Dear Nikki,
Giving to others is one of the great pleasures that give our lives meaning, so I commend you for your unselfish support of friends. But, in order to keep helping others, you need time to replenish your own spirit and take care of your needs. Kind of like filling your own "love" well. When someone asks you for a favor, instead of immediately saying "yes," ask her if you could check your calendar and get back to her, and tell her when you'll do that ‑- in an hour, tomorrow, whatever seems appropriate. That way, you can give yourself a chance to truly know if you have the time to help. If you can, great, do it. If not, honestly explain that you need the time to take care of your personal stuff. Love yourself first, and you'll have lots of love to give to others.

Dear Goddess of Happiness,
I have lots of friends and a very busy job and home life. I keep getting into jams with people competing for my time. Sometimes I have to choose between one friend's invitation and another's, and hurt feelings ensue. How can I keep everyone ‑- including myself ‑- happy?
‑-Marcy, San Francisco

Dear Marcy,
What a great problem to have ‑- too many friends! While you sound like a wonderful friend, you can't please everyone and yourself at the same time ‑- unless you throw one gigantic party! When you're invited somewhere, and you're already booked, just be honest and explain the conflict. I'm sure she would understand that you're only being as good a friend as she would expect you to be toward her if you had committed to her invite first. Maybe you can come up with another date right then and mark your calendars. Juggling is difficult even for the best of goddesses. You can't enjoy any of the balls if you keep moving them all at the same time!