DEAR HARRIETTE: I have been having a great time this summer hanging out with friends, and I’m sad that it is coming to an end. My favorite time of the year is summer, and I start to dread the cold weather the moment this season ends. It’s weird. My attitude changes almost instantly, and I get moody. I want to figure out how to keep my spirits up as the seasons change. Do you have any recommendations? -- Getting the Blues

DEAR GETTING THE BLUES: Seasonal changes can affect people dramatically. Know that you are not alone if it is happening to you.

Because you relish the summer so much, you are holding on dearly to those experiences rather than walking into the next season of your life. I recommend that you give thanks for what you have experienced up to this point, and then tell yourself that you are ready to experience what is coming next, whatever that is. With your eyes wide open, walk into fall with anticipation, not dread. Schedule time with loved ones to meet and engage in fun activities that will keep you active. Be sure to have the proper clothing to stay warm and dry. Go on adventures and explore your environment and the wonders of this season.

If you find, even with all of the effort you can muster to stay in the moment, that you still can’t climb out of negative feelings, check in with a therapist. Seasonal affective disorder is a real condition that impacts many people. You may need psychological or medical support as you enter this season. Just remember that your attitude about being in the moment and relishing the good in it is essential for your happiness.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I am beginning to be forgetful. I never was good at remembering people’s names, but now I seem to be forgetting chunks of time. Sometimes I will be mid-sentence and forget what I was about to say. I know this can happen to people, but I’m worried that I might be getting Alzheimer’s or dementia or something. I am not yet of the age when this typically happens to people, but this is a concern to me. I don’t want to seem like a hypochondriac.

When I mentioned my fear to my spouse, he instantly told me I was overreacting. That wasn’t helpful. Since I’m still in my 50s, should I just let it go or take some vitamins, as a friend suggested? I don’t want to be a bother to anyone, but if this really is happening to me, I don’t know what to do. -- Memory Loss

DEAR MEMORY LOSS: You are not overreacting. Go to the doctor and get a full medical checkup. Describe your symptoms in detail with as many examples as you can. Start taking notes so that you will have concrete information. You may be referred to a neurologist who specializes in treating the brain and the nervous system. With professional guidance, you should be able to determine what’s happening in your body and receive guidance for what to do next. There may be vitamins and supplements recommended to you as well as other medications, diet and exercise. Don’t try to deal with this alone.

(Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams. You can send questions to askharriette@harriettecole.com or c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)

DEAR HARRIETTE: A good friend of mine is a video content creator. The other day while we were having lunch, I suggested a concept for one of her videos. She seemed uninterested in the idea at the time and sort of brushed it off. A few days later, I logged on to Instagram and saw that she did, in fact, create a video incorporating the concept that I suggested. The problem is that she didn't credit me with the idea at all and instead said that she found the idea “somewhere online.” I feel hurt and confused. What should I do? -- I Want My Credit

DEAR I WANT MY CREDIT: You should speak to your friend immediately. Confront her about using your idea without attribution. If she is truly a “good friend,” ask her why she would falsely state that she found the idea “somewhere online.” Be strong as you speak to her, and demand that she add proper attribution to the video. Further, tell her that if she makes money on the idea, you expect some type of financial compensation. Do your research to find out what creatives are paid for video ideas so that you have a clear understanding as you talk to her. As a friend, tell her how disappointed you are that she essentially stole your idea.

DEAR HARRIETTE: After being divorced from my dad for about 15 years, my mom is finally dating someone new, and they seem very happy. Although I'm thrilled for her, it's been difficult for me to get to know this new man. I feel hesitant and a bit standoffish around him. He seems to be a nice guy. It's just that my mother went through so much with my dad that I can’t stand the idea of watching her go through something like that again. I know it's important for me to accept this new relationship, but I'm not sure what's holding me back. Do you have any advice on how I can be more welcoming to this new man and less closed off? -- Hesitant

DEAR HESITANT: Your mother was probably wary at first about letting her guard down with this man. Trust her judgment and give him a chance. If you don’t allow yourself to get to know your mom’s boyfriend, your mother may never be able to completely let herself relax into her relationship either. Can you ensure that she will never be hurt again? No. But you can get to know this man, find out how he thinks and what he believes in and observe how he treats your mother. Be respectful when you communicate with him, and be proactive about being in his company. That’s the only way you can get a sense of him. Do not assume that he has the same flaws as your father. Assess him on his own behavior and merit. It may be difficult for you to do, but your mother is counting on you. Take it one encounter at a time.

(Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams. You can send questions to askharriette@harriettecole.com or c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)

DEAR HARRIETTE: Every year, people remember 9/11 for the horror of the day and also the solidarity that it brought to our country. I wasn’t born until after it happened, so I only know it from reading and from my parents’ recollections. Sometimes I feel disconnected from the impact of the disaster. My parents lost good friends in the World Trade Center, so I want to be respectful. What I normally do is just support them in whatever ways they ask. Is there something else I should do? -- Post-9/11

DEAR POST-9/11: There is no script for how to behave in the aftermath of a disaster like 9/11. Even though it occurred many years ago, its impact continues to reverberate throughout the United States and the rest of the world.

On a personal level, you can look for ways to promote peaceful engagement among people who may not share the same views. Look for organizations that focus on building relationships between people across generations, political ideologies and backgrounds. I believe that the way that we will ultimately create peace is to learn to listen to each other and respect our similarities and differences. This is much harder to do than to say out loud. Finding ways to live side by side with respect no matter our beliefs is a big goal. Your own actions toward building relationships in your life is what you can do to honor the past and build the future.

DEAR HARRIETTE: My friend just got out of a toxic relationship, but instead of feeling free and liberated, she seems even more unhappy. She was so consumed by the relationship that now that it's over, she doesn't know what to do with herself. She mopes around the house, talks about him all day and night and seems completely stuck. She is drinking heavily and not going to work. When she does go, she says she is distracted. I am worried about her. I've been trying to support her, but it seems like nothing is helping. My worst fear is that she’ll end up going right back to him. Is there anything I can do as a friend to help her? -- Trying To Help

DEAR TRYING TO HELP: Some people believe that they are addicted to bad relationships and cannot find a way to extricate themselves. The energy is so strong and compelling that it can feel like a drug. This may be what your friend is feeling. She seems to be wrapped up in his energy right now. She needs something to break the bond between her and this toxic engagement.

Encourage your friend to go to a therapist. What she experienced with her partner may have destabilized her. She needs to learn ways to take care of herself and learn how to love herself again apart from him. Disentangling from a messy relationship takes time, patience and support. Professional help may give her the tools she needs to begin to notice a partner who is a better match for her rather than slipping back into old patterns.

(Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams. You can send questions to askharriette@harriettecole.com or c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)