To Fast or Not to Fast...in this case there is no question

Thursday marked the end 30 days of fasting and the beginning of a three day celebration. People fast from the first morning call to prayer to the evening call to prayer. Right as the evening call to prayer is heard they are once again allowed to drink and eat. Several times during the fast I had a chance to break the fast (I was not fasting!) with friends of mine.
Last year at iftar, the meal to break the fast, everything was new and interesting to me. I had truly in my life never seen quite such an event. This year things were so different. I'm not sure if I can chalk it up to a better understanding of what people are saying, to the ability to have slightly deeper relationships with friends, a combination of both or something entirely different, but it was not so much interesting as a saddening display of works righteousness in my friends' lives.
Now the party is on! Friday I went over to visit friends in another part of town. Typical holiday visits are about a half hour, but this is not a house where I can stay a half hour. This is partially due to it's location, being a bit of a journey from my house and partially due to the fact that they now tell everyone that I'm like their daughter and I've been on vacation with them. So instead of a half hour I was there from the afternoon until late last night. Visitors came and went. We talked, stayed, goofed off and even went over to the grandparents' house to pick up the laundry. One visitor asked me if I wanted to become a Mslm. In her words I would there find freedom and peace. The grandfather asked me if I had fasted this year. I said I had not and he insisted that I should fast next year because it's "sağlam" or healthy, lasting, long-wearing and possibly (at least in my understanding) strong or strength giving. We often refer to buildings as "sağlam" if they are well-built and probably able to withstand an earthquake. I said thanks, but I would not. So he insisted. My friend was waiting for us in the car outside, we had not planned on staying. We said our goodbyes and headed out. I still do not intend to fast next year.
I have peace, I have freedom and I do not need the type of strength that keeping this fast will bring. But it is not my job to "convince" or "argue" with them. Indeed, I am reminded once more of the truth that their eyes must be opened. I must speak, but the Spirit must work.