“Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory” – Dr. Seus
All of those formative years through school I met my fair share of bullies and was bullied a lot when I was growing up.
I was different and didn’t quite fit in. I was a hyperactive short yet lanky awkward kid who danced ballet. I was shy until I got into acting classes and all things art. I loved all weird or out of place. I was very passionate about the nerdy things that a lot of the people around me weren’t: space, gemstones/rocks, reading classic novels and poetry (“An old soul” one teacher told me) and so much more. All of these things made me an easy target.
I was constantly being belittled and emotionally beat down by some of the kids around me. It wasn’t easy and my spirit was constantly being broken down by “mean girls”. I never really talked about this stuff when I was a kid, though. After my father passed when I was 7, kids started making fun of me for not having a dad, something that followed me through Jr. High. But I always put on a happy face because I wanted everyone to think that I was ok.
Don’t get me wrong, for the most part, I was a happy kid! I was happy using my imagination and being creative. I buried myself in the stuff that I loved doing. But, there was always that sick feeling in my stomach when I went to school or dance class every day to face the onslaught of the villains in my life. Hell, I’ve even had jobs like that in my adult life!
Bullying is a real problem and it’s relevant to talk about, so that’s why I decided to address the topic. I cannot imagine being a kid in today’s world! Cyber bullying?! Are you kidding me! Not to say that I haven’t experienced this myself online, but I’m better equipped to deal with it at nearly 40 years old. My emphatic heart feels so bad for those kids struggling today.
I imagine that people who resort to bullying have their own issues to deal with. You never know what a person is going through in life. Someone may be having an extremely hard time with something and not be showing it on the outside. I just wish they didn’t have to resort to taking their frustrations out on other people and making them feel small to make themselves feel better.
I just wish we could all strive to be nicer to each other. Sometimes even a friendly “hi” or a smile can make all the difference. Pay it forward and do something nice for a stranger. Hold the door for someone at the very least.
“Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured”
Mark Twain
-Jenine Lehfeldt @SweetSerenityYoga