The older I get, the more I see unkind words as what they truly are - verbal weapons. While you're spending time online in our wonderful community as well as in-person throughout life, please consider what you say and the outcome it can have on people you encounter. You likely have no idea what their lives consist of or the challenges they face. We all know many adults experience a lot of stress in their lives but did you realize teenagers today face an alarming amount of pressure and responsibility? They need a place where they belong and feel accepted for who they are. Hopefully they can find that here. Knowing that almost 80 percent of all high school students have encountered bullying in some fashion online is appalling to me. Research has linked verbal attacks and bullying to stress and depression. Showing friendly compassion can go a long way toward changing their day and possibly even their life.

350 million people worldwide suffer from depression. (World Health Organization)

Between 20% and 50% of children and teens struggling with depression have a family history of this struggle and the offspring of depressed parents are more than three times as likely to suffer from depression. (U.S. Surgeon General's Survey)

Anytime you're dealing with a large group of people, you're bound to find those that disagree with you. You may even find those that speak rudely or act insensitively when you express your ideas. I hope you don't encounter that behavior here, but if you do, please take a moment to think before you respond. If the other individual crosses the line, please bring it a staff member's attention immediately through the links I've provided below. Before you respond to any statement that may offend you, take a moment to consider that your words not only have meaning, they can have a long-term damaging effect on the person you're speaking to. As an adult, we can set a good example for any child by speaking kindly to and about others, and not resorting to rudeness in response to others. A good model to remember is to "THINK" about what you're going to say.

If you've attempted to resolve any differences and someone insists on continuing to treat you negatively, you have every right to "Submit a Complaint" . Before placing a complaint, make sure what you're experiencing is just a reaction to negative feedback. It can be beneficial to read "How To Deal With Negative Comments"  before placing a complaint to ensure your response is valid. It should also be noted that you can block a member from interacting with you and reviewing/seeing your items by clicking your account information, choosing the "Options" tab and scrolling down to "Block a Member". From this area, you can also choose to ignore a member so you don't see their posts or items while you're interacting on the site.

For more facts and information about bullying, visit BullyFree.com  

"Wonder is essentially ... a wonder. It's well-written, engaging, and so much fun to read that the pages almost turn themselves. More than that, Wonder touches the heart in the most life-affirming, unexpected ways, delivering in August Pullman a character whom readers will remember forever. Do yourself a favor and read this book - your life will be better for it." - Nicholas Sparks, #1 New York Times bestselling author

I realized something was wrong in middle school.

The first time I heard it was in math class. I heard it from the back of the classroom, when Ms. Belarus asked me to solve for pi for the problem on the blackboard.

I stood there in my school uniform, staring at the board in defeat as my fellow classmates watched intently. My pleated skirt was too short on me after I grew about 3 inches over the summer, the dust coming off the chalk was irritating my eyes, and my miserable little body was shivering from the open window next to me. I remember thinking that I hoped some god watching over me could make the fire bell ring before I could finish. Just a quick one, 3 minutes was all I needed. Then Ms. Belarus would forget about me being up to the board and no one would know that the only thing I knew about pi was that it tasted good with pumpkin inside of it.

Do you know the sound of a gunshot?
I have heard them in the movies...
Down the street maybe - I'm not sure.
Perhaps it was a backfire.

Do you know the pain of a gunshot?
I've seen it on TV...
Slow motion bodies riddled with bullets
It seems made for the big screen.

Life's tough, and I wished that someone had left little post-it notes all over the place. And, when I read them it showed words of encouragement. Life for me was really tough, because I was lost on my way. I had no idea who I was, and I drown myself with the wrong people. Middle school was hell for me, and I went-maybe-a fourth of the time. If I could erase a single year of my life, my 8th grade year would be the one I'd erase.

Having a disability
Doesn't mean
I'm any different
From you- I'm just me.

There was a time, not two years ago, when I could hardly go a night without the memories keeping me from sleep. I was suffering what was termed post-traumatic-stress and had difficulty engaging in interactions with others without feeling unwarranted panic. I was prone to fits of tears, long moments of reflective quiet, and uncharacteristic outbursts. My mind was plagued by the pains of emotional recovery from, what had been for me, an excruciating ordeal.

There is a limit to how much stress one person can take, how much pressure until breaking point is reached. I have hidden this secret away for far too long, now it's time to share it.

Have you ever had to keep a secret so big that it changes your life forever? So serious that you feel you can't tell a single soul? Well for the last 15 years I've kept a secret that has slowly torn me apart, and now once and for all, I am going to share my everlasting secret.

Waiting
Wishing

Impatient moments
Crawl by

Wishing
Waiting

I am stronger than I thought but fearful of that strength.
I wonder why people are so cruel to each other.
I hear their mocking voices circling my every step.
I see my world with a distorted perception.
I want to embrace my strength.
I am stronger than I thought but fearful of that strength.

Are you alone here too?
Why am I alone, you ask?
Well, I'm not really alone. I know people here.
People know my name but not much more.
What about the people I came with?
They're around here somewhere.
They left me when we walked in the door.
Yes, I guess that they're my friends

I was called an old fart today.

They say the truth hurts. I could have stomached it and maybe tried to do something about it, except that the young man addressing me didn't have a whole lot holding up his pants, which meant his boxers were showing four inches above the waistband. I saw that his pals dressed similarly, so one has to assume that this is a fashion. I wasn't fazed by the pin through his eyebrow, having been in Africa on many occasions, where that same pin, somewhat larger, might ordinarily have been a sign of courage.