Discussion»Questions»Environment» Looking back to your teen years, are there some things others were doing that you're now glad you didn't participate? ~
Drugs.........I never touched them. I've met people, especially from the West, who simply do not believe that. Of course it's kind of a western mindset that if they do it, everybody else does or should. It's just not so.
You and I are in the exact same camp, with the exception that as a black kid from the so-called "inner city", no one bought it that I had a mind of my own and didn't follow the crowd like a sheep. There are members of my own family who fell for the "it's normal and natural to take drugs" crap, I wouldn't follow them to the corner store.
To this day I've never even had the slightest curiosity or interest in trying illegal drugs, and I'm not only glad about it, I'm proud of it too. ~
I sensed strength of character when I first had interaction with you. Neither of us blindly follow, that's so true. You have every right to be proud of that background. That background is an excuse we hear over and over again for adult crimes and behavior. I grew up in a city neighborhood but it was by a steel mill and all of the dads worked there. We were raised with a strong work ethic and when we weren't at school or home, you could find us at Church. I have many times said that I loved how and when I grew up. We got to be kids for a long time and when we graduated from high school (which everyone, everyone did) you went to college or went to work. None of that living off parents after high school. It was just understood. We didn't have much money but it didn't make any difference.....just like it should be.
Drug abuse was already rampant in the area where I lived. One of my brothers got himself in a lot of trouble. I am thankful I wasn't drawn to that life. Maybe it's because I have always feared physical pain. I don't get the logic of getting drunk, knowing the next day I will be miserable.
Thriftymaid 