Bullies Come In All Ages

**EDIT - After re-reading this, I'm afraid people might think that I'm talking about someone or someones (yes I made that a word) specific. This is the disclaimer letting everyone know that this post is NOT about anyone specific. Just a general train of thought after reading some stories in the news. So don't get on my case about it. Thanks :) 

I think a lot about bullying lately. With all of the stories in the news about teens committing suicide over their constant bullying (for whatever reasons). The statistics are staggering, and I thank God that I'm not in high school anymore and I don't have to deal with it.

Then when I sit back and really think about it, sometimes people are worse out of high school than they were in it.

And some people? They never grow up.

It's really important to learn from your mistakes and be a better person as a result.  No one is perfect, by any means. You'd think though that people would see their track records and move on from them as better people. You'd think.

I've learned that there are people out there who are relentless. Months or years after someone leaves high school or certain situations, there are still those people out there who tend to never forget it. They like to talk smack, all the time. But of course, never to the target's face. Takes too much courage to do something like that, and who needs courage when you can get together like a bunch of mindless chimps and laugh at someone else? The funniest to me is when people resort to the Internet to make their jabs at people. It's a sad thing to hide behind a computer screen to make comments and try to torment other people. Do you think that makes you a real man? All it makes you is a coward. And you will always be a coward.

I'm really supportive of the It Gets Better Project for gay youth. Millions of people making videos to let the world know that even though bullying in high school seems to have reached a whole new level of torment, life gets so much better out of high school. As most people grow up, they grow out of this obnoxious childish phase and learn how to be functional adult human beings. The thing is though, while it gets better, I can't say it ever gets easier. You'll still face challenges in your life. You'll still face those people who after months still think it's cute to write mean things about you on their social networking sites, even at 23 or 24 years of age. If you have a problem, sometimes people can move past it, sometimes people can't. Sometimes they just stop talking about the situation entirely and let it go, and sometimes people just need something to joke about because they have nothing else better to do, and you become the target.

The trick is how you deal with it.

Jabs always hurt, no matter how old you are. But when you realize who you really are, without the influence of others but including your own mistakes and pitfalls, that's when you'll shine. You don't need anyone to validate you, and their words just fall on deaf ears. You go to college, ignore the drama, make lifelong friends who have your back, get your degree, and make something of yourself.

Leave the haters back in high school where they belong.

Their words just aren't worth it. It may sting at first, but you'll realize how much better you are when you rise above it. Let them make their jokes, say their hurtful and usually untrue remarks about you. Those who entertain it weren't meant to be in your life in the first place. Those who realize how immature and childish it is are worth sticking around.

Intelligence and self worth are the key. Those who are attempting to make you feel bad lack both of those things.

I can honestly say that the older you get, the better you get at dealing with the hard times, and the harder you work, the more pay off there will be at the end.

Bullies aren't the end of the world. They aren't even in your world. Kick them out of it, and surround yourself with positive people who love and care about you.

Those are the people that are worth your time.

"Firework" Katy Perry

Do you ever feel like a plastic bag,
drifting through the wind
wanting to start again?
Do you ever feel, feel so paper thin
like a house of cards,
one blow from caving in?

Do you ever feel already buried deep?
6 feet under screams but no one seems to hear a thing
Do you know that there's still a chance for you
'Cause there's a spark in you

You just gotta ignite, the light, and let it shine
Just own the night like the 4th of July

'Cause baby you're a firework
Come on, show 'em what you're worth
Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh"
As you shoot across the sky-y-y

Baby, you're a firework
Come on, let your colors burst
Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh"
You're gonna leave 'em falling awe-awe-awe

You don't have to feel like a waste of space
You're original, cannot be replaced
If you only knew what the future holds
After a hurricane comes a rainbow

Maybe your reason why all the doors are closed
So you could open one that leads you to the perfect road
Like a lightning bolt, your heart will glow
And when it's time, you'll know

You just gotta ignite, the light, and let it shine
Just own the night like the 4th of July

'Cause baby you're a firework
Come on, show 'em what you're worth
Make 'em go "Oh, oh, oh"
As you shoot across the sky-y-y

Baby, you're a firework
Come on, let your colors burst
Make 'em go "Oh, Oh, Oh"


Boom, boom, boom
Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon
It's always been inside of you, you, you
And now it's time to let it through-ough-ough

'Cause baby you're a firework
Come on, show 'em what you're worth
Make 'em go "Oh, Oh, Oh"
As you shoot across the sky-y-y

Baby, you're a firework
Come on, let your colors burst
Make 'em go "Oh, Oh, Oh"
You're gonna leave 'em falling awe-awe-awe

Boom, boom, boom
Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon
Boom, boom, boom
Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon