Horoscopes

Aries (March 21-April 19): You’ve been wronged by people who didn’t mean it, didn’t realize what they were doing and never intended to hurt you. Still, you get to decide whether or not you’re going to let them make it up to you. Taurus (April 20-May 20): Life has been happening in your desired timeframe lately, but this is an anomaly and not something you should expect to continue indefinitely. For instance, today’s loopy events will change that rhythm in a fun way. Gemini (May 21-June 21): Can you embrace what you do not prefer? The philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche lived by the concept of amor fati, Latin for “a love of one’s fate,” and you might do the same today, accepting all that is. Cancer (June 22-July 22): You can relax and know that the things that happen today do not require a response, only an observance. It will be important to see what is there, and unnecessary to comment on what is not there. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22): A toolkit that consists of only a hammer is not a “kit” at all. Add a saw though, and maybe a screwdriver, and you’re in business. Mental and emotional toolkits require the same kind of diversity. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Each and every environment has challenges and opportunities. Embrace the full spectrum of what it is and you’ll be somehow more alive than the people who only see problems or only see benefits. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 23): The best things will take time, and the amount of time won’t be something you can anticipate. So relax, stay open, and don’t expect immediate results, only good ones. Scorpio (Oct. 24-Nov. 21): It’s easy to see that people on precarious perches should not reach, and people in holes should not dig. But what’s not so readily apparent is what people in the middle should do. Something. Anything. Challenge stability. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Someone in your lineage crawled out of a cave and got to work on creating civilization. You’ll echo this accomplishment in your own way with what you take on today. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Though it may feel as though you’ve lost control of a situation, there is much good that can come of this. So what if you’re not in charge? That doesn’t mean you’re not benefiting from all that’s going on. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): You’ve had your time to follow and now it’s time to lead. Fair warning: Leading won’t be all glory today. It’s mostly responsibility. And for today, if it feels hard, or even relentless, that only means you’re doing it right. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20): Your creativity sometimes feels like a burden as it steers you toward choices that others don’t understand — choices with no immediate or obvious gain. Follow your creative whims. This is your depth in action. DEAR ABBY » My 3-year-old grandson hurts animals. He’s intelligent and articulate. He understands many concepts about all kinds of things. Frankly, I’m scared. It’s because he is so intelligent and high-functioning. I feel he should have more empathy than he does.

He has been doing this off and on for the last couple of years. My daughter, my husband and I have been discouraging it the whole time. He gets timeouts, stern talks and toys taken away. It doesn’t work. My daughter has started swatting his bottom or his leg hoping he will understand it is unacceptable. She isn’t comfortable hitting him and neither am I. My grandson knows better. I know he does.

My daughter called me this afternoon, upset because he hurt their dog again. Must we get rid of these pets? No one wants to do that. When is it too much? How can we make it stop? — Aghast in Alabama

DEAR AGHAST » It is already “too much.” Your grandson’s behavior isn’t normal. Because he seems unable to appropriately interact with these helpless animals, he shouldn’t be allowed to be around them without constant supervision. For the dog’s own safety, another home should be found for it before it’s hurt again.

Your grandson may be acting out of anger, because he has been physically or sexually abused himself or has witnessed domestic violence. This is why it’s extremely important he be seen by a licensed mental health professional, who can advise his parents — and you — about how this should be handled. Without intervention, the boy’s behavior could escalate, and he could seriously injure another child.

DEAR ABBY » I am a 64-year-old woman; my sister is 68. A few months ago, she was shopping and saw a man who looked EXACTLY like our father. (Dad passed away in 2008.) A conversation ensued, and he subsequently came to visit her at her home. He’s 69. She snapped a picture of him and sent it to me, and the resemblance is uncanny. He was born in the same state as our father, was adopted and never knew his birth parents. We never had a brother; it was always just the two of us and our parents. She wants me to meet him.

He’s married and doesn’t want to tell his family about us. I would be happy to meet him, brother or not, but I need to know the truth before getting involved. It would be too weird for me to just wonder. He seems reluctant to take the DNA test. My sister and I are in the AncestryDNA system already, so it would be easy for us all to confirm. What should I do? — Getting involved

DEAR GETTING INVOLVED » Because this man doesn’t want his family to know he may have siblings, is reluctant to take the test and you would prefer not to meet him unless you know his status, do nothing. The next move should be his.

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.

For an excellent guide to becoming a better conversationalist and a more sociable person, order “How to Be Popular.” Send 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.)