. This has been a recurring theme since my teenage years, and I find myself struggling with the impact it has on my self-esteem. Despite my efforts to maintain a positive body image and focus on overall…

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Friend blames woman for situation getting out of control

DEAR HARRIETTE: My friend and I recently got into a fight because she put me in an uncomfortable situation. I am a fairly reserved person, and she is very extroverted, so this can cause us to have conflicting reactions to certain scenarios. She pushed for me to enter this situation, and I went ahead with…

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Inheritance causes family frustrations

DEAR HARRIETTE: Having unexpectedly inherited a significant sum of money, I had intentions of assisting my siblings financially. However, their apparent sense of entitlement and subtle guilt-tripping have made dealing with this situation more challenging than anticipated. I never foresaw money causing disruptions in our family dynamic, and now I’m conflicted with how to manage…

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Recent Masters Grad ready to join job market

DEAR HARRIETTE: Freshly graduated with my master’s degree and entering the job market, I grapple with uncertainties surrounding negotiating my first salary. As I embark on my career journey, how can I navigate this process successfully, ensuring fair compensation that aligns with my skills and sets the stage for a promising professional future? — Setting…

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Male friends make harsh comments about woman’s makeup

DEAR HARRIETTE: I am a 23-year-old woman facing a dilemma within my friend group of four. Our group consists of two girls, including myself, and two guys. The other girl in our group enjoys wearing a significant amount of makeup. I don’t mind this, as I believe everyone has the right to express themselves in…

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Friend starts missing planned outings

DEAR HARRIETTE: I am a mother of two daughters, and I’ve developed a close friendship with another mom in my neighborhood who also has two daughters the same ages as mine. We’ve been meeting for coffee every Tuesday for the past year. However, over the past month, my friend has unexpectedly canceled our coffee dates…

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Student abroad wants to maintain friendships when home

DEAR HARRIETTE: I’m currently studying abroad in Spain, and I’ve been fortunate to connect with amazing people through the Bumble BFF app. The issue is that my new friends are scattered across Europe, and when I approach the end of my time in Spain, I’m concerned about maintaining these friendships once I return to the…

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Professional unable to take criticism

DEAR HARRIETTE: I’ve observed that I find it challenging to cope with criticism, particularly in my professional sphere, even when it’s meant to be constructive. How can I cultivate a more resilient approach to feedback, effectively separating personal emotions from my professional development? I’m eager to understand how to view criticism as a valuable tool…

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Maintaining friendships while in a relationship

DEAR HARRIETTE: How do I, while in a heterosexual romantic relationship, manage and nurture healthy opposite-sex friendships without causing discomfort or misunderstandings with my partner? Are there specific boundaries or communication approaches I can adopt to maintain trust and ensure mutual comfort in such situations? — Establishing Friendships DEAR ESTABLISHING FRIENDSHIPS: It’s all about honesty…

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