1. Write a note, send an Email, or make a phone call – and express your love to your spouse, children, or significant other.
2. Clear your desk of unfinished tasks – the kinds of tasks you’d rather not meet yet again on Monday morning.
3. Wish others well. Look your “office enemy” in the eye and wish him or her a really good weekend. You’d be surprised how wanting the best for others has a “transfer effect” and helps kick in your own happiness.
4. Plan to do something unexpected, something unpredictable; something out of character that will have your friends wondering what has happened to you.
5. As always – you have read it here many times – forgive everyone everything.

Girls, offer your dad your arm; link it with his. With your arm tucked in his, there’s nowhere you cannot go, there’s no place that is unsafe, there’s no destination too far, and no journey (no matter how short or long) that is not worth the effort. Walk with your father in this manner as often as is possible — it’s very good training for when you have to walk alone.

“My husband always wants to go out with ‘the boys.’ I believe married men don’t belong in nightclubs without their wives. This has been ignored. We have tried counseling and he lies at those sessions. I recently kicked him out as I found out that he had been in contact with two women he’d met. He keeps coming back, and I can’t prevent him from seeing our young son. His family is convinced that I am making too much of this as the relationships were not physical. He has no idea of how deeply he has hurt me. I was always the one to try to find a solution but he has pushed me too far this time.” (Shortened)

You have as much control over your husband as you do over the weather. Give it up. Let him be the boy he apparently needs to be. You do, however, have some control over how you and your child will be treated. After a three of four months of living apart you might both be ready for a compromise of sorts. For now, hold your ground. He might grow up when he sees you are serious.

“My partner and I split up after five years. We have a child (3) and were extremely happy. I always had my own life and we also shared quality time. Her flirtatious nature wasn’t obvious. After an illness, our son was 6 months old, things slowly changed. She became moodier and demanding. I set us up in new house and home, hoping that this would help her become more productive. She spent up to 5 hours online chatting while I was at work. Her fiery emotional attack-style defense appeared when I talked about it and my resentment grew. I ended up seeking some sort of fling online, which came to nothing. On day we discussed things and become closer again but it was very temporary. She became more and more venomous until I reacted and screamed at her to leave (I meant just go outside and cool down) but she moved out. I was very upset, hating both her and myself, while trying to be a strong dad for my son. My advice to anyone, if it doesn’t feel right, it most probably isn’t. Go with your gut instinct. Be honest. Always keep a part of yourself even within the tightest of relationships.” (Letter edited)

“My husband, after eight years of marriage, told me, when I was about to give birth to our second baby girl, that he was not in love with me anymore. She is now 18 months old. This has been the worst 18 months in my life. He stayed and I have done some very compromising things to make him love me, including getting breast implants. I know I cannot change his mind because I have done everything I can. In the meantime have missed the last year and a half of life with my beautiful girls. I think women think we can fix everything. I am slow to discover I cannot.” (Minimally edited and shortened)

Indeed, I hope you and your children will find the future you really want. While the pain of your immediate past could totally debilitate you, I hope it is clear that to be immobilized by your husband’s inconsideration will not bode well for your family’s future. Perhaps, one of the saddest aspects of your letter is your apparent naïve belief that modifying your breasts would be enough to keep your husband. Dare I say that a man who stays in a marriage for the shape and size of breasts is not worth keeping?