Lonely Holidays

The holiday season is a time of friends, laughter, gifts – and loneliness. Oh the joy of not being able to be with one’s self! Whether we are coupled or single, loneliness sooner or later will make an appearance in our lives. The holiday season seems to exaggerate feeling lonely, especially when we assume everyone else is having a jolly time.

Fitting In

We all need to fit in and belong. When you start a new job, you want to fit in. When you join a new group, you want to belong. When you arrive at a dinner party, you want to feel welcomed. This is normal. We all need to feel part of our communities. But why do we often feel like outsiders?

How risky is kissing?

I’m a 17 year old slowly falling for someone who has just told me that they are HIV+. Both the decision to stop the relationship from happening and to keep going seem to be wrong. (Either I put myself at risk, or potentially wreck his emotional state.) I don’t even know who to listen to about the risks though. Some say if I kiss him, I’ll get HIV and some say I won’t unless I have open cuts in my mouth. Just how risky is all of this?