The most dangerous thing I ever did was, one summer, while working at the Grand Canyon, my friends and I hiked down into the canyon at night, under the full moon, and stayed at Phantom Ranch.  It was more exciting than dangerous - we didn’t see any wild animals.

Personally, I think there are too many times when you might need to have surgery for health reasons, to want to have surgery for cosmetic reasons.  I’ve had a few necessary surgeries, and at this point, don’t plan on having any additional surgeries ever.  True beauty is within a person, anyway.

Laura, the best antidote for anxiety is action - do what you can about your problems, but when there’s nothing you can do, pray about it and then turn your attention to something positive. 

If you use what you buy, Costco has many brand-name items for very good prices.  You do have to have discipline when you shop there, so you don’t wind up overspending.  (I take a list, and buy the things I really use.)  I really like their company management style - their CEO isn’t overpaid, and they pay their employees nicely.  They do business in a very respectful manner, which makes it nice to shop with them.

Please use the extra-delicate cycle!

I have been wondering myself, if MJ’s children will be groomed for show business….I told someone - look for it in the next few years.

Ok, my name is also Anne, and at 48 I decided to stop coloring my hair too!  What a coincidence!  I’m now 49, and happy with how I look.  I think it’s important to be comfortable with who you are, and to grow old gracefully. (Incidentally our name means "grace").

You sound like my doctor! 

Heather, thank you for writing that!  I agree that the general belief that everyone has done drugs, so somehow that makes it ok to do drugs, is absolutely wrong.  My opinion is that people who use drugs are simply not creative enough to find better ways to relax and have fun.  Also, I think that they like to generalize these things because they feel that since they like to do drugs, it should be ok to do drugs.  Funny how many of us in society have managed to have a great life, with plenty of relaxation and fun, without drugs!

Sometimes people are able to get good grades in spite of using recreational drugs, but how can someone become a doctor - who is supposed to be advocating good health to patients - while doing things that damage their own health?  Right now, she is just going to school, and she must be fairly intelligent to be getting the grades she does.  (She probably could have a 4.0 if she was straight.)  What about later when she has people’s lives and health in her hands?  Guess what - smoking pot is very bad for your health, and yes, it is a BIG DEAL.  If you don’t agree with me, check out Dr. Daniel Amen’s website where he shows actual pictures of brain damage caused by smoking marijuana, and other poor choices.  If people smoke pot long enough, the damage is worse, and affects how they do everything!  Just smoking pot one time causes the brain to function as if the person has ADHD, for up to six weeks after.  Margo may have just wanted to address her relationship with her sister, but that doesn’t mean that the drug problem should be ignored.  Does this make people feel important about themselves?  Maybe.  But sometimes people just feel strongly about stating important facts too, in hopes that some good can come from it.

Re:  letter #1 - She’s pre-med, and she drinks and smokes pot, huh?!  Let’s hope that she quits that stuff soon…that’s one doctor I wouldn’t want "practicing" with my health!!!  It could be that her sister is trying to instill some common sense in her too.

Re:  letter #2 - I think that if people are in love, and want to have a baby together, they should just do it, provided that they get married first! I agree with Dana that the father probably should have a physical examination first, but many older men have had healthy children.

Hey L.C.- what thorough and important information!!!  Let’s hope it helps even one person who needs it!

Yes, getting therapy to heal from the hurts in your life is a very powerful thing!  I did what you did - and came out stronger too!  I just did Pastor Rick Warren’s "40 Days of Love" bible study, and I found the lesson on forgiveness to be incredibly powerful.  Even after years of therapy, I found this to be the most comprehensive and effective practice for healing to date.

You can tell your story, but most importantly is learning to forgive the person that abused you.  What I mean by this isn’t that you condone what was done, but rather that you practice forgiving over and over, so that the memory of what they did to you doesn’t hurt you anymore. 

I disagree with the comment, "what you live through is what you know, and if you are abused as a kid, you will go on to be an abuser."  That only happens when people don’t face what happened to them honestly, and then pretend that nothing was wrong.  How many people have lived through child abuse, but as they grew up, sought therapy and healing, and then were able to not repeat the "cycle of abuse"?  I suppose some people feel trapped by the "failings of the system", but doesn’t it seem like if they really wanted to change things, that they would?  How many stories are out there about people who had tremendous courage, and went "underground", and disappeared with their children and built new lives.