Horoscopes

Aries (March 21-April 19): Don’t be fooled by people’s full-grown size. Many adults are emotional infants with emotional awareness under what the average 8-year-old possesses. Have patience! Taurus (April 20-May 20): The roadblock to your desire once caused you frustration, but now it’s doing something different for you. Who knew you could be this strategic, creative and capable? Thank the roadblock. Gemini (May 21-June 21): While no one knows exactly what will happen, you can make a pretty good guess where things are going based on your current position. The slightest change will alter the trajectory, and in today’s case, drastically so. Pivot. Cancer (June 22-July 22): The guru finds the condition in herself first, and then lives it. Others will observe and follow suit. The best teaching is modeling. It requires no explanation, lesson plan, or grading system. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22): To be intolerant of the intolerant nullifies the whole point. If you feel yourself leaning toward judgment, take yourself out of the equation entirely, or to whatever extent that is possible. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Your emotional core is solid. Your loved ones will get from you a strength that is as gentle, supportive and as constant as the mountain. Storms come and go, the mountain remains. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 23): It’s so much easier to give advice than to take your own, but you have the strength of will for this today so don’t let the opportunity slip by. Do the thing you’ve told other people to do. Scorpio (Oct. 24-Nov. 21): It seems that everyone is trying to get you to buy something today when what you really need isn’t a new item, program, teacher or method. Organize what you already have. That’s the winning move of the day. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): The Japanese have a word, “komorebi,” for the particular kind of sunlight that’s filtered through the trees. You’ll feel an emotional or spiritual light today that’s so distinct it deserves its own untranslatable name. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): To know a thing is not for you and therefore to rule it out and ignore the option can be a very wise move. But be careful here. It can also be an indicator of fear and lethargy. Which is it? Examine your motives. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): To find out what keeps you stuck, figure out the reasons behind your current pattern. Ask yourself why. Once you know that, you’ll be able to come up with more desirable solutions to serve that need. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20): Quiet moments of introspection only provide a glimpse. The way to really know yourself is to study yourself while you’re working with others. One person in particular will bring out an interesting side of you today. DEAR ABBY >> My sister and I recently found out (through the internet) that my mother and stepfather have filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. A few months ago, Mom approached my sister (who’s an attorney) asking about the effects of bankruptcy “for a friend.”

My sister and I are now struggling with this information because my mom and stepdad promote a direct sales business where they advertise their multiple cars and lavish lifestyle as a result of the business profits. Should we let them know that we know about the bankruptcy and, if so, how should we handle this situation? Thanks for your advice. — Struggling sisters

DEAR STRUGGLING >> You and your sister the attorney should go to your mother and stepdad and tell them the cat’s out of the bag. They may need help extricating themselves from the company they have been promoting. Many people have been caught up in shady direct sales schemes and wound up with garages filled with product they couldn’t sell. Whether your mother and stepdad are victims or perpetrators remains to be seen.

DEAR ABBY >> My boyfriend and I have a joint membership at our local gym. Today the gym owner asked him if I was his mother. It upset me to the point of tears. I don’t look any older than he does. We are not the same race. He is fit; I’m not, but we are both in our early 30s.

Why do people ask rude questions when a simple check of paperwork would satisfy their curiosity? I feel I should say something to her like, “Mind your own business.” How do I get over this because I still would like to attend her gym?

— Working out in the Midwest

DEAR WORKING OUT >> That gym owner ain’t no rocket scientist. She could have lost TWO clients by asking that ill-advised question. Because you would like to continue patronizing the establishment, refrain from telling her to mind her own business.

P.S. It’s possible that she was hitting on your fella, so ask HIM what he hoped to accomplish by repeating something so hurtful.

DEAR ABBY >> My wife and I have lived in our home for 25 years, raised our children here and imagined living on this beautiful cul-de-sac forever. A woman who moved close by a few years ago has turned out to be the neighborhood gossip, spreading hateful rumors and expressing opinions that sadden us, based, we believe, on her own failed marriage and personal unhappiness.

It would be nice to dismiss her comments and believe that our friends will ignore her, but it’s still hurtful and embarrassing. I have read that gossiping is related to low self-esteem and an effort to elevate oneself above others. What is your advice?

— Keeping it positive

DEAR KEEPING >> My advice is to live your lives as you always have, and see your friends as you always have. By doing this, you will demonstrate that whatever the new neighborhood gossip is saying is fiction.

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.

Abby shares more than 100 of her favorite recipes in two booklets: “Abby’s Favorite Recipes” and “More Favorite Recipes by Dear Abby.” Send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $16 (U.S. funds) to: Dear Abby, Cookbooklet Set, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. (Shipping and handling are included in the price.)