A simple guide to knowing what to do and what not to do. — When my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, we heard a lot of interesting remarks, but my favorite came from one of my mother’s colleagues. She wanted, nay needed, to visit my mother, but at the time, my mother didn’t feel like seeing anyone. Her colleague’s response? …

And what you should do about it. — My mother was diagnosed with Stage IV breast cancer in November 2022. She and my father are playing the situation down to such a degree that I feel like I’m drowning for no reason. They keep telling me and my siblings that there’s nothing to worry about, that chemotherapy’s going…

Quick and easy tips for managing your emotions. — Some of my fondest memories of my grandfather include watching boxing matches together on his old television. When I was 11, we made a pact with each other. In an attempt to get him to quit smoking, we agreed that every time his favorite boxer lost, he would refrain from…

Here are manipulative tactics you should look out for. — I was stuck in a toxic relationship when I was 20, with a guy who was a few years older than me. He treated me like a queen half the time, but the other half, I was no better than a speck of dirt. …

If you notice some of these signs, I suggest you run for the hills. — Anna’s name flashes up as my phone rings for the third time today. I debate on whether or not to pick up because I know exactly what she’s going to say. I have laundry to do and dinner to make, but the loyal, guilty part of me picks up knowing…

Some important things to know before you make this big commitment. — I was this close to getting a dog before I met my partner. The only reason I didn’t go ahead with it? Honestly, he made a great point that if we moved in together someday, we could get the perfect dog together. I’m not going to lie. Having someone to…

Spoiler alert: Emotional cheating definitely counts as cheating. — In its cutesiest form, an emotional affair looks exactly like the earliest seasons of The Office: when Pam was still engaged to Roy from the warehouse but was awfully close to office prankster Jim. Together, Pam and Jim were cuddly and sweet, and a perfect picture of two people so…

Easy ways to love yourself more and feel confident every day. — I’ll be honest. One of the things that held me back from pursuing my dreams for many years was my fear of failure. So how did I overcome it? I worked on my self-confidence. …

A little romantic vacation might be just what your relationship needs. — Before her current relationship, my best friend couldn’t stay in a relationship for longer than a year. I asked her several times why she didn’t allow her relationships to grow, and she always pointed out that her partners didn’t make an effort to spend more time with her. …