Bullying is an insidious practice:
an act of violence;
an act of theft;
a demeaning of the human integrity of another.
It has many names:
teasing, taunting, domineering, coercion,
exclusion, exile, silence, tone-of-voice,
hector, push around, brow beat,
ranting, raving, strong-arm tactics,
badger, bluster, oppress, subjugate.
I want to call it by its true name -
evil.
an act of violence;
an act of theft;
a demeaning of the human integrity of another.
It has many names:
teasing, taunting, domineering, coercion,
exclusion, exile, silence, tone-of-voice,
hector, push around, brow beat,
ranting, raving, strong-arm tactics,
badger, bluster, oppress, subjugate.
I want to call it by its true name -
evil.
HEARTFELT PROCESS
To give a voice to the violation I felt after my recent encounter with bullies,
I decided to make dolls.
They would be intuitive,
without too much analysis or critique.
I set parameters:
no more than one hour;
use grey blanket (soft, nurturing, comforting);
sticks and stones;
and a template.
I would find a poem or prayer or quote
to still my heart and allay my fear,
to re-orient my soul toward love.
To give a voice to the violation I felt after my recent encounter with bullies,
I decided to make dolls.
They would be intuitive,
without too much analysis or critique.
I set parameters:
no more than one hour;
use grey blanket (soft, nurturing, comforting);
sticks and stones;
and a template.
I would find a poem or prayer or quote
to still my heart and allay my fear,
to re-orient my soul toward love.
BULLYING LEAVES SCARS
'Bullying leaves scars' reveals that:
we can transform our lives but the scars remain;
we can respond with charity but the scars are permanent;
we can accept apologies but the scars are always a reminder.
we can transform our lives but the scars remain;
we can respond with charity but the scars are permanent;
we can accept apologies but the scars are always a reminder.
"Friendship improves happiness and abates misery,
by the doubling of our joy,
and the dividing of our grief."
Cicero
by the doubling of our joy,
and the dividing of our grief."
Cicero
BULLYING FUELS SELF-CONTEMPT
'Bullying fuels self-contempt' reveals:
the violation of my personal integrity;
a blow to my sense of self-worth and dignity as a human being;
a threat to my ability to contribute to my own well-being.
the violation of my personal integrity;
a blow to my sense of self-worth and dignity as a human being;
a threat to my ability to contribute to my own well-being.
"We must find an alternative to violence.
The eye-for-an-eye philosophy leaves everyone blind."
Martin Luther King Jr.
The eye-for-an-eye philosophy leaves everyone blind."
Martin Luther King Jr.
BULLYING BREEDS DESOLATION
"Bullying breeds desolation" embodies:
a sense of isolation;
a flood of self-criticism;
a futile need to please.
a sense of isolation;
a flood of self-criticism;
a futile need to please.
"Go placidly amongst the noise and haste
and remember what peace there may be in silence."
Desiderata
and remember what peace there may be in silence."
Desiderata
BULLYING CREATES A VOID
This doll considers how 'bullying creates a void':
a numbness,
an emptiness,
an area of desolation.
a numbness,
an emptiness,
an area of desolation.
"Peace heals, elevates and invigorates the spirit."
Michael Blakely
Michael Blakely
BULLYING CAUSES ME TO WITHDRAW
'Bullying causes me to withdraw' describes my reaction to being bullied:
my self-esteem becomes twisted and distorted;
I need to protect my integrity and my self-worth;
I must tend the wounds, protect them from further assault.
my self-esteem becomes twisted and distorted;
I need to protect my integrity and my self-worth;
I must tend the wounds, protect them from further assault.
"Peace cannot be kept by force.
It can only be achieved by understanding".
Albert Einstein
It can only be achieved by understanding".
Albert Einstein
BULLYING DISABLES
"Bullying disables" expressed how:
being bullied destroyed my confidence in my ability to work;
I sought to please to avoid confrontation;
my spirit was crippled;
my faith in the goodness of each individual was shattered.
being bullied destroyed my confidence in my ability to work;
I sought to please to avoid confrontation;
my spirit was crippled;
my faith in the goodness of each individual was shattered.
"Peace heals, elevates and invigorates the spirit".
Michael DeBakey
Michael DeBakey
BULLYING MESSES WITH MY MIND
Through 'Bullying messes with my mind' I realised that:
bullying has an impact on my mental capacity;
I took what the bullies were saying as truth;
I considered that I was unable to make intelligent decisions.
I allowed negative bullying to 'delete' the positive affirmations
made by professionals earlier in the day.
bullying has an impact on my mental capacity;
I took what the bullies were saying as truth;
I considered that I was unable to make intelligent decisions.
I allowed negative bullying to 'delete' the positive affirmations
made by professionals earlier in the day.
"The God of peace is never glorified by human violence"
Thomas Merton
Thomas Merton
BULLYING CREATES HEAVY BAGGAGE
"Bullying creates heavy baggage' expresses:
the weight of condemnation on the human spirit;
the oppressive nature of being a 'victim';
the difficulty of setting down unwanted baggage;
the arduous process of letting go.
the weight of condemnation on the human spirit;
the oppressive nature of being a 'victim';
the difficulty of setting down unwanted baggage;
the arduous process of letting go.
"Do you want long life and happiness?
Strive for peace with all your heart."
Psalm 34:12,14
Strive for peace with all your heart."
Psalm 34:12,14
BULLYING HAS A LONG REACH
'Bullying has a long reach' considers how bullying
opens old wounds;
jeopardises the victim's livelihood;
seeks out vulnerabilities, near and far;
lowers self-esteem.
opens old wounds;
jeopardises the victim's livelihood;
seeks out vulnerabilities, near and far;
lowers self-esteem.
Peace comes from within.
Do not seek it without."
Buddha
Do not seek it without."
Buddha
BULLYING WEIGHS ME DOWN
'Bullying weighs me down'
expresses how an act of bullying weighs heavily on the victim:
sleeplessness;
sluggish movements;
physical aches and pains.
expresses how an act of bullying weighs heavily on the victim:
sleeplessness;
sluggish movements;
physical aches and pains.
"When the power of love overcomes the love of power
the world will know power."
Jimi Hendrix
the world will know power."
Jimi Hendrix
BULLYING ENSNARES ME
"Bullying ensnares me" considered how bullying:
pulls me into the trap of 'being a victim';
makes me wary of further encounters, constricting my world;
continually rewinds the events and words in my mind, paralyzing me.
pulls me into the trap of 'being a victim';
makes me wary of further encounters, constricting my world;
continually rewinds the events and words in my mind, paralyzing me.
"Peace is the only battle worth waging."
Albert Camus
Albert Camus
BULLYING CREATES A HEMORRHAGE
'Bullying creates a hemorrhage' reflects:
the unstoppable flood of emotion;
the loss of self-esteem;
an identity crisis.
the unstoppable flood of emotion;
the loss of self-esteem;
an identity crisis.
"Peace is not only better than war,
it is infinitely more arduous."
George Bernard Shaw
it is infinitely more arduous."
George Bernard Shaw
BULLYING TEARS AT THE HEART
"Bullying tears at the heart' spoke to me of
rejection;
sorrow;
a loss of human dignity and respect.
rejection;
sorrow;
a loss of human dignity and respect.
"Wrong is wrong
even if everyone is doing it.
Right is right
even if no one is doing it."
Augustine of hippo
even if everyone is doing it.
Right is right
even if no one is doing it."
Augustine of hippo
BULLYING REFLECTS THE BULLY
'Bullying reflects the bully' helped me realise that:
bullying reflects the bully;
bullying is all about power;
it is helpful to put myself in the bully's shoes (but it does not excuse their actions).
bullying reflects the bully;
bullying is all about power;
it is helpful to put myself in the bully's shoes (but it does not excuse their actions).
"There is no way to peace;
peace is the way."
Mahatma Gandhi
peace is the way."
Mahatma Gandhi
