I almost agree with all that was written above. Indeed there are too many people in my life too who want and do tell me how to live, what to wear, what to eat, whom to have a frienship with and so on… All this of course, makes me upset and sometimes even angry. Nobody likes to be told how to live his life. But it’s always very nice when people try to participate in your life only by giving you some advice, when they want to share something or want you to share something with them. I also do not want to come back to who I used to be several years ago. I love the way I live today and the way I wear, the way I speak with people and the way I live my life. Some time ago I was like a gray mouse, I used to be very upset everuday, I used to take offence everytime when somebody told me that I am fat or something like that. But today I don’t look like I was at that time and don’t really want. Now, I am happy that I am a Muslim girl of 18, I love that now I read namaz(the muslim praying), I am glad that now I love my life in the way it moves, and the people who take a part in it. I love God more than I “loved” several years ago. I just love my LIFE and I want to live it the way I want to and the way God wants me to live! I want people to look at themselves and not to trying to find something bad in their lives. LIFE is wonderful! And it changes as you change, it loves when you love it, and it gives you much when you give much. Just give people more than they expect to be given and you’ll see that it is woderful to make people happy. It makes your life fulfilled, especially when you keep a great LOVE to our GOD! thank you, for everything! love, Aigerim

Aigerim,

Thanks for your post! I just love your enthusiasm for life! I also do appreciate that people are trying to help by giving me advice. I believe they are doing it out of love. And that is their choice to do this. I just won’t be around to listen to it if I choose. Have a wonderful day in Kazakstan!

And I love the topics you that put on this site!:) I am very glad to participate in the discussions on such issues as life, family, God (especially). But I don’t really understand: am I the only member of this forum, chat or how do you call it? Because I cannot see someone’s else comments. maybe I just don’t know where to find them? Anyway, thank you and have a good day! love, Aigerim

I get a lot of traffic on this website. But most people only read and do not commment. I guess they have nothing they want to say.

Often people try to tell you what to do for the very same reason you use to do it. They do it out of love for you and wanting for you to avoid mistakes that they have made and wanting what they preceive is best for you. We all have these people in our life. I choose to see them and their unsolicitaed advice from a perspective of love and understanding. I mean that I acknowlege the why behind their words, and understand that they are coming from a place of caring. I choose what advice I use and what I don’t, however I also choose to not remove these caring people from my life.
The key is to listen, you never know, although 99% of their advice is not what you agree with, there may be a brillant nugget within all that they say, and that my freind is priceless.

That is where I differ. If I tell somebody, please respect me and don’t tell me how to live my life and they ignore my wishes, well they are stepping on me. I can take it for a while, but only before so long that I choose not to maintain that relationship and find others who listen to me and respect my dreams and lifestyle.

In order to learn Life’s wonderful lessons, we have to experience it for ourselves. If so and so says don’t go to that store because they don’t have anything good there, that is their opinion. They have their own tastes, and mine are my own, not theirs. So I go to the store and decide “for myself”. And I say, “hey they were right” or “wow, they have some neat stuff there”.

People need to make mistakes. How else will we grow and overcome obstacles? I screw up all the time, but I find the lesson in it. If somebody tells me not to stick my finger in the outlet, I’ll do it to see why. This is because I believe most people are stuck in a rut and want you to be there with them because they think like the masses. All of the greatest thinkers and businessmen and leaders found a “different” path. You have to think differently to do anything great, at least in my opinion.

But you are young. I am 36 so I’ve been getting this advice from people 18 years longer than you, hehe. But your outlook on life is truly awesome. I wish I had it at such a young age.

Good day! I’ve read all the letters you wrote me, and want to thank you again for them! Today’s morning in Almaty is really beautiful! I agree with the statement that people should think differently from the others, from the crowd. they should go their ways not someone’s way. I love when people are not afraid of someone’s opinion, when they wear they way they do and do not care about the critics towards them, when you see the world through their own eyes not someone’s else! I cannot understand when people reject the beauty of people who have freckles on the whole body (you know, I just love it!), when they see high sky-scrapers and say that they are wonderful and don’t see the incredible beauty of the mountains which are in thousands times are more wonderful than any high building made by human!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I see that people had became blind, they don’t want to see and look at what lies in front of them: the beauty of the nature, the sun, the moon (”It is only a paper moon… ” do you remember, Frank Sinatra?) I just want to say that all these useless things in our life, luxury, several houses in several States, 12 cars of different colours, jewelry and so on, they make people surfeited intill the nausea, their tastes simply become perverted! I just cannot stand it when rich people make so much money and don’t see or don’t want to see that there are people who are starving every day, who lost their families, who just are really unhappy on this earth!!!!!!! So,…. if you have someone rich from your firends make him give all his money to the poor people immediately!:) no, I’m just joking! people should understand it by themselves. thank you very much! and have a nice day, whatever the wheather there is!:)

Sorry one last thing-
Mark- The fact that you are young and you have this view is absolutely amazing and beautiful. I find that younger people sometimes have purer more honest views because they have not been through as much (even though it may have been a lot already). Their judgement is clearer, less clouded and jaded by life. Your response was refreshing and insightful. You seem to be an optimist and see the good in humanity - hold tight to this. It will bring you happiness. “Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the whole ocean does not become dirty.” - Gandhi

www.myspace.com/peaceloveanddirt

When I was in my 20’s, I found it to harder to be myself when amongst my peers. But no one is to blame except me who let it happen. And by my late 20’s I’ve decided that I needed to change my life. That meant leaving my old friends (who couldn’t accept the changes in me - just like what Greg described) and learning to trust my own instincts. I am so much happier now and the baggage is gone. I wish I had the courage to do so sooner in life. But still, it is never too late for change.