I Hate Disclaimers

It's been awhile since I've stepped up on my soap box, but I need to say a few words. It's something that's been bothering me for a couple days, and I think saying this out in the open will make me feel a bit better.

Upon observation, I think I'm giving people the impression that I am critical and judgmental of my friends, and the choices they make. It makes me sad to hear,
"I was afraid to tell you because I thought you'd be mad/disappointed."

I can understand why some of my friends that I made earlier in our high school years would feel this way. There was a time, when I had less clarity, that I would get mad about the things my friends did. I was upset that they were doing things I wasn't, I wanted to fit in, and I didn't know how else to express it but with anger. I didn't want to accept it. But I have long since come to terms with that. I realized that I couldn't make people choose the same thing as me. Since then, I had hoped to make people see that I was comfortable with their decisions. However, since this same old song and dance of "let's not tell Lauren" has carried into college, I feel like I need to say this:

Yeah, it's true that I don't drink. It's a personal decision that has proved to work for me and my lifestyle thus far. But it's not a big deal, I can still have fun and so can you. I like to hang out with you, whether you're drinking or not. You don't need to act awkward around me because I'm not drinking, you don't need to ask if I'm ok or having fun. Just treat me like you treat everyone else around. I don't know how else to tell you- I don't look down on anyone for making different choices. Our lives are our own, and we should make our own decisions. I'll worry about me, you worry about you.

The other day I was told, "you brought this on yourself." Maybe I did, maybe I didn't. But I feel like this is such a minuscule thing. My choice regarding alcohol isn't the core of my personality- there's so much more to me than that.


Ok, I'm done.