DEAR HARRIETTE: My friend recently ran her first marathon, and while we’re all super proud of her accomplishment, it has completely taken over every conversation. Whether we’re at brunch, hanging out or texting in our group chat, she always brings the topic back to her training, the race itself or how she’s already planning for the next one. At first, it was exciting to hear about her journey because we know how much work she put into it. But now, weeks later, it feels like we’re stuck in a marathon of marathon stories.

The rest of our friend group is starting to get annoyed, but we don’t know how to bring it up without sounding dismissive of her achievement. We really do want to celebrate her success, but we also want to be able to talk about other things again. How can we kindly let her know it’s time to switch up the conversation without hurting her feelings? -- Enough Already

DEAR ENOUGH ALREADY: Pull your friend aside, and tell her you need to talk to her about something sensitive. Acknowledge how proud you are of her accomplishment, and let her take that in. Then tell her that she may not realize it, but she has been monopolizing your conversations for weeks with endless details about her marathon experience, leaving little room for others to talk about their lives. Note that she probably doesn’t realize that she is doing this, but the group is growing weary of her nonstop stories about the marathon. Encourage her to listen more and reengage with the group, leaving space for everyone to talk.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I have been a singer since my elementary and high school days and often competed in singing contests, though I failed twice. These failures made me hesitant to join my college choir, but I decided to join for scholarship purposes, as it would help ease my parents’ financial burden. Initially, I was excited to be part of the choir, but during our first rehearsal on stage, I completely froze. While I’ve always loved singing in private, performing in front of an audience fills me with anxiety and self-doubt. Despite this fear, I know how much music means to me, and I don’t want to give up on something I’m so passionate about. I want to overcome my stage fright and find the joy in performing again, but I’m unsure where to start. -- Stage Fright

DEAR STAGE FRIGHT: Talk to the choir director about your predicament. Explain how much you love to sing, but that you need some coaching to get past the jitters. Chances are, you can work together to overcome your discomfort.

On your own, practice singing in front of the mirror, and give it your all. You can also tape yourself singing and share the playback with friends. Work hard to be present when they watch it. Ask friends to serve as a small audience for you to perform live. Keep practicing in front of small groups as you build your confidence. Go for it.

(Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams. You can send questions to askharriette@harriettecole.com or c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)

DEAR HARRIETTE: I just learned that a friend of mine “Arthur,” passed away. Tragically, another friend figured it out and had the police do a wellness check. The paramedics discovered Arthur’s body and took him away, but no one ever called my friend back. My friend called around until he learned that Arthur had died.

Now we are searching for Arthur’s family. I realize that as well as I knew him, I don’t know any of his family members or have their contact information. As we are searching for them, we have to tell a few people in order to do our research. Of course they are all grieving, too. We have asked that nobody post on social media because we really want the family to learn of his passing first. How do you get people to keep such news to themselves? This is such a terrible situation. -- Dealing With Death

DEAR DEALING WITH DEATH: I am so sorry for your loss. As you see, there are many lessons in this tragic story. As connected as so many of us are, we don’t often know our good friends’ in-case-of-emergency contact information. Let this be a wake-up call for all of us to gather those numbers right now.

In terms of keeping Arthur’s death off of social media, you can ask the select people you talk to if they will wait until you find the family. Promise that you will contact them the moment they can say something. Know that you have a day or two -- at best -- before someone will reveal his passing publicly -- not in malice, but simply out of grief.

If you do not find the family within a couple of days, my recommendation is to post something on the deceased’s page that acknowledges his passing and invites anyone who knows the family to be in touch with you.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I was seeing someone for the past few months, but now everything is falling apart. I really wanted to have a chance to sit down and talk to him in person before walking away, but he is refusing to talk to me. Nothing terrible happened between us -- at least not that I am aware of -- but I feel like he is ghosting me. This is an awful feeling. We were so happy and seemingly connected, and now it’s like a door got slammed in my face. How can I get him to at least talk to me so that I can understand? -- Saying Goodbye

DEAR SAYING GOODBYE: Sadly, you don’t always get to say goodbye in an optimal way at the end of relationships. It can be messy and unpredictable how things fizzle out. It is also understandable that it feels awkward and incomplete when one half of a relationship abruptly stops communicating. There is nothing you can do to force this man to talk to you. It is time for you to pivot and tend to your hurting heart. In time, you will be able to move on, even if you never fully learn what precipitated his departure. Right now you need to be strong and turn away from him.

(Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams. You can send questions to askharriette@harriettecole.com or c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)

DEAR HARRIETTE: I grew up as an army brat, and while there were many positives to that experience, it also came with significant challenges that I’m still grappling with as an adult. My family moved frequently during my childhood -- sometimes multiple times within a single year.

Each time we moved, I had to leave behind friends, schools and communities I had just started to get comfortable with. I learned to adapt quickly to new environments, but I never stayed anywhere long enough to develop deep, lasting friendships. Now, as an adult, I’m realizing how much that transient lifestyle has shaped me in ways I didn’t fully understand before. I find it difficult to make long-term connections with people. Even when I meet someone I get along with, I often hold back emotionally because I’m so used to the idea that relationships are temporary. I worry that I’ll come across as distant or uninterested, but the truth is, I’m just afraid of getting attached and losing someone again.

This struggle has left me feeling isolated, and I’m not sure how to break the cycle. I want to build meaningful relationships, but I don’t know how to overcome the mental barriers I’ve built over the years. How can I work through these challenges and start forming deeper, more lasting connections with others? -- Making Friends

DEAR MAKING FRIENDS: The good news is you know why you have reservations about building lasting bonds: You moved all the time. Are you now stationary? Have you been living in the same place for some time, and do you plan on staying there? If so, chances are great that the people you befriend will be staying there as well. When you meet people you like, give each other grace. Perhaps this can be a meaningful friendship. Perhaps it can last. Trust your instincts. If you are getting along, believe that the connection will continue.

Consider getting therapy as well. A psychologist may be able to help you unlock those fears and create space for deeper trust.

DEAR HARRIETTE: My friend, “Hannah,” has developed a passion for painting and dreams of becoming a professional artist. While her work is full of creativity and potential, her relatives have been dismissive, insisting that she can’t make it big and discouraging her from pursuing art as a career. Their words have shaken her confidence, making her doubt her ability to turn her passion into a successful profession. Despite the criticism, she is determined to follow her dream, but it’s hard for her to tune out the negativity. I want to support her and help her stay focused on her goals, but I also worry about the challenges she might face in such a competitive field. -- Creative Dreams

DEAR CREATIVE DREAMS: I interviewed Phylicia Rashad about this topic a few weeks ago, and she said that art is the language of all cultures. When people look to understand what cultures valued and how they lived, they look at the art of that community.

Tell Hannah that her art matters. She should research how she can earn a living making art. Many people do so successfully. Be her cheerleader.

(Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams. You can send questions to askharriette@harriettecole.com or c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)