Dear Patty,

Your frustration is understandable, especially if someone new is being brought on board in lieu of you receiving a deserved raise.  As hard as it is, you must relax, and figure out how to use these new circumstances to your advantage.

Pool your resources together with the new woman to ensure more clients for you both.

Split the load of undesirable tasks laid upon the trainers.

And stick up for yourself -- don't do anything you don't feel comfortable doing (like giving up clients you've already begun training).

-- M

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Dear Marsha,

First off, like our friend Billy, I need you to sit down.  Breathe.  Relax.

Remind yourself that you have made it this far in your life facing down projects and deadlines -- and you're still here, fighting the good fight.

If it's meeting the deadlines at all costs that is of primary importance, figure out ways you can get assignments completed to a satisfactory level -- avoid perfection.  Get it good enough, and move on.

Need help figuring out what's satisfactory enough?  Communicate to your supervisors that you're worried about the deadlines and are proactively trying to avoid any mishaps -- get their feedback on what is good enough.

You may find that you are pushing yourself too hard ... for the benefit of no one.


-- M

Dear Holly,

An income must be earned if you're to pay the rent and feed yourself.

Having said that, you only have one life -- no one's holding your hand to the flame saying you must do this one specific job and nothing else.

Freshen your resume. Look at the job listings on your local newspaper's Web site. Look in the Classifieds. Talk to old teachers, professors or employers. See if you can discover opportunities that match your passions and pay enough for you to survive.

Also look into furthering your education with any type of college degree while you're working -- whether it be something you've studied before or something brand new.

You must take control and invite happiness back into your life.

-- M

Dear Momma,

Of course it's not selfish -- we all miss our brave men and women who are putting their lives on the line halfway around the world. And many of us want them home as soon as possible, just as you do.

You have to trust that the decision to enter the Armed Forces has made your son happy. And remember that he loves his family and country so much that he's willing to put himself in such dangerous environs.

The only solace any of us can have is to pray or have faith that he will make it through this terrible ordeal safely. We're thinking of you.

--M

Dear Blue,

Unlike with poor Ms. Soccer Chick, it seems the long-distance now exists between a functioning couple. The same is always true -- if you love each other, trust each other, and protect the best interests and feelings of each other, you can make anything work.

Why, just the other week I had a lady friend of mine -- who's husband is working overseas -- show me how she talks to him for free over the internet using "video chat." Bless me, I thought that was something only possible at Disneyland in the 1960s.

Just relax. Keep open lines of communication with your boyfriend -- checking in once a day is good. Be patient with each other.

And exercise. The increased endorphins will alleviate any sadness.

--M