In the past 2 years my life has changed dramatically, from no fault of my

1. Put down the bottle. This will be hard if you are in fact an alcoholic. If it's hard, go to AA meetings and get some help there. The people there won't be hurtful to you or rag on you, but will help you with your struggles and cheer with your triumphs.

2. If you cannot find the man you're madly in love with, particularly if he does not share those feelings, find someone new. Maybe you could meet someone at an AA club event (i.e. no alcohol there), church, or other event that you attend.

3. Start saving some money. This will provide a cushion against financial difficulty, which can add to your list of problems.

4. Find a therapist and talk to him/her. That should go far in helping address some of the difficulties you have with the loss of your sister and how you lost her.

5. Take up a diary where you can write down some of your hurt feelings and struggles. It helps when you identify the difficult parts so you know specifically what you have to work on and what the hard parts are.

6. Seek solace with family and friends. Loved ones are a powerhouse of support that too many people don't use when times are tough. I don't think I'd have made it through my own time of trial were it not for my friends.

Hang on and hang tough. Things *will* get better...maybe not tomorrow or the next day, but they will improve.

-Bart