Dear Doctors: I had been spending a lot of time alone, so I made a point of joining friends at a museum, going on a group hike and volunteering at a book sale. I had been struggling with poor sleep but on each of those nights I slept really well.
Theoretically speaking, the United States will be having a presidential election in 2024. Everybody acts as if it’s a sure thing. Political “horse race” coverage dominates the news. Debates, rallies and candidate speeches take place. Newspapers and TV news outlets publish polling results every few days. Everybody’s familiar with the ritual, and everybody plays along.
Food festivals can add fun and flavor to your vacation. Here’s a small sample of what’s coming up this year around the country.
The solar calendar tells us that, with the winter solstice swiftly receding, the days are getting longer. With Donald Trump winning Iowa caucuses Monday, the political calendar is getting shorter.
Dear Doctors: Each year when we switch away from daylight saving time, I get that SAD thing. I start feeling low and eventually get depressed. Why does that happen? I’ve read there are special lights that can help and would like to know more about that.
DEAR HARRIETTE: As the eldest in my family, I’ve unintentionally become the default babysitter for my grandchildren, great-nieces, nephews and other younger family members during gatherings. This shift has made family reunions less enjoyable, as I anticipate being on constant babysitting duty.
As the new year dawns, the American economy is in good shape. But the public is in a bad mood. That contradiction dominates our political life, and how voters untangle their feelings over the next 10 months could well decide the election in November.
According to Winston Churchill, “Perfection is the enemy of progress,” It’s the time of year when we try to do too much, change too quickly. Already expectations are lowering, and reality is setting in. The sky is gray, the temperatures cold, and I am coming to grips with the fact that I cannot eat toffee every day. (At least, not a lot of toffee every day.)
DEAR HARRIETTE: During a family trip with my in-laws this holiday season, everyone gathered, including my wife and her sister, brother-in-law and nephew. I’ve never been close to my wife’s family. They’ve made jokes insinuating that I’m snobbish due to our differing backgrounds. On Christmas Eve, I found out that there was a planned lunch to which everyone was invited except me. My wife mentioned they assumed I wouldn’t enjoy the food and decided I’d prefer my own plans.
DEAR HARRIETTE: I find myself in a difficult situation with a close friend I met when I moved to Minneapolis for my job two years ago. I need your advice on how to navigate this matter as I have only made a few friends in Minnesota, and I don’t want to lose one.