Inspiration: Just a Thought...

Usually I would only upload one post on a Sunday, but after something that happened today there are some things I would like to talk about (I am going to be vague as I don't want to single out individuals, as I am more interested in discussing a general idea). I was doing something and one person in the group couldn't quite get the hang of it yet so kept making mistakes. Afterwards, I was stood waiting to carry on and  a group of girls were stood around the corner gossiping about this one person - swearing about her, saying she wasn't right in the head, calling her an idiot and generally verbally abusing her behind her back. I confronted them and told them that it is this that causes arguments and that if they want some friendly advice, it would be to stop and try and help the person instead of gossiping about her. One member of this group turned around and said they had done this and she was just stupid, which they then followed by turning their backs on me and ignoring me. For the rest of the time I was there they carried on not only talking about this girl, but also attempting to spread rumours and gossiping about me. I was not effected by it as they were all a good 4 or 5 years younger than me and I am used to just ignoring this - but the person they were talking about was clearly effected by it when they found out later on. 

What angered me about this was the fact that this group were oblivious to the fact that they were doing anything wrong. They were in effect bullying someone and did not care enough to realise that they were doing it. I understand that they eventually realised what they were doing and stopped. Yet, it is upsetting to me (as someone who has been victim to this myself many a time over the last 15 years and became a very cautious person around new people and situations because of it) that we are living in a society where people are ignoring other peoples feelings and so desperate to be "cool" and fit in that they will do anything - including hurt others to do this. I was fuming that these people felt that they should hurt someone before helping them and that it was OK to give up on them just because they were struggling with something. It angered me that they were bullying someone for being different and appeared to not know or not care that this was the case. Yet above all, I was sad that young people have not been educated enough from a young enough age that they don't need to act like this in order to fit in and that they should care about other people, even if it means not always being the most cool or popular. 

The reason I have mentioned this today is that afterwards one girl who was stood quietly with this group when I confronted them came up to me and said "I just want you to know that I didn't say those things or agree with them". This girl knows who she is and I think she was incredibly brave to do this - yet it is sad that she had to be scared to stand up to people for what is right - it has got to a point in society where the bullies are winning. We need to educate our children from a young age that it is OK to be you - and you shouldn't feel a need to downgrade others to just fit in. We need to reinforce the message that bullying is NEVER OK and teach them that there is no reason to verbally abuse or gossip about people for their differences, struggles or mistakes. We need to make children understand how important it is to help others when they are in need (no matter how much you disagree with the way they are acting). All of this can be simply summarised by the simple fact that we need to teach young people to respect each other again. 

I want to let everyone reading this know that no matter who you are - how old, what gender, what race, religion, build or even hair colour - you are loved and cared about by someone. No matter what people say  to you or how people act around you, what struggles, mistakes or difference you may have in life and what what other people have said to you or think of you - you are special and that is all that matters. If you are nice to people, you will eventually receive the rewards (even if at the moment it doesn't feel like it); and if you make the decision to not be nice to people then your comeuppance will come. Remember that everyone has feelings and think - how would you feel if people were talking about you behind your back? - I know you may act tough and say you wouldn't care; but when it is a 10 against 1 situation like I witnessed today I'm sure you'd change your mind. Be kind to people and respect those around you. If everyone did this, then maybe life would be a lot more pleasant.

"We focus so much on our differences, and 

that is creating, I think, a lot of chaos and 

negativity and bullying in the world. And I think everybody should focus on what 

we all have in common - which is that 

we all want to be happy".

- Ellen De Generes