I’m feeling really angry at about everyone in my hall right now. Maybe I asked for it by getting into the film-oriented hall, but even the most insightful of people are totally hypocritical and it even makes my head hurt. I feel pity, I feel insulted, I feel proud.
And pride is not as great a thing as people make it out to be. There was a group discussion, or rather a lecture made by one of the louder mouths in the area, just about life and the way we all live it. This guy who was blabbing was really proud, too.
He says that if he died right now, he’d feel as if he lived his life to the fullest. he’s gotten arrested 16 times, he’s seen people through withdrawals and other drug-related destruction, and all his talents make him what he is today – a loudmouth with a reputation.
And I, on the other hand, feel as though I lived my life with no problems, no major downs, no major ups, yet I still feel the same way – if I died right now I’d feel as if my life was complete. Or as complete as I want it to be.
Like I said in my entry about friends, I live in the present moment. This other guy wants to look back when he’s older and see how great his past was. Yet we’re both proud of what we’ve become. I think we really disgust each other, though – we’re opposites because of what both of us have and haven’t done.
Yet he’s accepted. I’m not. Of course, I don’t want to be accepted by those who don’t want me as I am. What I’m getting at is that the lifestyle of living in the extremes is desirable around here. If you haven’t experienced the lowest of the low and the highest of the high, you have no place unless you want to completely throw away your identity.
What’s one of the main determinants of what my “lifestyle” is? My choice not to do drugs. Sure, a little drunkedness and maybe some weed might not completely destroy you, but it’s just not for me.
I’ve been told that alcoholism and overall addiction runs in my family. I can tell it’s true. We’re all very fidgety. Often, a lot of my family members’ behaviors border on obsessive-compulsive. And I’ve been told that my grandpa was an alcoholic.
I don’t want to see myself drunk. I can act crazy and speak my mind without the influence of alcohol. And I don’t want to introduce the chance that I might fall into an addiction. The same goes for any other kind of drug.
Seriously. People say that alcohol and weed just loosen you up and let you speak the “ultimate truth.” You’ve got to be a pretty conflicted person to not be able to come out and say something without the influence of some outside substance.
I don’t ever find myself craving them. I don’t enjoy being around those who are influenced. I don’t like the taste of alcohol, but it still doesn’t even matter if I’ve tried it before. It’s not worth getting drunk over.
And at this point, the only reason I’d ever to that sort of stuff is to fit into a crowd I don’t like being around. It gives me all the more reason to be proud about myself and who I really am.
I’m a nice person, so I respect those who decide to have that as part of their lifestyle. I’m not going to impose this on anyone or preach straight-edgedness. But I’ll say I’m proud, and I think a lot more people I know would be better off if drugs and alcohol were such a big part of their lives.
And yes, I’ll be talking more about myself and my upbringing later. It’s why I italicized that I feel as though I lived my life with no major problems. That’s for you guys to decide.
Exactly. I always remind myself that if you need to smoke just to be cool, then you suck, seriously. Life is not just about your experiences, but how you see those experiences. For me, getting arrested simply means a helluva lot of time wasted that I could have done doing other stuff.
My freinds tried to get me drunk a few times, and it didn’t work out, and I didn’t find it fun, either.
Then by all means: don’t. Admitdly, I do get drunk ocasionly and all-however, I try to only do so around certain pepole. it’s like some of my “straightege” friends versus most of my gillman friends. they find that geting drunk/high is the end all result, while my other friends preaty much avoid it like the plauge. My theory? Stop where you’re comfortable. Screw everyone else. Hang with the sober minorty.
Yes!
There should be more people like you!!! 🙂 It sad when all these stupid people abuse themselves like that. 🙁
hey dude. i totally understand. being at porter, so many people seem so extreme. like this one dude in core this morning was just like “know what sounds good?” and i was like “um food? like mmm a grilled cheese sandwich…” and he was like looking at me like i was crazy and he was like “no peppermint schnapps.” and i was like “WHOA OR NOT ALCOHOLIC!” basically. if you wanna chill with a cool girl who doesnt like drinking or smoking or drugs then im that girl. 🙂 peace man.
Too bad it’s always College Nine and Ten that have the dining halls with the grilled cheese sandwiches. In that way, you’re lucky that you can go home and eat. 😛
But yeah, thanks. I don’t often see you around Porter, and it’s probably either because you don’t live on campus, or I don’t exactly recognize you when I see you, or a combo of sorts. But whatever, I’m sure we’re bound to run into one another.
I love you!!
I love you. I’ve known what straight edge is for a couple years and I’ve always had the same beliefs as one who is.. but it wasn’t until recently that I totally claimed and said DUDE I AM STRAIGHT EDGE. And i’ve made like 20 new friends just because of it. It’s an awesome lifestyle and it’s seriously spreading around here. Hopefully it will be the “new thing” and it will stay that way for a while.