No More Bullies!

October is bully prevention month, unfortunately someone forgot to tell the bullies. I found out this morning that my nephew was a victim of bullying recently. Some kid thought he could push my nephew around and humiliate him, but that ended when the kid threw the first punch. My nephew was willing to walk away, until the bully tried to hit him. Now my nephew is suspended for defending himself.

I understand the school has a policy of no fighting, and my nephew was found with the kid in a choke hold, but I still think it's unfair he is being punished for something he tried to walk away from. Whatever the school says, he has his family backing him. I'm proud of him, as is his uncle.

I suffered bullies all through school. I think I may have been a better student if it weren't for the fact that I hated getting up everyday and returning to my own personal hell where I was constantly tormented by kids who hardly even knew me, and it was impossible to say anything about it, because they were the popular kids, the teachers pets, the kids that ruled the school. Even when I tried to fit in, I was ridiculed.

I had the pleasure of talking to one of my bullies after high school, and I asked her why she did what she did. You want to know the answer?

Because I was different, and she didn't understand me.

So here is my plea to help stop bulling. Take that one person you don't understand, and get to know them. Have a conversation with them, ask them what they are passionate about, and who knows, maybe you will find they are not so different from you, that you could be great friends.

Don't leave anyone to sit alone in the corner suffering daily a world that refuses to understand them. Be the hero, and rescue them from the torment of others.

Have you been the victim of bullies or were you a bully? Share in the comments. I would love to hear your story, and how it affects you today.