Horoscopes

Aries (March 21-April 19): There may be legitimate reasons for futile pursuits. As impossible as the standard of perfection may be, there are excellent near-perfect findings along the way to make such a quest worthwhile. Taurus (April 20-May 20): Not every appetite is an indulgence. More often than not, what you crave will point you to what your body and soul know will nourish you. Follow an interest into the deeper and more nourishing levels. Gemini (May 21-June 21): Of course you stand for something: You stand for a lot of things, in fact. That being the case, there’s no need to go out of your way to find new things to stand for. This is a day to relax and just be who you are. Cancer (June 22-July 22): In the case where the boss is away, inept or nonexistent, someone has to lead. You’ll be good at it. You’ll call some key shots, in a manner that is necessary and beneficial to you and all involved. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22): You refuse to give a mood too much sway over your schedule. Moods come and go. You prefer to make decisions based on your overall vision of your life, not the moment-to-moment minutiae of feelings. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Repetition makes for ease... that is until it makes for weariness and exhaustion. Practice until you get good — but then know when to quit. Recognize the point of diminishing returns. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 23): The competition isn’t always coming at you from an opposing side. Often it’s your nearest and dearest who are the most competitive with you, which adds complications to the scene today. Scorpio (Oct. 24-Nov. 21): You want something that scares you. The prospect of having what you want is even more frightening than the possibility of never having it, but you’re brave, so you’ll go for it anyway. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): You’re a hard worker today, with deeper wells of self-discipline than usual. Take advantage of these focusing powers while they last. Also look for ways to apply more of your talents to the task at hand. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): It will be important to separate your identity from your opinions. Your opinions — even your beliefs — may change as you come to understand more about the world. Who you are is much deeper than one worldview.

People connect in the soft parts of their hearts. Those are also the vulnerable parts. You cannot make that connection without leaving yourself somewhat vulnerable. On some level you have to agree to get hurt. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20): If relationships were emotional weather, some would be a gentle wind through the mind and others would put you on tornado watch. Then again, you can be a bit of a storm chaser these days. It’s one way to fight the ennui.

To write to Holiday Mathis, visit www.creators.com/ author/holiday-mathis and click “Contact.” DEAR ABBY » I enjoy reading your column, especially letters regarding young girls and their social skills. I have two granddaughters who have the normal drama, mostly with other girls. I worry their social skills are getting sidetracked.

I am interested in ordering your booklet about popularity. You have such a good way with words, and I’m sure the girls would find it helpful and enjoyable reading. They are the only grandchildren I have, and I’m trying to give them insight and help them along to become fully functional, successful adults. Is it still available? — Linda in Terre Haute, Ind.

DEAR LINDA » Yes, the booklet is still available. It was written in response to thousands of questions from readers over the years who were not naturally socially assertive and contains many useful tips for polishing social skills. It can be ordered by sending your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $7 (U.S. funds) to Dear Abby Popularity Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 610540447. Shipping and handling are included in the price. You will find the booklet covers a variety of situations and is meant for people of all ages. Everyone wants to be the kind of person others find interesting, attractive and worth knowing better. (If parents, teachers and clergy know someone needing help in this regard, it might make an inexpensive gift that could help change the course of that person’s life.)

The key to being well-liked by both sexes is: Be kind. Be honest. Be tactful. Don’t be afraid to give someone a compliment if you think it’s deserved.

If you think you’re not beautiful (or handsome), be well-groomed, tastefully dressed, conscious of your posture. (People who stand tall project self-confidence.) If you are not a “brain,” try harder. If you are smarter than most, don’t be a knowit-all. Ask others what they think and encourage them to share their opinions.

If you’re not a good athlete, be a good sport. Be generous with kind words and affectionate gestures, but respect yourself and your family values always. If you think “putting out” will make someone like you, forget it. (It won’t work, and later you’ll be glad you didn’t.) If you need help, ask God. And if you don’t need anything, THANK God!

DEAR ABBY » My husband refuses to wear headphones. This means that when we sit in the living room together, I must put up with the blaring noise of whatever he is watching.

I do a lot of writing, and in order to think, I need silence. I have tried earplugs, but they don’t muffle enough of the noise. Now, when I have had enough, I leave the room. This results in us being in two separate places, which he hates. Is there another solution I may be overlooking? — Loud in Maine

DEAR LOUD » You might try noise-canceling headphones. However, if that doesn’t work, because you need to “hear” in your head the sentences you are trying to write, you may have to do your writing when your husband is not at home.

Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www. DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.