THEORYOFLOVE ON BULLYING
This is happening far too often.
Bullying, that is.
Everybody has vulnerabilities and we all experience insecurities. We are just taught not to talk about them, so we can fit in. Due to this desire for connection we try to mask these insecurities as best we can — this includes making others feel weak so as to overcompensate for our insecurities.
I’ve been bullied. It is hard to stay strong, Keaton. I was bullied in elementary and middle school, and in high school I sort of learned my lesson and just became one of those ‘loners.’ I was called “Daniel Germs” (not sure if both words are capitalized…never thought to ask); I was fake-invited to a party, with an invitation put in my locker and everybody crowding around and then laughing when I figured out it was fake; two guys threw pencils and erasers at me and I was too afraid to tell him to stop, so when Darragh shouted out for them to quit it I was trying my hardest to fight back tears; I was ran away from at lunch; I was bullied on MSN with a girl pretending to ask me out and making fun of me — for months; and, really, I’ve felt alone for a lot of my life so far. I am lucky to have a support system that I can fall back on, however, supports truly cannot adequately compare to the unkindness of others, I feel.
We all have an intrinsic desire to connect; to feel as though we belong — to feel loved, accepted, valued and like we matter. Further, we are told by society that, in order to fit in, we must put on a certain persona; a costume. We are told that in order to feel accepted we need to be strong: we cannot be weak.
Honestly? I’ve learned that this is garbage.
People bully because they feel little. People bully because that is the only option they have to hide their insecurities. People bully because they feel alone and because they feel as though they can’t adequately express their insecurities and how they honestly feel.
Bullying is a form of cowardice that can be solved if we take down the societal need to conform, and, specifically, conform through hiding our challenges — if we stop this ludacris survival of the fittest mantra when it comes to social connection. No: rather, how we all survive is survival of the connected; society of the collaborative.
If we all join together and discuss our vulnerabilities, we can get to a place in society where we don’t need to belittle others to feel as though we fit in: we can fit in by owning our struggles, and bonding through them with everyone else.
The time for action is now. Make a short video discussing your mental health and showcasing something you usually try to keep to yourself. Use the hashtags #IamReal and #TheoryOfLove.