I started to write a post on face book this morning about Christmas displays, when I saw an interview on The Early Show. All of a sudden Christmas displays being in stores didn't seem like something to talk about today.
I choose to speak up. To make and effort. To maybe effect one person.
PLEASE: Take the time to talk with your children about bullying. Are they being bullied? Are they doing the bulling? Do you approve of, or have you encouraged them to bully? Do you yourself know what bullying is? Think of what example you are setting for not just your kids, but those that are being or can be influenced by you.
According to the interview on The Early Show "Estimated since 1983 there has been more than 150 young people that have killed themselves due to being bullied". You know that doesn't include those that have tried. It doesn't include those that suffer from depression, anxiety, or that withdraw, that drop out of school, that do not reach the potential they could of reached.
KIDS: Please try to talk with your parents, teacher, counselor if you feel you are being bullied. If one doesn't listen talk to another. I know you hear this all the time, but I don't think we can say it enough. Please don't wait till this strikes too close to home to act.
VICTIMS: Sometimes you may feel that nothing can be done about what you feel someone is doing to hurt you. It falls on the victim to provide proof, & it can be very difficult if not impossible to prove what words are said, written or posted on social networks to bully you, or your friends. TRY. TRY. & then...TRY again. Ask for help. Your life means something. You are meant to be something, and that something is not 6 feet under. You are someones everything. If you feel there is no way out, talk to someone. I wish I had the rite words to fill your heart with joy instead of the pain. What I can say, is that YOU are the future, & your life means something to me, even if I don't know you. Life is precious, & changes....daily. Reach out, there are others that know what you are going through. There is probably a group or a counselor that would love to help you. Please know that!
BULLIES: PARENTS OF BULLIES: Are you a bully? Do you feel the need to put other people in a position of fear or to belittle them? Do you feel that even though you make fun of someone or push them around, maybe just call them names that you aren't a bully? Do you think that you only pick on one kid that it means you aren't a bully? Where did you learn your behavior? Can you stop? A lot of times kids/teens/adults don't think they are a bully or don't feel that they are bullying. If your intentional actions hurt someone & you continue that behavior you are bullying. Have you had to explain your actions or the actions of your children that effected another in a negative way? Sometimes people just don't like each other, that's OK. Not everyone have to be friends. However, we don't have to make fun of those we don't like. Please try to think about how you treat others, and how that effects them and can effect other people. Learn to take responsibly for your actions, easier said then done. I want to say here too that I wish there were words to make you understand what one persons actions can do to so many, to make you understand the pain others feel when being bullied (made fun of, called names, pushed around, etc.). What I can do is ask you, 'what are you doing to make a difference in someones life? Then I can pray & hope that if your answer is not something positive, you will make a change.
There have been many times that I have bullied throughout my life. At times I was the instigator of it. That is same as the bully, by not doing anything, by standing around watching, feeding into the actions. I really didn't think about my actions or how they impacted others. I was told recently that a girl was trying to get popular by trying to fight other girls. Is that really what makes you popular? When I was in high school I don't remember the most popular kids being the mean ones. 222 in my graduating class. I know that is small compared to some schools here, it is also much larger than others. Of course there were fights. One sent a friend of mine to the hospital. He was coming back from lunch when 4 kids that didn't even know him jumped him. That sure didn't make those 4 kids popular, it got them jail and a record, but everyone knew my friend after that. I got in a couple fights in high school too, only one being bad enough to get me a ride to the office. I think my reputation was that of someone fair and I usually got my point across without much violence & don't remember being fearful about confronting those that I had heard being ill about me. It's funny because I can be a very mean person. Most I know would tell you how sweet I am & how I put others ahead of me, that I am a passionate person, a leader and again someone who sees both sides of an argument (even of those I don't like, lol). I have many times, days, that I have to try very hard to be that nice, sweet, kind person that everyone knows. I don't think many truly know me, lol. The point is that there is another way. A nicer way. Even if you have to try very, very hard to work at it.
So, I look back & wonder, do all my good deeds out weigh the pain I intentionaly caused others?
NO.
Its that simple.
I do fell that I can however try to make amends to those hurt.
