Breaking News

Uncategorized

Preferences become obsession

Dear Annie: I am in my mid-60s and retired, as is my husband. We have family scattered around the country and travel quite a bit. It has become quite obvious that our kids’ generation is totally consumed with a certain famous coffee brand. I like to refer to it as “Fancypants Coffee.” Every morning starts with rushing off to the Fancypants Coffee shop, whether we are visitors or hosts. No more relaxing at home on a Saturday morning with the grandkids playing. It doesn’t matter if we purchase this brand of coffee to have at home; that’s not good enough. All of my friends are ...

Please reconsider, Mr. President

In 2017, speaking to a group of leaders from Central America, Vice President Mike Pence declared, “To further stem the flow of illegal immigration and illegal drugs into the United States, President Trump knows, as do all of you, that we must confront these problems at their source. We must meet them — and we must solve them — in Central and South America.” What Pence said then was correct. What President Donald Trump is doing now — cutting aid — needs to be reconsidered. Fifteen years ago, Colombia was on the verge of collapse. The nation was overrun with drug traffickers, ...

Temporarily cutting off family member

Dear Annie: I recently went no-contact with my father. We had a tumultuous relationship when I was growing up because of his struggle with mental illness. Before going no-contact with him, every phone call caused me intense anxiety and triggered symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. My decision to go no-contact was a long time coming, and I did not take it lightly. But I need this space from him for my mental well-being. He does not understand this. He thinks I’m taking a step backward, that I’m running away from the problem. I tried to explain to him how PTSD works, that ...

The love isn’t mutual

Dear Annie: I’ve noticed that these days, people say “I love you” almost as a way of saying goodbye to friends or “see you later.” For the most part, I think this is sweet. However, I find myself in a situation in which I am uncomfortable with this practice. A family member who has, for many years, treated me as a resource (i.e., as someone who can do things for her) has suddenly started saying “I love you” to me at the end of conversations. Long ago, I resigned myself to the fact that I need to get along with this person, but she and I will never be real friends because ...

‘They’ are Americans

More than a decade ago, when I was a reporter at The Plain Dealer, management invited a number of us in the newsroom to a special training session on how to report about race. I don’t remember the exact year we did this — it was long before I left the paper in 2011 — but I will never forget my most uncomfortable moment. The moderator for the discussion was Keith Woods, who at the time was dean of faculty for The Poynter Institute, a school for journalists in St. Petersburg, Florida. He is now vice president of newsroom training and diversity at NPR. Woods is that rare leader ...

Letting hygiene go when anxious

Dear Annie: I’ve been suffering from various symptoms of anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder since I was about 11 years old. In addition to all of this, when I was 17, my “boyfriend” forcibly had sex with me at a house party. I was not ready, and he forced himself on me. I was raped. I went to counseling very briefly. When I get really anxious or depressed, my body freezes up, and I feel physically incapable of moving. As you might expect, during these times, my personal hygiene suffers. When I can’t find the energy to get out of bed, I unintentionally skip ...