Dear Queenie,

I enjoy reading your columns, especially the more humorous ones.

Anyway, I'd like to hear your thoughts on a personal topic. What advice do you have for young people who grew up with highly religious parents and are now frightened to speak up for themselves as adults because they don’t want to “dishonor” their parents or have curses cast upon them because they want to be their own person, making decisions without guilt and shame?

Queenie, I look forward to hearing from you.—Tired church girl

Dear Church girl,

Do not argue with your parents about their religious beliefs. Try to respect them and, as much as you can, abide by them.

However, once you are out on your own you can live more according to your own religious concepts – again, without discussing or arguing with your parents about them.

Dear Queenie,

I like to go out and do things and try new things to do, but my wife just always wants to stay at home.

Queenie, what do you suggest for us?—Discontented husband

Dear Husband,

Ideally you and your wife would do things together. However, if she is unwilling and you are not content with her behaviour, perhaps a marriage counsellor would help the two of you enjoy your life together better.

Dear Queenie,

Firstly, thank you for the work that you do.

My question to you is that I have a friend who says she doesn’t want to be around my fiance, that whenever we link up to not bring him around. When I asked her give me one good reason why, she replied saying she “doesn't take his spirit, he seems un-geniune."

To me that's disrespectful of her, but I don’t know if it's disrespectful and I don’t know what my next plan of action should be in regard to this.

Queenie, please help.—Detoxifying

Dear Detoxifying,

Firstly, thank you for your words of appreciation.

My answer to you is that it is not necessarily disrespectful of your friend to not like your fiance. If she does not like him, see her without him and do not try to bring them together.

However, if you trust your friend’s judgement, you might ask her (and yourself) what she finds “un-genuine” about him.

Dear Queenie,

I have lost most of my loved ones because of illness or accidents or just old age. My wife and the friends and relatives I have left have helped me get through it all, but I find it upsetting when I hear other people complain about their family or friends about little things.

Queenie, at times like that should I remind them how lucky they are to still have their friend or loved one?—Mourning my losses

Dear Mourning,

You could, but unless you are ready to discuss your situation with them in detail it is not likely that the persons about whom you complain will change what they do.