I personally believe that everyone has the potential to be a unique, interesting person. I also believe that most people don't take advantage of this fact. Growing up, children mainly learn from their surroundings and what they are taught. They mostly see trends and they're mostly taught to please others. It's not that parents and others try to make them be what the world wants them to be but they too are warped and shaped by their surroundings. To find something you like, you have to search and strive relentlessly. In most places, with many things... Nothing is there. Sure, with the growing technology and new sources of communication available this is getting better but many people don't have the resources to use them. Even more people that have the means, don't know where to start. Most people are afraid to go with what pleases them. Why? They're afraid of being different. They're afraid of not belonging to a 'crowd'. They're absolutely terrified of being alone. When people do find something they like, they ussually find a 'group' that likes the same thing. After a while they become so worried about making their 'friends' feel like they belong, that they're no longer finding things to make life worth while. There are many solutions to this out there: drugs, therapy, television, over-working, death. WRONG in my opinion. What you need to do is keep finding things to do that you love, keep learning, creating... Be yourself no matter what else you do, do not reflect an image for everyone elses benefit. If your friends aren't happy with you, then they shouldn't be with you because they're stifling you and killing you. I know this is a hard thing to deal with. Alot of days I do nothing because I'm absolutely paralysed by what others are thinking and feeling. Other days, I do what I must to please them. On the days I really feel alive, I'm doing what I love. This brings me to the next point: Sometimes you can't do what you want because society doesn't want you to. It wants you to be a part of it. In this give to receive world, you must compromise your time to get anything you want. This is reflected in schools and the classes/programs they have, the job market, the economy, and even the favors we ask. I'm not saying that it's a bad thing that we have to work. If nobody worked, nothing would get done. What I'm saying is that you must work alot to receive a little. To receive alot in little time, you must give yourself. You must go to school for years to train to be a part of the world and then you must work your way up. By the time you have the income to get what you originally wanted, you no longer know what it is you want. You must give your mind up to other things and you must give up much of your time. Believe it or not, all time is your's; never forget this. This is actually the solution to all the walls the world throws between you and your soul. You must use every spare minute you have to do what you want, you must take every oppurtunity to share what you are, and at all times you must be yourself. This may seem hard, but it's not... Just don't compromise yourself for anyone or anything. Create your own scene and life in your head, in your home, and be it. Sure people may stare and many will not be pleased, but when you always behave as you are; you are setting an example. Others will gain courage from your strength and best of all, you will attract others with similar interests to you. The solution to lonliness... Yes, I know it's hard but anything worthwhile is hard... and for all it's barbs... it's not as painful as compromise...