Re: hijab vs. no hijab
NJ, try not to worry about people and how they view you. As long as we are living and breathing, there will be talk and gossip. I think even if you wore hijab, you would find people staring and critisizing. Because as soon as you wear it, every action is judged. Since you're hijabi you'd have to be perfect in order to make people happy. If you didnt wear it and someone around you did, you would be judged because people would think you should wear it. Yikes! Unfortunately, there are some pretty hurtful people out there. :(
However, it doesnt have to be a part of your life. :) As long as people arent imposing their practices on you, you should be fine. Let them stare and think to yourself: You WISH you looked this good!
:)