Heh. She really does have the best intentions.

To make you miserable in new and inventive ways.

Okay, probably not, but seriously. Don't you think if she expects you to do this, she should at least provide explanation as to why?

(I offer knowing damned well that if it was my mother, the best I'd probably get is either "Because," or a "You wouldn't understand...")

She really does have the best intentions.

I have said many times that I don't want my epitaph to be "She meant well."

I don't know what good my fasting will do if I don't believe in it.

Belief is not always required. I'm not saying you should do it, but whether you believe in it might not matter to your mother as much as whether you do it. If she believes in it, that belief may not require your belief.

P-C, do you honestly believe that fasting for 21 days will have any effect on your love life?

I think you need to spend some time thinking about how important marriage is to *you* and about what *you* want from marriage. Not your mother, you. I'd go so far as to recommend that the next time you are tempted to discuss your marital future in terms of your mother's desires, just stop yourself and consider how you might rephrase it in terms of your own desire.

So do you want to fast for 21 days?

Belief is not always required. I'm not saying you should do it, but whether you believe in it might not matter to your mother as much as whether you do it. If she believes in it, that belief may not require your belief.

So I could just lie...

P-C, do you honestly believe that fasting for 21 days will have any effect on your love life?

No.

P-C, do you want to be married anytime soon? Do you think you're ready to be married? If you met a girl you like, how soon would your mother want you married? How soon could you see yourself married?

Finding a girl you like mightn't "fix" everything if you're not ready for a serious commitment--your parents may have to face that, later or sooner.

So I could just lie...

Er, I'm not sure how you got there from what I said. I think that's a terrible plan. If you don't want to do it you should tell her so, but expecting "I don't believe that will work so I'm not going to do it" to convince her is probably a bit optimistic.

P-C, I know you are worried about being respectful to your family and about not hurting people, but getting married before you're ready has a greater capacity for hurting people than telling your mother you need to take your time to find the right person.

I'm not ready to get married. I have said that many times. It doesn't appear to matter.

Then don't fast. If you keep playing along you're going to have to hurt either her or yourself and some unlucky woman at some point.