Anti-Bullying Blog Week: 'Bloggers on Bullying'

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Today as part of the Anti-Bullying Blog Week I'm going to share one my experiences as someone who was been bullied. ABBW is a week organised and run by Sophie from A Day Dreamer's World who is trying raise awareness and beat bullying. On her awesome blog she's been posting some really excellent anti-bullying posts that I command you all to check out. For today's post she has asked us bloggers to share our own experiences with you.

When I was in primary school I had to move from a school I loved to another one. I was sad to be leaving my friends and the school that I'd been in since Kindergarten. I was young then and my experience being the new kid sucked. As you can imagine everyone already had their own group of friends and I longed to be part of it. I started hanging out with 'the popular group' and at first I thought they'd welcomed me. Soon enough they started spreading rumours about me and calling me names like 'ugly' and 'fat' behind my back. I felt hurt and lonely during school and I began to hate it. I got the message but at the time I felt like it really mattered whether they liked me or not. I tried really hard to be accepted by them and I still fought for their friendship - now I don't know how I could have wanted it. My biggest regret was that I used the situation and all of the bad words to analyse myself. Never did I think that maybe they were just acting horrible.

As much as we try to deny it 'sticks and stones may break my bones, but words do hurt me' is the better phrase. 

Being bullied is horrible and it's not good for anybody. Some people don't realise the affects words can have. When you're being bullied it's hard not to feel alone when all of these nasty thoughts are circling your mind. But it's important to know that you aren't alone. It doesn't make you a baby for telling your parents or a teacher and it really helps to have someone to talk to. You may not know it but there is always going to be someone willing to help and listen. Bullies pick on people a little bit different from everyone else but what I've come to learn is that being different isn't bad, being different is unique and interesting - something I'd much rather be. As one of my idols Taylor Swift once sang, 'Don't you worry your pretty little mind, people throw rocks at things that shine'.

I've always had wild long curly dark hair and no matter how many times people would tell me how much they loved it and wanted it for themselves, I hated it. I longed for straight hair! But now as I'm older I've been in situations where my hair has had me stand out, but in a good way. I've learned how to look after it and even work on different styles if I'm bothered. That difference is now something that makes me feel special. I've always been a self-conscious person but I think in some and most instances, I've been my biggest enemy. It's hard to look at the nice things people are saying when you're constantly putting yourself down.

Because we are only human, the thoughts of others are going to impact us. But we can settle the hurt and choose whether or not to give it power. Believe me I know it's easier said than done, but it's our thoughts that count. If you think about it, a large majority of these people will never enter our lives again so what's the point of changing and being unhappy just for them.

A rose can never be a sunflower, and a sunflower can never be a rose. All flowers are beautiful in their own way, and that’s like women too. I want to encourage women to embrace their own uniqueness. - Miranda Kerr (Treasure Yourself)

I'm not telling you this for sympathy, but rather in hope of helping some one else. I am sure that I'll have down days and I know I'm not 100% self confident. But Treasure Yourself by Miranda Kerr, has gotten me a lot closer to that mark than I was before. It's such a great book and something I feel very important for teenage girls to read at this time in their life. Once we're happy with ourselves what others think doesn't matter all that much. Usually these bullies are dealing with their own insecurities and problems (something I never thought I'd agree with) and that's no excuse, but I reckon it shows a better representation of them than us. So instead of working to be like everyone else, I'll be working on being positive and happy with me :)