The masks we wear in our lives
Everyday, every waking moment, no matter we do want it or nor, we play different social roles, we wear masks. We may be mothers, fathers, sisters, sons, friends, bosses, employees, teachers, engineers and so on. Our behavior, everyday different is especially that mask which we wear every day. This mask choreographs our lifestyle, our relationships. And what it very important we change more than one mask a day. For example, a woman, of about 35 should generally be at first a woman in a wide sense of this word; then- a wife; a mother, of course; an employee, which is very important for a woman today and she should be a friend as well. For each role she should choose specific behavior patterns: feminine as a woman; tender and loving as a wife and as a mother; a skillful professional in her working field; loyal and trustworthy as a friend. And all these for one day to do. Of course she can shift one of them as well, but then it would be a gap in her performance. I call this everyday routine “a performance”, because every time changing her masks, the woman plays a new role. She is an actress and she can easily manage her performance. But the most important thing about this play is to make it invisible for others, in a word the woman should act very naturally. Otherwise it would be a soup opera and a play of a single actor.

Sacred Writing
There are so many thoughts and associations in my head, that I can't choose any...
I have noticed that I am constantly thinking about something. And when I try to get to grips with it I miss my train of thought. I think it is a great thing when you are thinking about something you don't know. It means that the one thing- a huge thinking process takes place somewhere in the back of my mind.
Sometimes it is very hard for me to concentrate, because my brains are busy with the haunting idea. But such thinking operations give birth to further more serious decisions and even make my thoughts material. I think that I am thinking all the time. For example now, while I am writing. I am thinking carefully about every word I put here.
I think this brain process goes on even when I sleep. I clearly know that I think about something pleasant before falling asleep. There are different types of things I think about: before fall asleep I think about something nice, for instance my future shopping or what clothes I will put on tomorrow. When I wake up I think about my day, whether it will be good or not.And owing to the fact that I am an optimist I believe it will be good, as every cloud has a silver lining. And now, at this particular moment I am thinking, I am thinking that in a minute I have to rap up and then my classmates will hear to what I have written. I hope You'll like it!;)

Sacred Writing
The aim justifies the means...
Does the aim justify the means?Of course it does. I am a very confident person and in achieving my goals I have to be not only persistent, but I have to invest both time and effort. I am a kind of a person, who has got used to get everything at the very particular time. I agree that the aim justifies the means, because I don't see any reasons that can stop me on my way.
I am not the kind of person who will think carefully of all possible means before doing something. Sometimes I turn to rather radical means, but in most cases that very spontaneous decision which comes to my mind finds it realisation with the help of means which of course comes first to my mind respectively. While doing something I become so obsessed with the aim, that I completely forget about anyhing else. My mother says that I am like an avalanche which swallows up everything on its way. To tell the truth, she disapproves of this character trait of mine. But I don't see any weak points in it. I think that the person should be confident in what he or she does.
But from my own experience I can say that I can choose the means needed. I would never sacrifice my relatives and my close people in reaching my goals. Aim is aim, but human relations are very important. The man is a creator of his fate, but in achieving his aims he has to be a little bit selective. Because our personal interests shouldn't harm others.

Family values in our changing world
Everything changes in our modern world. And the views upon family are not an exception. Unfortunately, such a tendency is observed not only in Russia, but all over the world. Family values and the family unit itself, have always been the base of human relationship, because it is exactly family where every human being starts its complicated lifetime size long way.
A typical family used to consist of mother, father and two children, but in recent years there have been many changes in family life. One of the reasons why fewer couples are having children is shortage of money, lack of job, and of course the high cost of living. Some of these reasons have also been caused by new laws and others are results of changes in society. For example, since the law made it easier to get a divorce, the number of divorces has considerably increased. Another change has been caused by the fact that people are living longer today and many old people live alone following the death of their partners. In general each generation is keen to become independent of parents in establishing their own family unit, and this fact can lead to social as well as geographical differences within the larger family group. But in recent years marriage rates have fallen as a result of increased expectations on the part of women and changes in lifestyle. The main reason why more and more men and women are staying single may be because of the fashionable social trend of being independent, self-confident and prospective person. And children are the evident obstacle on this way. Relationships within the family are also different now. Parents treat their children more than equals then they used to, and children have more extra freedom to make their own decisions. The father is more involved with bringing up the children, often because the mother goes out to work. Increased leisure facilities and more money mean that there are greater opportunities for individual to take an active part in activities outside their homes.
As for me, I have a very clear idea of what my future family might be. First of all, the notion family is a great responsibility for me for the rest of my life. Because when you decide to get married or give birth to your baby, you must realize that you begin a new step in your life and this decision should be well-thought and desirable. Family life should not be treated as an experiment, in the course of which some drawbacks can be bolstered, or a new one can be set out. The value of my family will be in its completeness and a tender attachment to each other. Respect will be treated as a great rule, which must be followed. My family unit will be a place, where you always will be eager to come back, without which each member of the family will not be able to exist. It would be cozy and warm, where everyone loves and is loved. But I know that such an ideal can be achieved only when you are sure in your partner, when you know that this is exactly that person who can make all you dreams come true and in whom you are absolutely sure. So, it isn’t worth hurrying up and then make your children suffer from you wrong choice.

If you are to set up your own business, what kind of business would it be and why?
Well, to begin with, if I were to have such a chance, sure, I wouldn’t loose it. First of all, it would solve all my possible financial problems, then, it would meet all my needs. But please, don’t think that I am selfish, and stingy, conducting my own business and getting money from it, I would help those who really need my money. For instance, I would help my parents in their old-ages and build orphanages for homeless pets with special vet aid and feeding. Now, I have to decide what kind of business to choose, to put my plans into realization.
To tell the truth, I am not the one who gets to grips with all the possible business prospects. But according to psychological research and tests, I am a potential entrepreneur. And I am going to choose such a business, which by no means will go bust. I know that land business and immovable property trade are the most profitable in our country. But land business is very often very cruel and dishonest, because “black estate agents” posses other people’s land illegally. As it is said, among the two evils we should choose the least, so I choose immovable estate business.
Why not? It is rather harmless, but I am going to lead a fair business and invest money with other investors’ help. I would have different professional teams, such as: managers, well-trained estate agents, creative designers and professional builders. My buildings, offices, trade centers, blocks of flats would be available for everyone. I would take into consideration different social programs: such as kindergartens, schools and educational institutions. I don’t want our future generation to study in rebuilt and transformed buildings. I would consider good credit programs for young families. I would provide our citizens with new available houses at a fair price. The results would be fruitful both for me and my companions and for those who would have chosen my company. How pleasant it would be to drive around the city and see your qualitative buildings, to know that you provide you customers with good service and to get enough money to lead a wonderful life and help others.

You are young, you are beautiful. Are you happy?
Yes, I'm young, I'm beautiful and I should say I'm happy. I can't see any reasons why I shouldn't be happy.But youth and appearance are not the only reasons for happiness. For my still early ages I have almost everything, which an ordinary girl would like to have.I appreciate this. The notion of hapiness is a very deep one and very diverse. For some people it's just material pleasures and public recognition. For others it's just what when you do your own thing and no one and nothing disturbes you. But for me, it is an overwhelming satisfaction with your life, with your attitude to it. For me being happy means being satisfied with everything that surrouns you. Because when you are discontent, various problems appear everytime, and their size differs from the tiny up to the enormous ones. And this brings disharmony. As a French philosopher Laroshfucko said:"A man never is so unhappy as it seems to him, or so happy as he wants it to be."

Is Platonic Love the Same Kind of Feelings and Relations as Frienship?

What is platonic love indeed? Friendship or a clear spiritual feeling? Does it exist now? And can we recognize it? Or maybe, it was lost somewhere in the past, when high spiritual ideals really had their true value within the society?
Let us attempt at giving the basic definitions of platonic love. Wikipedia gives the following interpretation of the term: “Platonic love (Latin: amor platonicus) is a deep and spiritual connection between two individuals: within such a relationship there does not exist any form of sexual connection or sexual elements.” In its original Platonic form, this love was a sublimated pederastic eroticism. The force of desire was meant to be harnessed for pedagogical purposes, bringing the man and the boy closer to wisdom and the Platonic Form of Beauty. Plato emphasized chastity in the case of homoerotic attraction, but suggested that recognition of beauty in a person of the same sex may still serve the aim of inspiration. At the same time, Ambrose Bierce, or Bitter Bierce as the world calls this American satirist, may define Platonic love as “a fool’s name for the affection between disability and a frost."
Today the term admits relations between opposite sexes. But our modern society looks down on platonic relations, wondering suspiciously whether physical attraction between opposite sexes can be omitted, whether platonic relationships (love and friendship) really exist between a man and a woman. This misconception is brought by inability of the society to understand, that platonic love is another kind of relationship where sexual needs are transformed into other forms of attraction- this is a spiritual bond between two people. This is love that exists beyond body’s needs.
Platonic lovers are absolutely different type of lovers; they are not passive as many can think. In platonic relations emotional and intellectual spheres dominate over passion and physics. Such lovers enjoy each other’s company, thoughts and imagination. They idealize each other’s personal traits. Their love lives inside of them, rather than outside. And indeed this love is an allusion, which has inspired poets and artists of all times.
As for me, platonic love is a close spiritual bond between two people, no matter whether they are of the same sex or not. But, it has to be distinguished form the notion of “just friendship”, for me these are absolutely different things. It isn’t necessary to love all your friends. Platonic love is something much deeper that friendship. It is a special spiritual link between two people. And I am very glad that I haven’t got any platonic lovers. I prefer being in normal love or friendly relationships with someone of the opposite sex, otherwise it would be so difficult to divorce my feelings from platonic and just love and friendly. But I am sure that nothing makes romantic relationship more fruitful than being lovers and friends at the same time.

Sacred Writing
Is sex for the sake o f sex without any relationship commitment possible?
Is platonic love the same kind of relations and feelings as friendship?
In our modern world it is very difficult to find that very man, that fits completely all your descriptions and needs. So sex without love has become absolutely possible and normal. But there is the other side of the coin. Sex is a very intimate thing. It is the relationship only for you and your parthner. It is not for discussion, no matter how many sexual parthners you've got. But personally I prefer sex and commitment relationship to be both present in my relationship. I don't like judging people, it isn't my matter. I prefer live and let other people live. Andif anyone has sex without any commitment relationship, I can understand them. There is nothing criminal or forbidden in it, it is just one of the human basic needs.

Why does Emma regret about her wedding?Have you ever regretted about anything you have done?
I haven't read this book, and I don't know the reasons for Emma to regret of. May be she is a kind of girls who do something at first and only then analyze their actions. So may be it was particulary her case when she realised, that she had done the wrong choice, only after the wedding. We can't judge her because we don't know the deep reasons for such a choice. May be some crucial forces bound her to get married, and it was a simple lght-heartedness, may be she thought that after weading everything would be different...
I am a kind of person who never regrets of anything that he has done. But there is one difference between Emma and me, I carefully think over all the possible consiquences which my decision may have. And if a tiny thought of regrets comes to my mind, I immediately blow it away, saying to myself: "it should be exactly this way."

Afternoon Pages
What does the word ‘parental care’ mean for you? Are there any words which you desire to tell your parents, but you are enable to do for some reasons?
We don’t choose our parents, and personally I don’t want to do this. I love my parents very much, I respect them, I can’t even imagine the other married couple as my parents. I don’t want to change anything. I appreciate my parents’ care, but even if they overdo with it, I can’t hurt them by saying: “I don’t want to hear you anymore. Let me do my own thing.” I’m especially close with my mum, she is a wise and a very kind woman who loves as no one else in this world. I’m thankful to her. My father is an ordinary man with his own merits and drawbacks. But he loves my mum and me and treats us like his two princesses. The only words I’d like to say to say to them and which I tell them very often are: “Thank you. Thank you for everything which you have done for me: for my education, for my well-being and for your efforts that you had put to make especially what I am by to date.” I do it without shyness. And we, children should remember that the words ‘I love you’ are the beat rewarding and the best cure for our parents.

The Book which Has Taught Me a Lot…
Well, to tell the truth, I am not the one who reads a lot. Maybe this is due to the lack of time, may be to my personal laziness, but I fully appreciate the valuable experience which we gain from reading books. A book is the right companion when you are alone, when you want to escape from this noisy world. Each book creates a special, intimate space, which may be absolutely different: comic, romantic, fantastic, dramatic, tragic, mysterious, fairy…I can enumerate endlessly. However, whatever the difference is, there is one clear factor: the right book is a good lesson; it’s like a school of life with its own bad and good examples, with its own patterns of human relationship, and with its own views upon life.
At present I’m reading a book by Theodore Dreiser “An American Tragedy”. I have read only one hundred and thirty pages, it is very little to attain the real understanding of the authorial idea, but I can tell that this book has taught me a lot. First of all this book has struck with it’s precise descriptive passages which build up an overwhelming sense of tragic inevitability, they show how tightly bounds the knot of human misconceptions of life and emphasize personal weaknesses which result from dangerous attaining of that fabulous ‘American Dream’. The main hero- Clyde Griffiths is a boy of weak will and little self-awareness, but the one of a very high ambition. His appetite to succeed has a destructive power, in attempts to reach his ‘American Dream’ and selection of possible ways of attain it he ruins his kind innate capacities and rescues other people who love him. But these negative features cannot be compared to the terrible sense of being ashamed of what you are, of your background and of course, which must be mentioned of your parents. At first this boy has made me fill disgustion for him, because for me it’s the worst sin in this world. I never understand such kind of people. How can you be ashamed of people who gave birth to you, who brought you to life? For me it is absolutely unbearable. Clyde’s parents were ordinary people, they weren’t heavy-drinkers, they were just poor and couldn’t give him all the trappings of wealth and even their religious occupation and ascetic lifestyle didn’t entitled the boy to be ashamed of them, to vanish the mentioning of his background.
Theodore Dreiser is a master of description, by means of precise descriptive passages we don’t only get the meaning of the plot in details, but also gain the hint of the authorial thought. This book has taught me two main things: never be ashamed of what you are, and follow straight to your aim, but while achieving this or that goal, chose very thoroughly the possible means of realizing your dreams. “Don’t harm” as it is said in the Bible.