Tag: Bullies

Isn’t That What Friends Are For?

Dave Pasquel

Decades ago, when I was in elementary school, I did have a few genuine friends. However, the so-called cool kids swiftly kicked us to the bottom of the totem pole and successfully labeled us as faggots to the entire school. When I moved to Florida in 1979, my world did improve. However, because of my grade-school trauma, it wasn’t easy to make real friends. In High School, I was acquainted with dozens of kids from every social group, but I didn’t have the phone number of one friend to rely upon if my car broke down.

The Shot and The Draw: Teenage Heartbreak

Amye Archer

I still remember the feeling of my first heartbreak. I’m not talking about –you’re over there and I’m way over here-heartbreak, I’m talking about the heartbreak sitting right here on my chest, the looking over my shoulder, breathing in my ear heartbreak. The heartbreak that holds you and never lets Read more

Suicide and the Sensitive Heart: Why It Is Time for Us to be Vigilant

Susan P. Blevins

I go to a women’s gym five or six days a week, and always at 8 a.m. so that I can meet up with my buddies. We exercise our tongues as much as our bodies (more), and we call ourselves The Women’s Support Group. We share each others’ problems, offer Read more

Rise Up

Jacqueline Cioffa

You know what I don’t like, hate actually? All the people who are saying they “don’t care” about politics, or what’s happening in the world. I really, really hate that, and I am no scholar or schooled in politics. But, I am trying to lead with love in these dark Read more

I Feel Pretty with Makeup On

Richard DeFino

I haven’t felt comfortable in my skin since I was a teenager. And this is odd to me, because when I was a teenager, I was disgusted by my reflection. Horrified and sickened, I would gag at the sight of myself in the mirror. I’m far from being a kid Read more

Are You There? It’s Me, Your Younger Self

Sophie Winik

Kindergarten. First grade. Second grade. Those were the years that I endured bullying. I remember in first grade, the year I got glasses; I began getting teased. I didn’t understand why, especially when I wore purple glasses with speckles. How could nobody like them? My hair, it was so long, Read more

Donald Trump, Rape and the Final Taboo

Dr. Dannii Cohen

When I first entered the world of social media it was mainly for fun: finding like-minded people, sharing stuff about favourite TV shows and so on.Over the years, though, things changed: these days I use it to read the news I wouldn’t get from the regular media. I also use Read more