Looking for love in all the wrong places.

This is a two-part blog... if you want you can skip to the bottom half. 

Dear ____,

You are worrying me. You are changing and moving so fast. Some things you are doing are shady and dishonest and dangerous. Yes, I know something you don't think I know. What else are you hiding? How could you do that to one of your closest friends? If she knew she would be really hurt. I'm not going to tell her, or anyone; it's not my business and I shouldn't have found out. I'm sure you probably feel bad enough in your own head. I know you are still hurting but you don't need to look for love the way you are-- you have many friends that love you. I don't want to watch you continue to get hurt. I don't want to watch you throw yourself at people. I want you to start being safe so that you aren't stuck with the repercussions of your current actions for the rest of your life. If you read this you will know it is about you and I'm sorry if it hurts you or makes you angry. I'm conflicted because I don't know whether to confront you for your own good or let you live your own life. You're an adult, and I'm not your mommy. But I do care about you and I feel like we are growing apart a little bit. If you can't trust me with this stuff, who can you? Why are you embarrassed of what I will think? It hurts me to think that at some point I made you feel like you couldn't come to me. I'm sorry. 

Be careful and remember that those boys don't love you-- but I do.

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"Let'​s take a walk on the beach​.​
You can say "I love you"​,​ and I can unzip​ my pants​.​
We'​ll hide our insec​uriti​es with passi​on on our lips.​
And purpo​se in our hips,​
Tryin​g for just one secon​d to forge​t the lying​.​
Forge​t the inevi​table​ risin​g of the sun.
And the end of a summe​r.​
Run, run littl​e girl.​ This is no place​ for you.
You belon​g on the livin​g room floor​.​
Where​ life is nothi​ng more than Barbi​e dolls​
And make belie​ve.​
This is real.​ 
This could​ break​ you down and tear you up.
We are playi​ng for keeps​,​ darli​ng.​
And you have way too much to lose.​"

It shouldn't be like this ^

We do have to much to loose; ourselves. 

You don't find love laying down.

You don't belong on the living room floor... or any floor.

You are worthy and completely deserving of respect.

WE ARE NOT OBJECTS, so lets treat ourselves with respect!

This may come across hypocritical to those who know me at first, but I am not asking people to be celibate. Just deliberate-- be safe in your actions and respectful in your intentions [to yourself and others!] 

I feel that self respect is completely necessary in order to be happy, healthy, and respected by others. How can we respect ourselves when we are not being careful or kind to our bodies? We all make mistakes, but lets learn from them. Sex is a big deal, and people so often forget that. I'm not talking about God right now. I'm talking about the possibility of heartbreak, STDs, babies, regrets, emotional risks... 

Once you sleep with someone you are connected to them for the rest of your life [along with everyone they've slept with]. Get to know them, respect them, make sure they respect you, and be safe. If you don't know them, be even safer. In this case, what you don't know can hurt you. It makes me sad to see the people around me treating themselves like they are undeserving of respect. I'm not saying sex should ONLY be with someone you love [although it is so much better that way]. But, I am saying that there should at least be a mutual respect between the two people involved. 

Check out:

Planned Parenthood; not just for the prevention of unintentional offspring! 

thinkMTV; find a testing center!

Or, check out thinkMTV's handy-dandy guide; everything from safety to respect.

And in honor of February 14-21 being National Condom Week, check out Proper Attire Condoms.