How many times have you encountered someone who's tried to push their beliefs on you, making you feel as though they'll cast you out should you dissent? I am here to tell you one thing: You need no one's validation but your own!  Really, who says others are cool and you're not? Who determines that your way is wrong and there's isn't? Why should you have to defer to others on matters of style? If society frowns upon some of your lifestyle choices simply because they're not in step with what everyone else does -- say, your decision to abstain from drinking or your reluctance to attend late-night parties -- so be it.  Be yourself! There is nothing wrong with being your most unique, individual self. As long as you love and are being true to yourself -- and you're not hurting anyone in the process -- why should your methods be deemed incorrect? If people feel so insecure as to consider no one else's perspective but their own, that's their problem. Whe...

There's nothing more admirable than someone who takes pride in their nerdy, geeky, wacky, or otherwise crazy self. When someone tells us not to be a certain way, it makes us want to be that way even more -- ten-fold. It's as if we're rebelling against a perceived attack on us. I love people who resolve to be true to themselves no matter how much criticism they get for it. They love themselves and don't apologize for it. To be different is to be unique -- not wrong. It's something to celebrate, not disparage. We should never compromise the things we believe, like, or do just to placate the masses. I'm tired of the pressure to conform to societal norms and expectations. We only have one life to live. Let's do so on our terms -- not anyone else's!