We, as a society, have developed an unhealthy obsession of our ideas of perfection. Whether pefection can be symbolized by height, weight, age, body measurements, or the type of clothes you wear, marketing has it’s way of creating doubt in all of our own self worth at some point. Is the advertising world the culprit of such negative respect for each other to blame?
It doesn’t take 20/20 vision to see that bullying has taken on a much more defined level of hatred amongst the world today. Bullying is nothing new to our vocabularly, yet the types of bullying happening in today’s time has profoundly become more severe and caused much more damage to it’s victims.
From young toddlers to the ederly, the epidemic of bullying has been brought to the spot light on several occasions in the media. With all this growing attention of such a senseless behavior, what have we really done to take a preventative action to protect the ones we love? How do we protect them when it seems that our beloved family and friends can be penetrated by hateful words everywhere. As technology has advanced the epidemic of bullying has taken on much more of a sustainable avenue of hate. We all can lock our doors at night and self soothe when someone verbalizes such painful words, but how can we turn off our cell phones, computers, and our addictions to social networking sites?
It seems an impossible battle to wage, and the war continues. Steady and relentless.
The only resolution to stop bullying before it starts is to lead by example. Teach your children to respect, to share, to listen, and to understand. We are all different, we all have our own story, we are free to express who we are without persecution from others. As long as what we do does not hurt anyone else, everyone has the right to be who they want to be. No one is better than anyone else.
Pay attention to your children, your students, your family. Make time to talk, without pressure to blurt out every detail of their day.
Educate yourself of both the signs of the bully and the victim.
Again, lead by example. Be mindful of your words and how you say them.
You never know who is listening and watching, or the power of your voice. Use it wisely.
Perfection is impossible to achieve. Perfect is knowing we’re all different, we all have flaws, but we embrace our own imperfections and the imperfections of those around us. That is what makes us all relatable. No matter our height, weight, body measurements, or the brand stamped on our t-shirt tags.
It only takes one person to start a trend, the rest of us will follow. Who will be brave enough to start one of kindness and respect?