DEAR HARRIETTE: I had a hot-and-heavy romance with a man earlier this year, and then it just went cold. We were totally into each other until he stopped being kind. At first, this strong man actually seemed sweet, or at least sweet on me, but then something changed. I’m not sure what happened, but I haven’t been able to get him to talk to me about it at all. I’ve tried to do things that would reignite the spark we had, but now I feel stupid for trying so hard. These days we talk only if I call him and maybe lure him over with a meal or a present. Pathetic, right? But I’m finding it hard to let go. What should I do? It’s like he got my heart, but then he discarded it. -- Brokenhearted

DEAR BROKENHEARTED: Take a deep breath. Assess the situation as objectively as you can. From what you have described, it seems as though you had an exciting love affair that ran its course. By your account, it is over. Now you have to accept that. No matter how good it was, if he is not behaving in an attentive, loving, reciprocal manner anymore, he is not worth your time. You absolutely should not have to bribe him with gifts in order to get him to pay attention to you. Walk away. If he tries to come back, let your expectations for a relationship be known.

DEAR HARRIETTE: My mother was recently diagnosed with dementia, and she has had a rapid downhill decline in the past few months. While she does have insurance, I have had to pick up the slack for most of the additional expenses, and I’m quickly running out of money. It is horrible how expensive everything is. I used to think I had some money, but now I understand that a health crisis can wipe out a whole life savings.

My brother and I do not have the capacity to care for our mother anymore. She wandered off while living with him recently. Both of us have to work, so there’s nobody at home during the day. That said, I won’t be able to foot the bills for a caretaker for much longer. I love my mother more than anything and want to do right by her. What can I do? How can I help her when I’m running out of money? -- Turning Point

DEAR TURNING POINT: Talk to your mother’s insurance company about options, and call assisted living facilities with memory care units to discuss the cost to move your mother there. Speak to state officials about state-sponsored health care for the elderly. Through Medicare or Medicaid -- depending on your mother’s age and financial status -- you should be able to find a place for her to live that will meet your financial requirements. It may not be as comfortable as the home of you or your brother, but help is available. To get direction on resources to help your mother, go to: alzheimers.gov/life-with-dementia/find-local-services.

(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: Returning to New York City after five years abroad is both exciting and overwhelming. The thought of the logistics -- flights, packing and navigating the city -- makes me anxious, and it’s taking away from the joy of planning my trip. I want to enjoy the experience, but I feel like there’s so much to consider. To ease my anxiety, I plan to break everything down into manageable steps, like booking flights and making a packing list ahead of time. I’ve also realized that anticipating everything can lead to worry, so I’m trying to remind myself that not everything has to be perfect. A few mindfulness practices like deep breathing or taking short breaks could help calm my nerves. Finally, I want to remind myself that this is a fresh start, and embracing the adventure will help me get through the overwhelming moments. How can I shift my focus to the excitement of returning to NYC and starting anew? -- Travel Anxiety

DEAR TRAVEL ANXIETY: Give yourself some grace. Step one is to make sure that you leave no loose ends as you move your life from abroad to back home. That should be your focus, and it sounds like it is. Your plan is strategic and manageable. Be proud of that. Also, take the time to get together with people you have grown to care for so that you say farewell in meaningful ways.

As you pivot, reach out to a few friends from home and set up get-togethers so you don’t feel isolated after you return to the city. Don’t overload your calendar. You will likely be tired when you get home and need space to acclimate. Continue to practice your mindfulness exercises, and be sure to take in your surroundings. You have plenty of time to get excited about NYC. It’s the nature of the town!

DEAR HARRIETTE: I recently went on a three-week vacation where there was no cell signal, and I decided to disconnect from my phone completely during my stay. I also chose to take a break from social media to focus on my mental health and reset. However, now that I'm back, I feel disconnected from my friends and the latest updates. While the time away was refreshing, I miss staying up to date with what's happening in the world and maintaining my social connections. I want to stay informed without the pressure of constantly checking social media. I know I need balance, but I'm not sure how to reenter without going overboard. -- Disconnected Return

DEAR DISCONNECTED RETURN: Do your best NOT to jump back into a world of being bound by social media. You got out of it! Rejoice. Establish a new rhythm for engaging with your friends. You may be seen as aloof at first, but that’s OK. Tell your friends you miss them and would like to see them in person. Plan face-to-face get-togethers. Decide that it is cool to be in each other's physical presence, and continue to be disciplined about social media engagement. You will thank yourself. Plus, the mystique you created when you went away and cut the digital connection will remain.

(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: My younger sister is getting married to a man with a significant number of financial issues, and I’m really worried about her future. He has $300,000 in combined credit card debt and student loans, and to make matters worse, he’s earning only $40,000 a year. Meanwhile, my sister is much more successful; she has no debt and a stable career and earns a six-figure salary. She’s worked hard to get where she is, and I’m proud of her, but I can’t help feeling like she’s stepping into a financial disaster by marrying this man. I fear that once they’re married, he’s going to rely on her not only to cover their bills, but also to pay off his debt. I know marriage is about partnership, and everyone comes with their own baggage, but this feels different. It seems like he’s bringing an overwhelming financial burden to the relationship, and I don’t think my sister fully understands the long-term implications of this. I’ve tried hinting at my concerns, but she brushes me off and says she loves him and they’ll figure it out. I don’t want to overstep or come across as judgmental, but I’m genuinely scared for her financial stability and independence. Should I say something more directly, or is it better to let her learn the hard way? -- On the Plank

DEAR ON THE PLANK: While your sister may not listen, please speak to her candidly. Love is great, but practical planning is also important. Suggest that they talk to a financial planner about strategies for their future. This may help her see what role she will have in dealing with her fiance’s debt. She should also consider a prenuptial agreement to protect her assets in case they divorce.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I have three children, ages 16, 5 and 2. My husband and I both work long hours, and since we are a low-income family, we’ve had to rely heavily on our 16-year-old to help with child care for her younger siblings. We’ve always been grateful for her help, but recently, she had an emotional breakdown and confronted us about how overwhelmed and unhappy she feels. She told us that it’s unfair that she’s expected to babysit her siblings so often and for free, and that she’s been forced to sacrifice a lot of her social life and personal time because of it. She feels like she doesn’t get to be a normal teenager who can hang out with her friends or join school activities. Her words really hit me hard; I didn’t realize how much of a toll this has taken on her. I know she has a point, and I don’t want her to feel like her needs and happiness don’t matter. At the same time, my husband and I are struggling to make ends meet, and paying for child care simply isn’t an option for us right now. I don’t want her to grow up resenting us or her siblings. How can I make this situation better for her while still managing the reality of our family’s financial situation? -- Need Help

DEAR NEED HELP: Create a “village” with other families with children. Ask if you can take turns caring for each other’s younger children to give your daughter a break. Consider changing your work schedules so that one of you works days and the other nights. You have to figure this out so that your daughter gets some time for herself. If you don’t, you may lose her.

(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.)