Glad you were willing to share your concerns about making a new life since I believe many women can relate to the worries you raise.

First of all, the living room and friendships. Sounds like it's been hard over time to make friends. Have you thought about why? Are you a shy person or someone who has trouble opening up? Do you find that you share and then others don't seem interested? Is there something that keeps happening over and over that leads you to be "friendless"? While you can't change others, you can try to understand what you contribute to the failed dynamic and adjust your behavior, your actions or reactions. Hopefully then the outcome (making and maintaining friendships) will change! We call this the relationship equation: A+B=C ...check it out in the key process section. (And btw, the idea here is not about placing blame on you...but sometimes it's easier to look at what others are doing wrong instead of reflecting on our own contributions.)

You also mention struggling in your office...with trying to find a job. Good for you for making goals and taking action. Going back to school can be a great option, but really think about what you want to study and why. Sometimes the hard part about finding a job (or a school focus) is knowing what you actually like or want to do. Not that it's always an option to contemplate, but if it is, take a moment to really think about what makes you tick (in other words, what makes you happy, gets you going, makes you want to get up in the morning and face the day!) As we talk about it in the book, your emotional office might just be where you earn your paycheck (so you'll have to pursue your passion elsewhere), but sometimes the office can be a place of purpose and meaning, and that's an amazing thing. I always think about that quote: if you love what do, you'll never work a day in your life.

Best of luck to you and thanks for writing in!! I hope others will offer their two cents as well.