DEAR HARRIETTE: I’m feeling really terrible because I forgot my best friend’s birthday, and now she’s not speaking to me. We’ve been best friends for over 10 years, and I’ve never missed her birthday before. This year, I ended up working a double shift the day before her birthday, and I was so exhausted that I slept basically the entire next day. By the time I realized what day it was, it was already late, and I had completely missed the window to call or even send a text. I tried reaching out the day after with a sincere apology and even sent her a small gift and a message explaining what happened, but she hasn’t responded. I get that birthdays are important, and I genuinely feel awful for forgetting, but I also wish she could see it for what it was: a one-time mistake, not a reflection of how much I care about her.

Now I’m stuck wondering if this one slipup is going to ruin our entire friendship. Should I give her space and hope she comes around, or should I try harder to make it up to her? I don’t want to seem pushy, but I also don’t want to let our friendship fade over something that wasn’t intentional. -- Missed Birthday

DEAR MISSED BIRTHDAY: If this one slipup ruins your friendship, there is something deeper going on. Sure, it’s hurtful that you missed your friend’s big day, but it is not the end of the world. Think about the situation. Is there anything else that could be fueling your friend’s pain? Are you an attentive friend? Have you forgotten important engagements with her in the past? If you have behavior that needs to improve, commit to doing that. For now, you have to wait for her to come back around.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I have a neighbor who, while I know he means well, is nosy and doesn’t seem to understand boundaries. He’s retired and spends a lot of time outside, so he notices everything that happens on our street and especially around my house, since I live across from him. For instance, if I leave my garage door open for too long, he’ll call or text me to let me know, even if I’m just in the middle of cleaning or unloading groceries. If someone stops by my house like a friend or even a delivery person who lingers a bit, he’ll make a point to call and ask who it was, especially if it's someone he doesn't recognize as my husband or kids. He’s not aggressive or rude, just overly involved in things that aren’t his concern. He once even mentioned that he keeps an eye on our property "just in case anything ever looks suspicious." While I understand the intention might be protective, it honestly feels more invasive than helpful.

I don’t want to be unkind or start any neighborhood drama, but it’s getting to the point where I feel like I’m being watched every time I pull into my driveway or have someone over. Should I tell him to stop? -- Nosy Neighbor

DEAR NOSY NEIGHBOR: You are being watched, and you cannot control that. You do not have to respond to his every overture. Let the phone go to voicemail when you are busy. Don’t tell him who your guests are. Stop being so responsive. This may help him to back off 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.)

DEAR HARRIETTE: I recently ran my first half marathon, and it was one of the most fulfilling experiences I’ve ever had. I had been training for months, and over time, running became more than just exercise; it became a passion, a stress reliever and something I truly looked forward to each day. It gave me structure, confidence and a sense of accomplishment I hadn’t felt in a long time. Unfortunately, not long after the race, I had a bad fall and broke my ankle. My doctor says I’ll need several weeks to heal, and even after that, it’s unclear when I’ll be able to return to running at the level I was at before.

I’m absolutely devastated. Not only do I feel physically limited, but I’m also struggling emotionally. Running gave me a clear outlet and helped me feel strong and capable; now I just feel stuck. I miss the routine, the goals I was working toward and the community I had started to build through running. I know I should be grateful that this injury is temporary, but right now I’m finding it hard to stay positive. How can I cope with this loss of a hobby that brought me so much joy? How do I stay mentally strong and maybe even find purpose while I recover? -- Injured

DEAR INJURED: Create a wellness calendar with clear weekly goals. Put your all into your recovery, including physical therapy, at-home exercises and healthy, nutritious eating. Meet new people wherever you go, including at therapy. Strike up conversations with folks who are struggling just as you are. Make the absolute most of the moment by engaging with those around you. Don’t give up on your goal to run again. Just recognize that the road to recovery is long. Pay attention to the little victories along the way. This will help you to stay motivated.

DEAR HARRIETTE: My husband is a procrastinator. Anything important that needs to get done, he puts at the bottom of his list of priorities. When I mention that he needs to pay attention to something, he shrugs it off and gets snippy with me. This includes getting an annual physical. My husband is getting up in age, and I’m worried that he doesn’t even have awareness of his health status. How can I get him to take these things more seriously? Right now I’m tied up in knots worried that something terrible is going to happen. I don’t think he has had a physical for more than five years, just as an example. -- Make a Move

DEAR MAKE A MOVE: Do you think your husband would go inside if you surprised him with a doctor’s appointment? Try it. Schedule an appointment and take him to the doctor. He may be mad at you, but at least he will have had the appointment -- assuming he goes in.

Beyond that, sit down with him and tell him you are concerned and want him to get a physical so that he has an evaluation of his health. He can decide what he wants to do about whatever he learns, but the American medical system is known for its excellent diagnostics�. Encourage him to take advantage of that for your peace of mind.

(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: My husband and I recently planned a weekend trip out of town, and we arranged for our children to stay with their aunt, my husband’s sister, while we were away. We thought everything was going well until, halfway through our trip, we received a call from her saying that one of our kids had started acting out. She told us that she doesn’t tolerate that kind of behavior in her home and insisted that we come pick him up immediately. I was shocked and honestly upset. I understand that our son can be a handful at times. He's going through a bit of a rebellious phase, but I feel like she overreacted. We trusted her to help us out, and instead of trying to manage the situation or even calling us for advice on how to calm him down, she made us cut our trip short and made us feel like we were being irresponsible parents for going away in the first place. Now there’s tension between us, and I don’t know how to approach this. Am I wrong for feeling like she could have handled things differently? -- Not Helpful

DEAR NOT HELPFUL: Did you inform your sister-in-law of your son’s recent behavioral shifts? It sounds like you knew that he could be difficult, but you may not have communicated that clearly to her. Sure, she could have tried harder to care for your children and give you and your husband a much-needed respite. It also sounds like you could have communicated more specifically about your children’s needs and idiosyncrasies.

Both of you could have done better. To mend the situation, speak to her and admit that you could have been more communicative about your son’s potential challenges so that she would have been better prepared. Tell her you wish she hadn’t given up so quickly as you really needed some time away. Acknowledge that you both could have handled the situation differently. Ask for forgiveness and move on.

DEAR HARRIETTE: My friend loves using online dating to find guys. I see that this is common right now, but what I don’t like is how she is teaching my 22-year-old daughter how to use it. I guess I should accept that my daughter is legally an adult, but she is pretty naive. I don’t want her out there meeting random guys through some app. That’s not how I learned to date. How can I get my friend to back off and allow my daughter to date the old-fashioned way? -- No Online Dating

DEAR NO ONLINE DATING: Welcome to the new world. Whether your daughter learns about online dating from your friend or someone else, this is the way that most people are meeting each other these days. If approached with care and thoughtfulness, she may be able to meet someone who shares her interests. Trying to prevent her from accessing online dating sites is not likely to work. It may trigger deception or stop her from talking to you about her dating life at all. Instead of blocking, encourage your daughter to think about what she wants in a partner and to be specific about that when she creates her profile and when she talks to potential suitors.

(Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams. You can send questions toaskharriette@harriettecole.com or c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)