Horoscopes

Aries (March 21-April 19): All of the elements of the zodiac work together. The earth isn’t possible without water, air and fire. You’ll seek diverse alliances, and together you’ll create what none could conceive of alone. Taurus (April 20-May 20): The beginnings of a relationship are like starting out on a winter morning walk. The cold says “turn back” at first, but give it a few laps to see if internal temperatures adjust to make for a pleasantly invigorating experience. Gemini (May 21-June 21): People will go to great lengths to avoid an ego bruise, but there’s a great opportunity in this sort of pain for those who risk it. Never was there a more conducive circumstance to quickly and beautifully fine-tune one’s image. Cancer (June 22-July 22): Many have lost their balance lunging for the brass ring. The energy of anticipation can go awry and must be carefully managed. Too much excitement can spoil the deal. Step away, distract yourself, calm down, come back. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22): Sometimes you like finding out what people know that you don’t because it’s interesting. But right now, it’s much more than that. There’s money riding on the question. Ask outright. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): You could take the win, but is it worth it at this point? If the victory comes at someone else’s expense, you’ll always be looking over your shoulder, waiting for things to catch up with you when the tides inevitably turn. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 23): There is no one person who can relate to you in every way. Some have sensitivity, others finesse, others a way of making you feel like a star. When you don’t expect anyone to deliver on all levels, you enjoy what each does well. Scorpio (Oct. 24-Nov. 21): You are not this one emotion you are having. However pleasant or uncomfortable it may be, it’s a feeling you’re having and not an integral part of your identity. There’s peace in tugging these things apart. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Respect is the bedrock of good relationships; it makes things easier, allowing you to give and receive the benefit of the doubt when things don’t go to plan. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Though you can’t totally know another person’s pain or joy, something deep in you resonates with a taste of it to help you understand, empathize and react in a way that makes everyone feel less alone. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): It’s easy to focus on the relationships that bring you dividends. There’s also something essential you get from tending to relationships that seem right now to be deficits. Time will tell. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20): Constraints serve to intensify your wanderlust. If someone tells you that you can’t, it only strengthens your will to prove them wrong. Whatever has been bottled up will now pop out, pressurized.

DEAR ABBY >> Is there a delicate way for me to tell my boyfriend not to use the same online floral delivery service again? The birthday bouquet he had delivered to me arrived with limp, wilted, torn petals and leaves and broken stems. It was one of those boxof-flowers deliveries.

I doubt my boyfriend realized they would not arrive in a vase and arranged by a florist. Instead, they had been packed in a box, without water, with the vase packed alongside, delivered by a regular package courier.

I usually send him a photo of my bouquet along with my heartfelt thanks, and while I thanked him as usual, I did not send a picture of the bouquet because I knew he would feel bad — both about the lackluster arrangement, and the money he had spent on them.

I found what I believe was the intended arrangement on the website, and it was lovely — a far cry from what was delivered to me. I love my twicea-year flowers (birthday and Christmas), and I don’t want to come across as critical or ungrateful. I am blessed to have such a thoughtful partner.

If flowers were just a onetime gift, I would not even consider mentioning it. However, with Valentine’s Day (and another flower delivery) approaching, I wonder if I should let my boyfriend know that it might be better to use a local florist to ensure he is getting his money’s worth. Or should I just cross my fingers that it was a one-off?

— Ungrateful girlfriend

DEAR “UNGRATEFUL” >> Tell your boyfriend why you didn’t send him a photo of the flowers he sent as you usually do. He has a right to know, and it will not make you appear ungrateful. He may be able to get a refund if the order was mishandled and he had ordered an arrangement in a vase. And if the vendor is not forthcoming, he may choose to deal with a different one next time. Please give him the option.

DEAR ABBY >> I’m one half of a female best friend duo in our early 30s. We both live with clinical depression, and my friend also has ADHD. During most of our 20s, neither of us did a good job of coping with these issues, but we were able to laugh it off together. Now, after putting in a lot of work, I’m finally in a healthy place, and I intend to continue getting better from here.

My best friend, however, is managing her own mental health as poorly as ever. She doesn’t have the interest or the motivation to help herself the way I have, and she resents when others try to talk to her about it. I sense she wishes I was like I used to be.

I’m starting to feel like being around her is no longer healthy for me, but I don’t know what to do. I don’t have many other friends. I live out of state from my family, and I still love her dearly. How should I proceed?

— Self-helper in California

DEAR SELF-HELPER >> Proceed by continuing to move forward. If you seek out new activities, you will meet more people with common interests. Do not drop her. Call her periodically to check in, and make a point of inviting her to join you in some of your new interests. However, if she refuses, do not let it deter you from doing what you must to aid in your healing. I congratulate you for finding the strength to get the help you needed.

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.