Dear Annie: I am an 18-year-old woman, and I’m a freshman in college. I am currently majoring in Creative Writing and English. I have a very deep passion for writing, and I would like to become a published author one day. I also have a passion for herbs and herbal medicine. I plan to start my own apothecary business very soon, as I am studying herbal medicine on my own personal time.

My dilemma, it seems, is that I think that majoring in business would be far more worth the money spent on my education, right? Should I continue studying Creative Writing and English, or should I switch my major? — Undecided

Dear Undecided: It sounds like you have plenty of passion, direction and drive to make this dream happen. Business knowledge is always going to be useful, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be your major. I would encourage you to talk to some individuals who have been successful in your desired field — small business owners, authors, etc. — and hear about what it takes.

You need to be OK with sacrificing up front — long hours with little pay — in order to reap the long-term benefits. Think about whether you are willing to do this and whether you are in the financial position to do this. Beyond that, trust your gut and follow your dream.

Dear Annie: I’m going to try to keep this short and sweet. My husband’s brother and his family moved to another state last year. We haven’t seen them since the move and are planning a visit this month.

My husband’s parents live in the same state as we do but about four hours away. They’ve been to visit the brother’s family out of state three times over the year. They never reached out to us and invited us to join them, and honestly, I never expected them to. It’s their business what they do with their time, and I am glad they are making great strides to be a part of all of our lives as they age.

Anyway, today my husband asked me if I had invited them to meet us at his brother’s house. I replied, “No, I didn’t. I typically don’t invite people to someone else’s home. However, if your brother wants to invite them, they can.” My husband said that made total sense. He was just wondering because we would have the chance to all be together at one time.

Am I correct in not inviting them? I wouldn’t expect the brother or the parents to come visit us and invite one or the other. And I must add that my sister-in-law (my husband’s brother’s wife) has had a somewhat rocky past with the parents. I’m imagining showing up with my husband’s parents pulling in behind us and getting a “what in the world” look from my dear SIL! It just seems out of place for me to mention it. — Stuck in the Middle

Dear Stuck: Your response is perfectly rational and appropriate. You can’t invite someone — family or not — to another person’s home, especially when there might be a rocky history. If your husband wants his parents to be there, perhaps he can talk to his brother about it

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