Advice and Games

Colleague doesn’t want to train employee

Jan 07, 2026

DEAR HARRIETTE: My company recently hired a new entry-level colleague to our team, and I am annoyed that I am the one who has to train her. She graduated from college last May, and this is her first job. I understand that she is not expected to know anything, but our work is fast-paced, and it’s frustrating to have to slow down for her to take the time to understand what’s going on. When I explain a task or walk her through a process, it doesn’t seem to click a lot of the time. As a result, I end up repeating myself or redoing work that I thought I had already explained, which adds to my own workload and stress.

Shoveling snow quickly puts strain on heart

Jan 07, 2026

Dear Doctors: I’m 65 and healthy. I actually like shoveling snow because it keeps me active. My grandson and my wife say I’m asking for a heart attack and are after me to get a snowblower. I would like to know how serious a risk shoveling really is. Surely there’s a way to shovel snow and stay safe.

Carpooling co-worker tattles on driver

Jan 02, 2026

DEAR HARRIETTE: I carpool with my friend to work. I pick her up every day because she’s on the way and doesn’t drive. We’ve been late a few times, and our job has a protocol for lateness. My supervisor doesn’t keep close tabs on our team’s timestamps, so she hardly realized when I was late. My friend’s supervisor, however, happened to notice her fourth tardy arrival and gave her a stern warning, per protocol.

One solution for eye floaters: Vitrectomy

Jan 02, 2026

Dear Doctors: You recently stated in a column about eye floaters that there is no cure at this time. I got a vitrectomy for this condition, and it was life-changing for me. By no means is this procedure meant for everyone as it is not without risk, but there is a cure!

Classmate creates one-sided rivalry

Dec 26, 2025

DEAR HARRIETTE: I’m struggling with this weird competitive energy between me and one of my classmates.

Overuse of curcumin can cause GI distress

Dec 26, 2025

Dear Doctors: I am a 67-year-old physically active man. I was taking turmeric three times a day for several weeks to reduce workout-related inflammation.

Bone bruising is localized area of fractures

Dec 06, 2025

Dear Doctors: I slipped and slammed my shin on the metal ledge of a moving van. I could still move my toes, turn my foot, stand on it and walk, so I figured it wasn’t a break. A few days later, a big lump showed up, with lots of swelling and bruising. Could it be it actually was broken?

Comments about daughter cross the line

Dec 06, 2025

DEAR HARRIETTE: My friend and I were talking recently, and she made a comment about my daughter that caught me off guard. It wasn’t outright cruel, but it was insensitive: She implied that my daughter was “a lot to handle” and hinted that her behavior made it difficult for people to be around her. I know kids can be overwhelming at times, and I’m not blind to the fact that my daughter has her moments, but the way she said it felt judgmental – almost like she had been holding this opinion for a while and finally let it slip. It really hurt my feelings. I didn’t say anything in the moment because I was shocked and didn’t want to escalate things, but now I keep replaying it in my head.

Cheap friends won’t stop complaining

Dec 04, 2025

DEAR HARRIETTE: Two of my friends are extremely cheap, and it’s getting to the point where it’s hard to enjoy doing anything with them. We all live in New York City, and as you know, the cost of simply existing here is high. Yet they complain about every price tag, subway fare or coffee that costs more than $3, even splitting an Uber when it’s pouring outside. The other night we went to a casual restaurant where the average entree was around $20, which, for NYC, is honestly pretty reasonable. They acted like the prices were outrageous and spent half the meal whispering about how “expensive” everything was. It was uncomfortable, and I felt guilty ordering what I wanted.

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