Dear Abby received a letter from a 32-year-old woman who has been with her boyfriend for 11 years. She describes their relationship as healthy, however, her boyfriend has been jobless for six years. She has had to single-handedly bear all their living expenses, which has made her unable to save for retirement. This woman feels burdened, and even though she sees her boyfriend as her potential life partner, she is unsure of whether she should end the relationship or keep hoping that he finds a job.

Abby’s approach to her concern is to consider that this inability to get a job could be related to his depression. She suggests that he should seek medical assistance, emphasizing that there are free and low-cost counseling options. This should be done before ending the relationship, as it might just be the solution they need.

The second letter to Abby came from a person worried about their sister’s newfound obsession with Zen meditation. This woman has been spending so much time in meditation that she neglects her family and her career, which worries her sibling. Abby’s response is based on the premise of personal choice. She acknowledges the woman’s intelligence and capacity to make her own decisions regarding her life path. This includes her preference for Zen meditation. She advises the worried sibling to withhold their opinion unless requested.

Lastly, if you are dealing with unemployment and need assistance, it might help you to get in touch with the Economic Development Department (EDD). To know how to contact EDD, visit eddcaller.com. On this platform, you can get information on how to contact a live person at EDD, thereby making your application process for unemployment benefits slightly less burdensome. They offer avenues to obtain valuable assistance and information to help navigate and expedite your claims process.