Stop Bullying

I know I haven't posted in a very long time, and I apologize for all two of you who read this.  It isn't for lack of things to say, just lack of time.

But today, I am going to make time.

The world has lost another amazing girl this week, due to bullying.  Another young high school student was driven to a depression so deep that she felt the only way out was to kill herself.  She was made to feel this way by her peers.

I didn't know this girl, but I relate to her.

I suffer from depression and anxiety.  Because my problems didn't manifest fully until well after High School, I consider myself lucky.  There were bullies when I grew up.  There are bullies in my child's elementary school, even if the administration doesn't want to admit it.

I was bullied.

I wasn't bullied harshly or much more than other kids; the bottom line is I wasn't popular in High School to be a major target for bullying.  I was cyber bullied before people even had a name for it.  

I was one of the lucky ones who witnessed "the birth of the internet", and played on local bulletin boards was new and exciting.  There was a kid on one of these sites who made it their job to follow me around, game to game, chat room to chat room, and tried to make my life a living hell.  I didn't let it get to me though- I told others about it and eventually had the kid banned.  I had forgotten about this whole experience until recently, when the teenage suicide rate because of bullying began to blow through the roof.

I share my experience not because it traumatized me, but to remind people who are being bullied that they are not alone.  If you are being bullied, TELL SOMEONE!  Share with a parent, teacher, or trusted adult what you are going through.  It won't make other kids hate you.  It won't make you even less popular than you already feel that you are.  

It will make the bullying stop.

Don't spend your life trying to impress others.  Be yourself.  Be awesome.  Don't worry about what those popular skanks think- High School will be the high point in their lives and they will spend the rest of theirs trying to relive the short four years where they felt special.  You have the rest of your lives to be special, and you will be amazing.

I promise.

So today, my children and I have written LOVE on our arms, to remember a young girl who thought she had no way out.  

To remind others that they are NOT alone.

To remind everyone that they ARE loved, and that they have choices.

My hope for my daughters is that by the time they reach high school, cyberbullying will be put to an end. 

My two beautiful daughters, with Love on their arms.

My hope is that when someone notices that my daughter has the word "love" on her arm, that people will ask her why.  

And that she will tell them exactly why.

There are lots of websites out there who support the anti-bullying movement, I just wanted to write a post to mourn the loss of one young girl who might have changed the world, had others left her alone.  

She has changed me.

Check out To Write Love on Her Arms, which supports those suffering from depression for any reason.

  To Write Love On Her Arms

Join a local movement to stop bullying now.

Remember those who have been driven to desperate acts by their peers.

Write LOVE on your arm, to remind yourself and others.

Join this humble blogger in raising awareness.

Comments, thoughts? Leave them here.

Thanks for reading.