DEAR HARRIETTE: I have not dated in a year, and due to lack of closure, I cannot stop thinking about my ex. I have not thought about him as frequently as I did when we first ended things, but now that I have become sort of a recluse and do not go out very much, I have been daydreaming about it more. I know I need to get out of the house. Last year, I would go out every weekend and meet new people, which may be because I was a college freshman in a new city, but it was also nice to meet people from different backgrounds and have a lot of options of people to start talking to. However, this year, I barely go out, and if I do, it is to see my friends. I want to get back on the horse, so to speak. I am past what happened last year, but I am not sure that I am ready for a relationship again. Do you think that I should start talking to people again? How do I do that? -- Turning the Page
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DEAR TURNING THE PAGE: It is time to change your patterns. Being a recluse and spending time with only a small group of friends will not help you shake this melancholy. It is time for a radical change. While you may not need to go out every weekend like you did last year, it could be wise to make a strategy for going out much more frequently. Look around to learn what’s going on in your town that interests you. Plan to go to openings of art events, films, holiday bazaars -- whatever you can do out and about. Join a club that does something you find interesting. It could be skating, drawing, coding. Who knows? Whatever looks interesting when you research activities in your area. Push yourself to get out of your house and open your eyes to new friends. It will be hard at first, but you are worth it.