The View From Here – Pink Shirt Day
Today I dug out the only pink shirt I own so I can participate in #pinkshirtday2022. A day to take a stand against bullying. To encourage kindness. To lift each other up.
Were you bullied? I bet if you were, you still know and remember the feeling. I do. I remember when I was really young, a group of boys would harass me at recess. I still remember the feeling of fear, not wanting to leave the classroom. Looking for any reason to stay indoors and avoid them. I wish someone had noticed. I wish someone had said something.
High school wasn’t any better. Our family had just moved from one city to a small town, and I didn’t have any friends and didn’t know anybody heading into high school for the first time. It was a lonely time and it wasn’t without bullying. I remember one person in particular who sat behind me on the bus and would laugh and poke fun almost every single day. I didn’t think I was ever going to get through those days. I think the one thing that helped was having my family to escape to, and a few close friends. I always knew when I got home everything would be okay.
It’s the number one reason I try to teach my kids to be kind, compassionate, and empathetic to others. To look for those sitting alone and to stand up for those who are getting bullied. Getting through life is hard enough without having to worry about getting picked on and bullied for being “different”.
We lead by example. We teach out kids how to treat others by how we treat others. I’m so thankful I grew up without social media. This online world makes it so much easier for our kids. It’s harder to protect them when it’s so easy to mistreat others in a comment or post.
Spend anytime online these days, and we see how hurtful and unkind this world can be. It can be damaging to anyone of any age. I know it’s made me rethink my social media networks. I’ve deleted pages, and unfollowed and unfriended to protect myself. My mental health.
Bullying doesn’t stop outside of the classroom. It happens everywhere. And it effects everyone and it’s affects linger.
In a world where you can be anything – be kind. Words to live by beyond today.
