Horoscopes

Aries (March 21-April 19): Remember when you accidentally promised more than you could comfortably do and then felt pressured and harried? It’s why you’re careful to under-promise this week. This way, you’ll leave plenty of room for yourself to over-deliver. Taurus (April 20-May 20): If you don’t go looking for trouble, it won’t go looking for you. This is a good way to live. And the crazy little knots of the past don’t have to be undone. They’re not a mess; they’re a net, holding it all together. Gemini (May 21-June 21): The glass is neither half-empty nor half-full. There are in fact only a few drops left, yet the eternal optimist would say that there’s still something in it. Indeed, one drop of water holds worlds. Cancer (June 22-July 22): There’s a new chapter coming, so you don’t have to be afraid to close this one out. Take heart, and have faith. Do it as they do in television; leave some things unsolved. Keep this mystery going. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22): You’re whole on your own. You might not feel that way as connections change and you have to adjust. But it’s true. The lesson is that you’re stronger than you often give yourself credit for. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): You can promote your work without apology. It won’t be for everyone, but there are people out there who very much need what you do, and they’re not going to find you until you start sharing what you do. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 23): The point is to express yourself. You may be at a loss as to how to do it exactly. But seek new influences and you’ll soon be exposed to a way that’s perfect for you. Scorpio (Oct. 24-Nov. 21): You hear the passion in people’s voices, and it gives you information — and not just about what people are passionate about. You’ll learn about other things you need to know, too. Tiny pieces of the human puzzle you’ll put together later. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): To strike a good pose used to be an essential skill for models, performers, artists and the like. Now it’s a skill for everyone, and there’s no shame in playing around with it. You’ll learn something about yourself. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): There’s nothing to fear. The future will come the same way it always does, one hour at a time. So the job today will be simply to stay awake and aware as you take your steps forward. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Don’t dread being told of your mistakes. Many do, and they suffer and stagnate because of it. Having someone to tell you how to do better is a blessing. It gives you an opportunity for growth not afforded to many. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20): Being able to read the situation is always a plus. Some aren’t so great at this, and anyone who is should be noted. These are the types you want on your team. They’ll steer you into the best light. DEAR READERS >> The departments of psychiatry and medicine at Tufts Medical Center want to learn more about the impact caregiving has on family members and friends of people who have been diagnosed with depression or other illnesses.

Because family members and friends play a large part in providing care while also balancing jobs and other responsibilities, the physicians and research scientists at Tufts are asking you, my readers, to share the impact caregiving has on different aspects of your life, including your ability to work and your health and wellbeing. This information will be used to improve services to caregivers and the people they support.

You may be eligible to participate if you are a:

-- caregiver for a relative or friend with depression or other illnesses,

-- person who has depression that has not improved with treatment,

-- person who is employed and not involved in caregiving.

If you are interested in participating in this important study, please visit bewellatwork.org/NCS/. Participation in this study is voluntary and anonymous. It involves answering a brief set of questions and, if you are eligible to participate, completing an anonymous survey. The entire study is conducted on the internet and is completely private. In the past, readers have generously helped by sharing your experiences, and I hope you will do so again.

DEAR ABBY >> I’m 7 1/2 months pregnant with my first child, and my husband and I are happily awaiting our baby’s arrival. I am fretting over something I need some help figuring out. My mother-in-law is a serious smoker. She smokes in her home, in her car and right before getting into anyone’s car or leaving home. She reeks of smoke all the time.

I do not want my baby around a smoker, but of course, I want our baby to bond with Grandma. She’s oblivious to the dangers of second- and third-hand smoke and laughs it off. My husband says we can’t make her stop smoking, and he doesn’t want to talk with her about it. I am adamant about our baby having a smoke-free environment. What do I do?

— Protective future mommy

DEAR MOMMY >> Your tobaccoaddicted mother-in-law is not going to quit smoking. Your husband doesn’t want to talk to his mother about it because he knows it will go nowhere. That leaves you.

Unfortunately, your child is going to have to live in a world in which there are people who smoke. While you may be able to minimize his/her exposure, you cannot guarantee that from childhood to adulthood your child’s environment will be entirely smoke-free. Because you are adamant — for good reason — about your baby having a smoke-free environment, you will have to insist, with your husband present, that Grandma bond with her grandchild in your home or some other smoke-free environment. Period.

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.

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