|
 What
Is Abstinence Anyway?
Saying no to sex now as a teen does not
mean saying no forever. It does mean giving yourself a chance to
accomplish your dreams and know yourself and what you want in a
relationship. Choosing not to gamble with your future by having sex is one
of the most important decisions you can make.
Choosing to wait for sex is called
abstinence. Many teens are making the choice to wait until marriage to
become sexually active.
When I say no to sex now I am saying that I
value myself and know what is best for my future…
This is my life … I
believe in myself and know I can make decisions that are good for me.
I’m not going to worry about what my
friends think or may be doing. I’m the only person who has to live with
the consequences of my decisions … I’m going to do what is right for
me.
I know everyone is not having sex, even if
some people think they need to brag about it that doesn’t mean they are
doing it.
No one has the right to pressure me into
having sex when I don’t wan to.
I don’t need to have
sex to feel loved.
I can feel and show love in other ways.
Having sex won’t prove I’m gorgeous,
sexy or popular.
Having sex may add pressures to a
relationship that I don’t want to deal with.
I know my personal values and I’m going
to stick with them - I want to be proud of me.
I’m not ready to
become a Mom or a Dad.
I know that no form of birth control is 100
% effective. Waiting to have sex is the only sure way to avoid becoming
pregnant.
I know girls can get pregnant if they have
sex before their first period, the first time they have sex or even if
they use birth control.
Many teen parents live in poverty, I want a
better future than that.
I am not ready to accept the
responsibilities of raising a child.
I care about my body.
Having sex means I’d risk becoming
infected with a sexually transmitted disease (STD).
I know some STDs, such as herpes, and HIV,
cannot be cured - I could be infected for the rest of my life.
I can’t tell by looking at someone if
they have an STD - they might not know either.
Saying no to sexual pressure puts me in
control of my life, health and future.
I’ve got plans for my
future.
I’m smart enough to know that what I
decide today will affect my future.
I’m going to take the time to know myself
better
I’m not going to rush into sex - first I
want to learn about relationships and how to be in love.
Waiting will give me a chance to figure out
what I want for myself and my future.
Saying
no to sex now is saying yes to life and all the future holds.
|
