Thankfully and unfortunately, there is a lot of talk surrounding bullying these days. I run the risk of very much aging myself when I say this, but, back in my day, conversations about dealing with bullies had only just begun to become more prominent. And on top of that, social media was nothing like it is today, so cyberbullying was not as pervasive.

I don’t have all of the answers for handling bullying, but I experienced it all through grade school, so I can at least offer you some insights.

When someone picks on you, it almost always has nothing to do with you. Often, they are taking their own insecurities, frustrations, and identity crises out on someone else in an effort to not deal with their emotions. It doesn’t make their words or antics sting any less. But I hope you remember their words are reflections of them, not you.

I also believe in the power of fighting back with words and killing people with kindness. If someone is picking on you, don’t let them steamroll you, but also be sure not to stoop to their level. Being the bigger person can be exhausting, but it can also make a huge difference in your life and theirs by highlighting the power of kindness. The Bible even asserts this in Ephesians 4:29, which says, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”

When it comes to cyberbullying, utilize the “block” feature. It may seem “uncool” to block the mean or cool kids, but your peace is exponentially more important than some arbitrary idea of coolness. Plus, school is temporal. There’s a finite amount of time you’ll be there. When you’re handed that diploma after strutting across that stage, you don’t ever have to see your classmates again if you don’t want to.

So, I guess this is a really long answer just to say: If you’re being bullied, stand up for yourself, try your best to rise above it, and tell an adult if you need help. And remember, this, too, shall pass.

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