Harriette Cole: How can I teach this crooked mechanic a lesson?

DEAR HARRIETTE A couple weeks back my car broke down on me Related Articles Harriette Cole Why can t we have a nice anniversary like my friends did Harriette Cole I m being pressured to interfere in my brother s messy breakup Harriette Cole I want this manager to hurry up and poach me Harriette Cole Gentle parenting is not going to solve this kid s difficulty Harriette Cole The wedding is canceled and she won t tell me why It wouldn t turn on so I had to have it towed to my usual mechanic to get his opinion on the repair After inspecting it he assured me that he could get the job done if I ordered the necessary part He quoted me a steep price but due to his confidence I agreed to the arrangement A week or so went by and he let me know that my car was ready I grabbed a cab and headed his way and while I was on the way there he sent another message saying that I d still need a ride home and a tow truck for my car I was so confused When I got to the mechanic s he admitted that he knew from the start that he wouldn t be able to fix my car but he really needed the money I was in shock I couldn t believe that he would admit to blatantly stealing from me Not only did I waste my time but I spent money on parts labor and two tow trucks It feels like he did this because he s not expecting any repercussions How can I teach this guy a lesson Ripped Off DEAR RIPPED OFF Go to the police forthwith and file a review This man committed a crime and admitted it to you Tell the police everything Show your receipts Be prepared to take him to small-claims court Be sure to warn your circle about what happened You can also leave reviews online DEAR HARRIETTE If I m being entirely honest I am extremely jealous of my sister She has unfailingly been smarter than me and prettier than me and things just seem to come more easily for her Growing up teachers would inevitably compare us and even now as adults I feel like people still put her on a pedestal She has a great job and a loving boyfriend and she seems to carry herself with a level of confidence that I ve never felt Meanwhile I feel like I m constantly playing catch-up in every area of my life It took me six years to get my undergraduate degree I ve been unemployed for a year now and I still live with my parents I ve tried really hard not to let my jealousy show and I m perpetually polite and supportive when we re together Inside though I can t help but feel like I ll never measure up I know it s not healthy to compare myself to her but it s almost impossible not to when we re related and people constantly make comments about how amazing she is How do I stop feeling like I m constantly in her shadow I want to be genuinely happy for her without it making me feel worse about myself Fighting Jealousy DEAR FIGHTING JEALOUSY Comparison can kill your spirit and your relationship with your sister Start seeing her through loving eyes as you do the same for yourself Related Articles Dear Abby I m angry that my supermarket has this new rule Asking Eric I m the bride s great-uncle who s going to hell Dear Abby A stranger sneered at my T-shirt and I didn t know what to say Asking Eric My husband s family has this odd rule about naming sons How do I explain it to our kid Harriette Cole Why can t we have a nice anniversary like my friends did Compare yourself only to yourself What have you done well in current times this month this year What do you want to work on to improve your life What makes you happy Choose to spend time cultivating your life with your friends When others comment about your sister agree with what you think is true and move on Don t take it as a criticism of you and don t attempt to stand up for yourself Let the moment pass Love yourself in all your uniqueness Practice believing that you are enough because you are Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams You can send questions to askharriette harriettecole com or c o Andrews McMeel Syndication Walnut St Kansas City MO