Life Advice
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Millennial Life: The Kids Are Not All Right ... but They Might Be Right
You know that line from "The Avengers," where Bruce Banner turns to Captain America and says, "That's my secret, Cap: I'm always angry"? I've been thinking about that a lot lately. Because I think that's where the youth are now. And as a middle-aged youth, that's where I still am, too.
After a youth shooting, our city is about to have a series ...Read more

Asking Eric: Now wealthier than her ex, woman debates paying more than her share of tuition
Dear Eric: My ex-husband and I were on fairly even financial footing when we divorced. Our incomes were similar, and we split the assets almost down the middle. He was a lazy, selfish, philandering husband, but he's a decent dad. Losing that 200 pounds of deadweight has freed me up to focus on advancing my career. My income has doubled, while ...Read more
Disabled Veteran Feeling Failed and Forgotten
Dear Annie: I'm a 100% disabled veteran living in Alaska, and I feel completely defeated. For the last two years, I've tried to hold state agencies accountable for serious mishandling of my case -- including falsified documents, broken agreements and using my disability against me. Despite filing formal complaints and following every process, ...Read more

Asking Eric: Son’s older, long-distance relationship raises alarm bells
Dear Eric: My 22-year-old son has met a 36-year-old woman in Brazil on the internet. He has fallen for her and is planning to go there this summer for at least three months.
My husband and I are very worried. He doesn’t speak the language, although he is learning it. He hasn’t traveled by himself before and there are advisories for ...Read more
I Have an Old Flame I Can't Put Out
Dear Annie: I'm writing in response to "Grieving and Not Prepared for a Confrontation" whose husband died before he could recoup a sum of money he lent to his brother; now, she needs that money and is looking to collect. Your wishy-washy advice to this widow on how to approach her brother-in-law Simon was like advising her to take a water pistol...Read more

Creating community, one bowl of soup at a time
FERGUS FALLS, Minn. -- When Rita Nau moved to Fergus Falls during the pandemic, she didn’t know a soul.
It can be hard to make friends in America, and greater Minnesota is no exception. But Nau has found ways. In January, the former restaurateur began baking bread and making soup for neighbors, friends and friends of friends — really, ...Read more

Asking Eric: With no work to do, husband stops engaging in life
Dear Eric: I am a 75-year-old professional woman married to a great 74-year-old Ph.D. who works in Pharma and has no desire to retire. We have a very good marriage, but I am struggling with resentment and negativity due to hubby's work situation. We both work from home. His workload has been nonexistent for three and a half months.
His boss ...Read more
My Best Friend Makes Me Feel Like Second Choice
Dear Annie: When our sons married and left home, my husband and I decided to make sure our sons and their families would never have to choose who to visit on any holiday. We also wanted to make sure that we got to see all of our extended family members during the holidays. So, we announced that we would always have our holiday get togethers at ...Read more

Asking Eric: Facing mortality, woman unsure whether it’s unfair to get a cat
Dear Eric: I'm a 78-year-old widow, who has been without a cat for one year now; first time in my life. Is it fair to adopt a cat if I most likely only have one and a half to two and a half more years to live? I do travel as well. I do not have any family, so who would get the cat remains unknown. Maybe back to the adoption group? Is this fair ...Read more
Boyfriend's Secret Friendship Has Me Wondering
Dear Annie: I've been seeing this guy since early December. He's perfect in every way, except he seems to be attached to this one woman, "Suzy," who he became good friends with due to unfortunate pasts connecting the two of them. Since the very beginning, he has always been honest with me about his platonic relationship with Suzy.
While I have ...Read more
Single File: Best Single Cities
According to census data, the median age for an individual's first marriage has been steadily increasing over time. In 2018, the median age for a first marriage in the United States was nearly 30 for men and 28 for women, up from 23 for men and 21 for women in 1970.
In addition to putting off marriage, millennials are also more likely to be ...Read more

Ask the dating coach
We’re here for another installment of “Ask Dating Coach Erika,” where people anonymously share their burning dating questions.
Question: Any tips for someone who works 80 hours per week and is always burned out but wants to date?
Answer: Trust me -- I wish I had the ability to create more hours in the week. Unfortunately, that's not in ...Read more

Ask Anna: I can't afford to be my friend's maid of honor
Dear Anna,
Three months ago, I excitedly agreed to be the maid of honor in my college roommate's destination wedding next summer, assuming it would involve standard expenses. Fast forward to now, and I'm realizing I cannot afford the costs: a specific designer bridesmaid dress, mandatory professional hair and makeup, the flight and five-day ...Read more
Millennial Life: The Tables and Traditions That Form Our Lives
The victims of the shooting could have been at the table next to us at Olive Garden. Or, it could have been the shooters. It's hard to know.
The table had a group of young men, perhaps in their late teens or early 20s, wearing their grown bodies like oversized coats inherited from their fathers. My son and I shared the wall-length booth with ...Read more
Single File: The Two I's - Part 2
Now, where were we before we were so rudely interrupted by those seven days? Oh, I remember now. You were feeling impatient with the waiting game and ready (almost) to make something happen now, soon, even though the love of your life isn't (yet) on the scene! The way I see it, passivity is no longer your style. You've been feeding yourself, a ...Read more

Talking phase' turnoffs
There’s an important period in a relationship that’s often overlooked in online dating: the point between finding an interesting profile and actually meeting in person. While there is certainly an art to crafting an interesting opening message — although anything more exciting than “Hey” or “How’s it going?” will often suffice, ...Read more

Ask Anna: What to do when your partner shuts down
Dear Anna,
I’m a 35-year-old woman currently in a relationship with a wonderful man (44) who has a complicated family situation. He shares custody of his young daughter with his ex-partner, who has a history of emotional abuse and manipulation. She actively tries to drive a wedge between him and his daughter, fights every single parenting ...Read more
Milleniel Life: Turns Out Scraping By Is Not the Goal
For millennials and Gen Z, life is mediocre. Whatever we label the drive for overachievement -- the hustle, the grind, or paying your dues -- we've found that it doesn't necessarily lead to success. Especially if we've redefined what that looks like for us.
It's not just about money. Working 40, 50, or even 60 hours a week with one or two jobs ...Read more
Single File: The Two I's Part 1
Intimacy versus individuality sounds like a choice ... as if maybe you will find one or the other in your love life, but you know for sure you can't have both of them in the same relationship! That's the (yawn) fiction that's been circling the single world for generations. But the truth is not only is it possible for the same relationship to ...Read more

Dating then vs. now: Better, worse or just different?
When I was visiting my parents for Thanksgiving last year, I thought it would be fun, both as a dating coach and as their daughter, to interview them about how they met and how their relationship progressed. This month marks their 45th wedding anniversary, so I would like to give tribute to them in this article.
The main two questions I wanted ...Read more
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