Just Say No.

[Aaroncast86]

I'm in favor of this 'do what you want to do' idea. Very good.

That said, it is obviously important to have some concern for others. I think it might be best to find a middle way. I agree with you that there are boundaries to what people can do, limits and so on. I also agree that it is important to be happy in life, to be happy with the choices or decisions we make. Good advice. Great video.

[andymooseman]

Thanks.

If you are willing to trample over people to get where you want to be. You are going to make far more enemies than friends. That's not always a good thing.

I'm reminded of a piece of advice i once heard "Be careful who you step on on the way up. They'll be there waiting for you on your way back down!" :)

[BassinJason702]

@Aaroncast86 What does it say about 'limits' and 'boundaries' when they are constantly being pushed, exceeded and broken?

[Aaroncast86]

It says that limits and boundaries are flexible, at least to some extent.

[DILLIGAF333]

Excellent points and a great message.

[andymooseman]

Thanks Chuck. i thought you might appreciate it :)

[bicyclefeathers]

That's why I've taken up Motorcycles again. What's that all over your face? (grin)

[andymooseman]

Don't worry, the mess on my face has now cleared up ;)

[GramsandPapi]

We've been doing our own thing for years...it's the only way to go! Blessings, Ang

[andymooseman]

I'm glad to hear that :)

[americannamor]

Good advice as always-but sometimes the only way you're going to try something new is to be dragged into it. People should be open to new things but in the end it's up to you to decide if it's something you really want to do.

[andymooseman]

I know what you mean. Take Twitter for example. i took a lot of persuading to get into that. I'm very glad i did & have never looked back.

I guess it depends on who you take advice from? :)

[3CoolKats]

Well said Andy!!!

[andymooseman]

Thank you sir :)

[SunnyDazStormyNitz]

Completely in agreement here Andy.

[andymooseman]

Now why does that not surprise me? :)

[deantown]

Great vlog Andy - it needs saying and you said it well. Spot on!

I hope I can fully accept it one of these days. I'm not great at doing what I want at all, often choosing to do nothing, so that I don't risk doing it wrong. What an loon!

[andymooseman]

I think you hit on an interesting point there Dean. A lot of people conform & do what is expected of them, because they are possibly scared of failure & having somebody say "i told you so"

I can understand that :)

[willyIV]

Well put, Andy! I try to live my own life, but some people not only want to run their lives, but want to run yours as well. To these manipulators I've always said no! Your thoughts were were right on the money!

[andymooseman]

I had a feeling you'd feel that way Willy.

Yes, what is it with those who want to run everyones life?

Ignore them i say :)

[rewboss]

My wife is always telling me not to give in to peer pressure, but then she won't let me out of the house with brown socks.

[andymooseman]

I do have a similar problem as well at times. So, i know how you feel! :)

[phekwig]

Absolutely! It took me a lot of effort to unlearn all that youthful conformity crap and constant striving to measure up to what I thought others expected of me... Who am I living for after all anyway?

[andymooseman]

I like the idea of unlearning all that youthful conformity. Thats a good way of putting it & i guess we all have to do that. if we want to that is :)

[ralfonzo83]

I favorite this video because that´s exactly the way I think.

[andymooseman]

Thanks Ralf & it's good to know you feel the same way :)

[bw123]

Cool new shot, Andy!

[andymooseman]

It was a spur of the moment video. So it was set up very quickly & in a different position & room to normal.

I must admit i also liked the way the light only lit one side of my face.

I might have to try & do that again sometime :)

[LadyTressa]

nice chat andy thanks :)

[andymooseman]

Thank you :)

[kenrg]

Hell Yeah! I was never very good at giving in to peer pressure. If everybody else went one way, I'd always go the other. Another in the long list of reasons why I have no friends.

[andymooseman]

There is something good about being a rebel & doing the opposite to what others think you should do isn't there?. I'm like that sometimes myself.

I sometimes do it just to be awkward! :)

[bearchay889]

I've almost allways been doing my own thing though sometimes it's just because im the type of person that likes to be different ,but also you don't live your life when your living it someone elses way like usual i don't know where im going with this comment but great video and message.

[andymooseman]

There's nothing wrong with wanting to be different. At least that makes you an individual :)

[captainfury2007]

I totally agree. I lived my life like that and I was considered a nerd for years unil... well, I still am a nerd so I guess that hasn't changed.

[andymooseman]

I had a feeling you'd agree Steve.

I watched your video earlier & was amazed at the simliarities with what we were talking about. We just came at it from different angles.

Btw, i like sushi too :)

[bugsinrug]

Good thoughts Andy. I have only "gotten into my own" so to speak in the last couple of years...and I am going to be 60 in April. So easy to follow the pack or be a people pleaser. I feel so much more relaxed now! I can finally say "no" without the guilt raising its ugly head. hugs, Chris

[andymooseman]

It is often easier to follow the pack, than to veer away from it. It can take courage to say No.

As so many other comments have said. It does seem to become easier to say no, the older you get.

I'm glad you've reached that stage Chris.

You're looking very good for 59 :)

[OhCurt]

Right, there is no "should" in all of this. I think I've fallen into some of these sites because I caved to that kind of pressure.

[andymooseman]

I'm sure we've all done it Curt. Whether that be in real life, or online.

Sometimes it takes us a while to realise we're doing something we don't really want to do. Or, we stop doing something we do want to do.

Some of it, for all age groups, comes down to a certain amount of insecurity. Once again, we've probably all felt that too :)

[Ranblv]

That is not so easy to implement as a single guy, you have no idea how many rules women have.

I would be curious to see the responses divided by married and unmarried folk.

[andymooseman]

Women have rules? Never ;)

I can assure you my wife & i don't agree on everything. But, this is one topic we've discussed. We decided not to bow to pressure from others, unless we really have to.

Life is too short :)

[petuniabelle650]

I agree. When you're young you spend so much time doing things you don't want to do. That's another good thing about getting older is that you do just say no! (Nancy Reagan should be proud.) :)

[andymooseman]

A lot of people have mentioned how your views change with age & i agree with that.

Maybe you get to the point, as i have, where you just think "No, i'm not doing that anymore"? :)

[NiteBlogger]

Somewhere in my twenties, I decided I wanted to live my life with no regrets...I listened to advise from my elders/friends, but ultimately, made my own decisions. It has not always been an easy life, but it has been my life. And I wouldn't trade it with anyone.

Love your topics Andy. ;)

[andymooseman]

Well done & good for you.

Soemtimes those choices aren't easy to make. But, as you said. You wouldn't change a thing.

What better thing can you say than that? :)

[MrRandomWritings]

hurrah! so I can wear my red hat that Lesley hates in public! Thanks Andy

[andymooseman]

Go for it Brian.Tell Lesley i said it was ok ;)

As it happens. I bought a 2nd hand top recently, i think i'm wearing it in the video. I knew my wife would hate it. But, i thought, what the hell & bought it anyway.

She's coming round to me wearing it :)

[ajdpadbury]

Well said Andy, unconforming is fun!:)

[andymooseman]

Thanks. Unconforming is the new conforming :)

[ajdpadbury]

Truth is, if you ask anyone this question 100 per cent will say they are not a conformist, yet we all are, we pay our taxes, our mortgages, turn up for work every day and get on with it. We have to behave or we live in a cave!:)

[andymooseman]

Yes, i suppose we all have to conform in some ways. It creeps up on you & then you're trapped.

But, we can still make some choices ourselves. Just try & make sure they are your choices :)

[PaintedRavensong]

I love being the age I am now and not caring at all what people think about what I do, say, how I dress, etc. It's so freeing!!! Great video as always, Andy!

[andymooseman]

I'm happy being my age as well. Growing old disgracefully is the best way to go imho.

As Danny said, our age & experience give us this wisdom. The wisdom to do, think & act however we damn well please :)

[dl737]

Amazing how much wisdom comes with age and experience. Well said ( as always!!)

[andymooseman]

Thanks Danny.

I do think that age & experience has a lot to do with how i feel about this. If only we had this wisdom when we were younger :)

[BarryAldridge]

Thats great Andy. Its good to go against the system.

Its the best way to be living your own life. I have principles when it comes to my decisions in life and even with Internet stuff.

[andymooseman]

To be a true individual, you need to be yourself.

it's good to know you're doing that Barry :)