You're listening to Life Kit from NPR.

Hey everybody, it's Mariel.

Happy almost Valentine's Day to those who celebrate.

Yeah, okay, it feels early, but by drugstore standards, they put out their singing

stuffed animals and chocolate-filled hearts weeks ago.

This episode is right on time. Today we've

got an edition of Dear Life Kit, the series where reporter Andy Tagle asks experts, listeners' burning

questions. Today, she's talking to two long-time love experts. Meredith Goldstein is the author

of Love Letters, an advice column for the Boston Globe. And Monica O'Neill is a clinical psychologist who

focuses on relationships. Oh, and they're also friends in real life. Every time I talk to Monica about a

problem, I'm like, you know, do you need a co-pay? I always want to make sure. I always want to make

sure. So sometimes also just reminding people that some of the people who are the best counsel in your life, you can't only go to them because they are probably that person for many

people and that can be taxing, I can imagine. I don't ever feel taxed by you, Meredith. I don't.

We have had plenty of these conversations over the years, haven't we? Yes. By the way,

Meredith says, try not to worry about all the pressure around Valentine's Day.

It doesn't mean everything.

If you decide you want to have it as an excuse to get a gift or do a nice dinner, that's fine.

But if you have nothing to do that day, it is also totally okay because a bunch of people

aren't even going to know it's

Valentine's Day. Personally, I'm a Halloween girl, so I just, you know, you might want to,

you might want to pick a different holiday to really lean into, but don't let this bother you,

no matter what. After the break, they talk about work wives, bad breath, the friend zone, and more.

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