I can’t say that I’m untouched by the wave of extreme bullying, or rather the extremes to which people are driven to avoid it, that seems to be taking the Chicagoland area by surprise. The news has been full of the story of a young, elementary school student who killed herself over the excessive bullying that she faced on a daily basis. It was such a, and still she managed to hear a brand new slur almost each day. It breaks my heart that someone so innocent, who was said to not have even known yet what the word šlût meant, would be tormented so thoroughly. Schools are supposed to be communities, like it or not. I think it’s worth more, for everyone, to keep its members as members. Whether we like it or not, a suicide is running away from something as well; let’s not give anyone a reason to run away. Spread the good word, camaraderie, instead of more than a few bad ones, why don’t you? It is National Runaway Prevention Month. The same care that you can provide for someone to keep them safe and with a home can also support someone in keeping their life.
- Eric
Wooly Bully
Wednesday, November 16th, 2011
Keeping a House a Home
Thursday, November 10th, 2011
I’ve always thought it strange to think of a house as only someplace that you live, but I think that that may be because my house has always been a home to me. No matter how troubled things may become, that is the place that I feel the most safe. Although the temperaments that fill it may grow worse, bitter, it’s still filled with the memories of the good times that were put there. I know that I’ve said that love should always be reinforced verbally, but I truly think that that’s only for the sake of reinforcement. If there is love, it can be felt, shown through even the smallest of actions. As this is National Runaway Awareness Month, I think it’s important to just try and remember what it’s like to have a home, and how to make your own feel like one for others. When I few away to Paris, practically running away from home, even my host family made their home feel as if it were my own. Just the attention that I was paid alone was enough to make my visit, even just inside those walls, all the more bearable. Now, think of those who have run away from home, and think of all the home that they’re missing. Be proactive, and make wherever you may go a home. Be proactive, and keep your own house a home.
- Eric
Runaway Love
Sunday, November 6th, 2011
I’ve noticed a decline in a lot of the simple things that we as people say to one another to get by: “Bless you,” when someone sneezes; “Thank you,” when someone goes out of their way to do a favor; or even “I love you,” or one of its many forms, when you just mean it. Those three words, though so short, hold so much meaning, and it’s a shame that no one seems to dare use them anymore. November is National Runaway Awareness Month, and I think in support of it, these powerful words, tokens of appreciation, should return to our lives. They may just be a token, but they keep the game going, the one that everyone plays where you can feel comfortable in your own home. Without them, some think, why stay where I’m not wanted, not loved? And so they don’t. I can’t speak from experience concerning what it feels like to be unloved by those around you, but I do know the pain of not at least hearing a semblance of those words every once in a while. Just make sure that they know it, before it gets out of hand, before they’re out of your hands. And if you yourself ever feel unloved, don’t feel discouraged to talk about it. If you feel that you can’t talk to your friends and family, talk to the National Runaway Switchboard. There’s enough love to go around, so don’t be stingy. It never hearts to hear that you care.
- Eric
Help is Always Around
Saturday, October 8th, 2011
I’ve said in my earlier blog that sometimes, there are more people misjudging you than you think. However, there are also more people supporting you than you think. In fact, many of the people who misjudge and abuse you only do so because they misunderstand you. That does not justify their actions, but it points out that an honest conversation is necessary and occasionally a simple solution to your conflicts. Even if that is not the case, always remember when you are abused, there will always be someone in your school, in your local organizations, or at the 1-800-RUNAWAY hotline who would be more than willing to talk to you. All you need to do is just talk to them. Always be honest about what happens and you will be surprised how good people can be.
- Phy
