What do you do when you’ve helped plan a friend’s daughter’s wedding celebrations but don’t actually get invited to the wedding? When is setting a boundary healthy, and when are we just avoiding an uncomfortable conversation? And why is it sometimes so much easier to give advice than to take it ourselves?

This week on She’s Smart, I’m joined by Leslie Kumar, the woman behind Ask Leslie, a monthly advice column in Darien New Canaan Lifestyle and Upper Westchester Lifestyle magazines.

Leslie has worn a lot of hats—from luxury real estate marketing to launching her own jewelry brand—and now, in her 40s, she’s found a new chapter that brings together her love of writing, connecting with people, and helping women navigate life’s everyday dilemmas.

We talk about the freedom that comes with getting older, finding the courage to put yourself out there, friendship dynamics, social etiquette, marriage, and why we seem to have forgotten how to have difficult conversations face-to-face.

And because no conversation in the She’s Smart Shed ever goes exactly as planned, we somehow end up discussing my obsession with romantasy novels, fictional men who turn into wolves, and what our husbands might think about all of it.

It’s a funny, candid, and refreshingly honest conversation about figuring things out as we go, embracing new chapters, and remembering that sometimes the best advice is the advice we give ourselves.

Follow Leslie: @ask_leslie_official