Dear Annie: I love my sister dearly, but she’s one of those people who always has to top everyone’s story. If I mention I had a bad cold, she’ll say hers turned into pneumonia. If I get a compliment at work, she’ll mention a big promotion she got years ago. Family gatherings have become exhausting because every conversation somehow circles back to her achievements or hardships.

I’ve tried steering the conversation to other topics, but she always finds a way to bring it back to herself. I don’t want to start a fight or hurt her feelings, but I’m tired of walking away from every visit feeling small. How can I keep my patience, and maybe get her to see what she’s doing? — Out-Talked

Dear Out-Talked: The trick here isn’t to win but to step out of the game. Next time she tries to one-up you,

See Full Page