DEAR HARRIETTE: My mom often criticizes me because I live an untraditional life, and it worries her at times. I understand she has good intentions, but I am too old for her to dictate the way I live. I am a digital nomad and have been traveling around Asia and Australia for the past three years. I work remotely and make enough to travel and even store some money away in savings. I decided I wanted to see the world and live a more carefree life when I turned 30, so I sold most of my belongings and set out to travel. My mom lived a simple life where she settled down young and had kids in her early 20s. I find nothing wrong with this, but it’s not the life that I wanted for myself. My mom calls me every single week asking me to come back to the United States and settle down; every single week I tell her no. The nagging is starting to get to be a lot, but I don’t want to stop taking her phone calls.

I love my mom so much and could never cut her off. How do I set boundaries with her while still having a good relationship? Is there a way to help her understand and respect my choices without feeling like I’m hurting or disappointing her? -- Mom Vs. Me

DEAR MOM VS. ME: Ask your mom to agree to just enjoy each other when you talk. Choose to discuss highlights. She can share about her week, and you can share about yours. Schedule when you will go home to visit so that she has that to look forward to. Would she ever come visit you? Perhaps that way she could see the way you live. Keep reinforcing storytelling as a means of being close to each other. Over time, she may begin to enjoy that.

DEAR HARRIETTE: My wife and I are gearing up to celebrate our 50th anniversary! I'm so happy and so proud, but I don't know how to show it. We are planning a huge vow renewal ceremony and celebration with friends and family, but just like our wedding, she's doing most of the planning. I want to do something unique and special to show her that I am just as dedicated as her. I want this anniversary party to feel like a thank-you to my wife for her patience, partnership and years and years of loving me. Do you have any ideas of what I can do that will take my wife's breath away? -- 50 Years and Counting

DEAR 50 YEARS AND COUNTING: Can you access photographs from years past? If so, you can send them to a printer like Shutterfly and have an anniversary book created of images that outline your life.

You can also write your own vows. Take the time to think fully about the life you two have led. Write something heartfelt that you will read to her before folks gather that showcases your love for her.

You can take her on a dream vacation after the party that you schedule as a surprise. Just make sure other family members or loved ones are in on it so that her calendar will be clear.

(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 recently went on a date with a man for drinks, and at first I thought I might be interested in seeing him again. We texted briefly after the date, but the more I reflected on our interaction, the more I realized he wasn’t the type of man I want to be with. Initially, I planned to stop responding to his messages, but he continued texting me even after I stopped communicating with him. Because of that, I decided it was more respectful to be direct and let him know that I wasn’t interested in continuing to see him. He responded by saying it was “all good,” but then asked if I could send him money to pay him back for the drink he bought me on the date that he asked me out on. I was completely disgusted by his response. Instead of sending him the money, I chose to block him.

Now I’m second-guessing myself. Should I have just sent him the money to avoid the situation altogether, or was I right to stand my ground? As a result of this, I’m now wondering if dating is even worth it anymore. Should I continue putting myself out there in hopes of finding a man who is emotionally mature and respectful, or is it better to take a step back altogether? -- Bad Date

DEAR BAD DATE: You are not wrong to let your date know you don’t want to continue going out with him. If he invited you on the date and paid for it, so be it -- you are not obliged to pay him back. Still, it’s good to be aware of the cost of dating these days. Many are opting out of dating due to the expense. You have to weigh the pros and the cons.

In the world of apps and hookups and casual interactions, it can be hard to find someone you connect with. Don’t give up, though. Perhaps change your strategy. I just talked to a couple who independently hired a matchmaker. This woman combed the entries she had collected and used her own knowledge and awareness to match them up. It worked. The couple just got married.

DEAR HARRIETTE: Before we took off for Christmas, a few of my colleagues gave me presents. I hadn’t even thought of that and did not give them anything. Should I be following up with gifts for them even though it’s after the fact? How do you handle a situation like this? I like them very much, but I have never given gifts to co-workers before for Christmas. -- No Gifts

DEAR NO GIFTS: Hopefully you thanked your colleagues in the moment. You can also reiterate your gratitude, if it feels appropriate. A New Year's gift wouldn't go wrong, but you don’t want to make too big of a deal of it as that moment has passed. Next year, you might think of getting cards for your colleagues. Talk to a confidant to learn more about the unspoken culture of your company so that you can better fit in.

(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 READERS: I have worked at the same company for 12 years now, and I was recently promoted into a role that places me above several people who have mentored me in my career. These are colleagues who trained me, advocated for me and helped shape my professional growth, so stepping into a position where I now oversee or outrank them feels weird. I’m proud of being promoted, but I also feel awkward.

Since my promotion, I’ve noticed changes in my interactions with the co-workers who have mentored me to get to this point in my career. Some of them are polite but distant, while others seem less receptive to my ideas than they used to be. I find myself second-guessing my decisions or downplaying my authority because I don’t want to come across as arrogant. How do I respect the people who helped me get here while still stepping fully into my new position? Is it possible to maintain mutual respect without diminishing myself or making them uncomfortable? How can I manage the guilt and self-doubt that come with surpassing the very people who mentored me? -- Promoted

DEAR PROMOTED: Speak to your former mentors individually. Thank them for all of the support and love they have offered you over the years. Bring up this new stage in your career where you have been promoted to leadership. Admit that it feels awkward being in this new role. Repeat your gratitude for all their help. Tell them you hope you will make them proud as you step into this role. Then go for it.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I have a friend who calls me only to ask me to do something for somebody else. We have been friends for a long time, but he seems to think that it is my job to help various people in his life. I have agreed to mentor this one, connect that one to someone else, hire another one, give advice to yet another. Sometimes the people are extremely pushy and insistent. It seems like he has promised them that I will hook them up with things. While I don’t mind helping, I would much prefer being able to chat with my friend without any other obligations. He doesn’t seem to understand that. How can I get him to just be my friend without hurting his feelings when I don’t want to help his friends all the time? -- Be My Friend

DEAR BE MY FRIEND: Talk to your friend. Tell him that you would like to meet up, just the two of you, to enjoy a moment together. If you are able to organize that gathering, tell him in person that you miss your friendship stripped down from other people. Share that it can be overwhelming sometimes when he is constantly putting you in touch with people he wants you to help. While you are good at that, it can be too much at times. You don’t want to feel like every time he calls you, it is to have you hook up one of his friends. Ask him if he can call sometimes just to check in with you.

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