My advice to Julie: Be honest.

My friend Julie amuses me. Because she goes out of her way to please people. Meanwhile, I have no qualms about displeasing people. Even some of my best friends. I was brought up. To please people. Particularly my parents. And teachers. But somewhere along the line, I began to rebel against pleasing everyone. I decided to be my own man. My true self. And that meant that I had to take umbrage with people.  Nowadays, I'm taking sharp issue with Julie.  For being too nice. Too pleasing. Too accommodating. I encourage Julie to tell off some of her friends. Because they deserve to be chastised. Be honest with them, I plead. Even if that means telling the likes of me to go to hell. --Jim Broede