Living Straightedge

I’ve been mulling this over in my head for a couple days, trying to think it all out before I put it out there for the world to see, and fellow straightedge people to judge me.

I am straightedge. I don’t drink, smoke, or use drugs. But, I wasn’t always that way. Yes, I’ve smoked a Marlboro Red or two, took sips of friends drinks at shows, and stayed true to myself by never doing drugs.

I didn’t become straightedge because I needed a family, an excuse, or a reason to tell myself why I abstained from this things. I didn’t need someone to keep me in check or a way to make more friends. I simply saw that some of the most influential people in my life were straightedge, all for very different reasons. So, I looked into it.

I became straightedge for me. I think it’s healthy and that’s exceedingly important to me considering my medical history. I would rather look out for my friends than be one of those girls you see at every party, the girl who is so trashed she’s half-naked and making a fool out of herself. You know exactly the girl I’m talking about. Yes, I know that I would stop drinking before I reached that point but, I like to have my wits about me, 100% of the time. I don’t need to drink to let loose or smoke to relieve my stress and anxiety.

I hate the militant ones, the straightedge kids who won’t associate with anyone who isn’t sober. The militant ones who judge people because they’ve decided to live their life differently. I’ve had friends tell me about people knocking drinks out of their hands, attacking them at shows, etc., all because they were partaking in non-straightedge activities. All they do is give every straightedge kid a bad name and a bad rep. I’m pretty nothing is gained by being hateful and judgmental towards someone who has chosen to live differently than you.

I have no problem with my friends drinking, smoking, and yes, I am even friends with people who do drugs. I love them all just the same. It’s their life and their body, we’ve just made different lifestyle choices. I don’t judge them for it. Why should I? They love me, they are there for me, they’re good people, and they’ve never wronged me.

I don’t understand the straightedge kids who shun their own if they break edge, but willingly hang out and associate with people who have never lived the straightedge lifestyle and never will. That’s called being hypocritical. You are turning your back on so-called “family” because they have decided to alter their lifestyle yet, you hang with people who get trashed on the regular. Explain that one to me, please. Isn’t the main part of friends and family to be supportive, no matter what? Again, what do you gain from shunning them? I mean, besides looking like a hypocritical ass.

Maybe I’m the one who sounds like a hypocrite but, I am sometimes almost ashamed to associate with the word “straightedge” because everyone assumes it to be one way. I’ve had people tell me they were shocked I liked to go to shows and parties because I chose to live a sober lifestyle. Being straightedge doesn’t mean I stopped living, I just live differently.

Does this whole thing have a sting of anger to it? Yes, it does. I’m embarrassed by the kids who give it a bad reputation, the ones who think they are so “hardcore” and “cool” because they have chosen the straightedge lifestyle. My John Wayne of a father doesn’t drink, smoke, or do drugs but he doesn’t run around telling people how much better he is because of it and he certainly doesn’t call himself straightedge. There are so many people who live a sober lifestyle that I don’t think I am any more special for doing it by calling it “living straightedge”, I’m just living.