adminWe are right smack in the middle of the festive season and for most of us that simply means a time to have as much fun as possible. Even the grown-ups are infected with the spirit of letting down their hair, postponing problems and just enjoying the moment.
Come January they will be worried about school fees, food and other expenses.
For teens the normal problems include keeping up with school work, fitting into new schools and other related issues.
Is that all that is going to be bothering you in the New Year?
For while it is good to occasionally live for the moment, it is not an excuse to throw all caution to the wind.
For the holiday season will come to an end. But some of the results may last well after.
Have as much fun as possible, but do not forget those boring old rules by which you live your life the rest of the year.
Having fun without crossing the line is a life skill that will help you avoid many disasters.
First of all, do not do anything that you normally would not do, just because it is the festive season.
That means this is not the time to start experimenting with drugs and alcohol. You could end up in serious trouble because of the behaviour that you then indulge in under the influence of those substances.
The media is full of stories of teenagers being arrested for all sorts of crimes including rape and theft. Some of these crimes are being directly linked to substance abuse.
Do you really want to start the New Year in prison? Is that part of your game plan?
None of the teens who are in trouble believed that it could happen to them. In their minds they were just having fun and they never realised that things could turn out so bad.
The same thing could happen to you too, if you decide to celebrate irresponsibly.
Most teens have unplanned and unprotected sex during the festive season because they believe that having fun means that you forget all your usual boundaries and just live for the moment.
Unfortunately, they will have to face results like STIs and unwanted pregnancies after the festive season is over. Go on and have fun. Enjoy the season of goodwill.
But do not let a few minutes of uncontrolled actions shape the course of the rest of your life.
Make merry in a way that will not make you teary!
Online Reporter