Dear Karma Cleanser:

I have been with this certain special person since February. I gave birth to my son last December. My son's father was killed before he was born, back in August of last year. Needless to say, it has been a pretty shitty couple of years, all except for my wonderful baby boy.

My relationship with this new man (we will call him "Dick") has grown so fast and strong, but it's not like it used to be. He has lied and done me wrong, and that started a downward spiral in our world. He talks to me ugly and doesn't do what he says, then the next thing I know he is all lovely and sweet, not to mention he is great with my son, and my son loves him too.

I have done some things before in my life, but I am sure my bad karma has already screwed me. I just want to know when the much-awaited good karma will come around. Right now it feels like I'm kicking a dead horse.

-- Why Me?

We had to read your letter three times to get your jumbled traumas in order. First, dead boyfriend. Second, new baby. Third, new boyfriend. Fourth, downward spiral. Sounds like you need to do the same: Invest some time to sort out what led to this exact moment in your life, looking not only for patterns but for messages. This new "Dick" landed in your world for a reason, just as sure as your last lover's death wasn't in vain -- so long as you learned something from it. Good karma is as easy as realizing the horse isn't dead; she's sleeping.

Dear Karma Cleanser:

I happen to know that my co-worker Larry is going to lose his job next year. It's not his fault. He just made some bad moves politically. The CEO of the company has been discreetly interviewing other people for Larry's job. Last week, he asked me if I wanted it. I said I didn't think so. Then I thought about it over the weekend and talked to my wife about it, who said I was stupid not to apply for it.

Also that weekend, I received in the mail a card from Larry. It was an invitation to his New Year's Eve party. I went to this same party last year, and it really was a great night with lots of top-shelf liquor and amazing food.

On Monday, the CEO talked to me again and said I should reconsider. I told him I had thought about it, and I was willing to give it a shot. Larry also asked me on Monday if I'm coming to his party. I feel like an ass for saying yes. Isn't it bad karma to be friends with a guy whom you're about to replace?

-- The Office Jerk

You're not the one who cost Larry his job. He did it to himself. Is he going to be pissed when he hears that the guy who got smashed at his New Year's ball is now answering his phone at work? Definitely. No need to stop being his friend, but going to his party is only asking for calamity. Your New Year's resolution: "I will rise above office politics and learn from Larry's mistakes."

Been bad? karmacleanser@gmail.com.