Harriette Cole: I’m afraid of heights, and I’m going to go skydiving in Dubai

DEAR HARRIETTE: I have always had a fear of heights, which has made me hesitant to try things that involve being up high. However, one item on my bucket list has been going skydiving in Dubai, and I’m determined to conquer this fear.

I know that facing my fear head-on would be a huge personal achievement; the idea of jumping out of an airplane fills me with anxiety. I am committed to pushing myself out of my comfort zone, and I believe that overcoming this fear would help me grow in ways I’ve never imagined.

Still, I am torn between my desire to fulfill this dream and the overwhelming fear that has held me back for so long.

I want to make this experience a reality, but I don’t know how to quiet my nerves and embrace the challenge. How can I overcome my fear of heights and take that leap toward something I’ve always wanted to do?

— Fearful Hesitation

DEAR FEARFUL HESITATION: If you are serious about skydiving, this means you must be serious about facing your fear of heights. You might try something more manageable to build up to skydiving, like rock climbing at a gym. There are many gyms and other controlled spaces that offer climbing classes to help people learn how to move up in space carefully and push past their fears.

You might also consider consulting a therapist. Working with a professional can help you unlock whatever fears you may have so that she can face them and potentially neutralize them.

I recommend that you take these steps and possibly others — like going to an observatory at the top of a skyscraper or eating at a restaurant at the top of a tall building — before going to another country and jumping out of a plane.

DEAR HARRIETTE: “Baby No More” complained that her older siblings still treat her like the baby of the family. Your advice was spot-on; however, I would add that one more thing she can do is raise her older son to treat his younger brother differently as they grow up to break that cycle.

— You Can Change

DEAR YOU CAN CHANGE: Yes! Break the cycle with your own children if you can.

DEAR HARRIETTE: Regarding “Baby No More” and their older siblings: Recently, my middle sister came to visit me. (I am the youngest by six years.) I had always visited her before, and I never had the opportunity to drive during the visit as I had flown to her place.

While she was here, we decided to go shopping. We got in the car and proceeded to hit the road. She looked puzzled and said, “I can’t believe that my baby sister is driving!” To which I replied, “Doris, I am 50 years old.”

We both broke into hilarious laughter — it was a real sister moment. Once a little sister, always a little sister.

— Little Sister

DEAR LITTLE SISTER: This birth order thing is amazing, and it takes moments like you driving the car to open people’s eyes.

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, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.