Thursday, April 22, 2010

Bullying

I don't know a single person who hasn't been affected by bullying either directly or indirectly. This morning when I woke up (very late, too) I started watching a show on E! on the topic. I didn't get to watch all of it, but what I did watch really hit close to home for me. For those of you who have read this blog from the beginning, y'all know that I developed anxiety my freshman year of high school -- the first and only year I attended a public high school. Without going into great detail (though I have done it in the novel I am finishing), I was harassed by both classmates and a History teacher. At the end of the semester, I would run out of classrooms (because I felt like I would get sick though I wouldn't) and do anything I could to avoid being in classrooms for long... especially his (History teacher.) Though the bullying wasn't something new -- I dealt with it from about 2nd or 3rd grade on -- the fact that a person in a position of authority not only allowed, but encouraged, the harassing was what finally sent me to my breaking point. At one point, for a number of months, I couldn't even leave my home because crowds made me feel faint. Of course, when I reported incidents (including one where I received a death threat from a classmate of mine -- yes, an actual death threat which also encouraged me to go kill myself to make things better for everyone) NO ONE did anything about it. The school officials said they couldn't do anything about it because it didn't happen on campus (this was an emailed threat). As for what happened with the teacher, and later with a classmate who tried to force himself on me (which I also wrote about in the novel), they did NOTHING. Finally, I was pulled out of school and I ended up doing independent study through a charter school until I graduated.

Earlier this year, the story broke of a young Irish teen named Phoebe Price who came to the U.S. and was relently teased and bullied. To end it, she decided to cut her young life short. This story was also mentioned in the special I was watching this morning. It made me angry. Yes, you can argue that bullies are often victims of some sort of abuse, but gives them a right to take it out on others. Even after everything I've been through (and it has been a lot that I've internalized), I couldn't imagine making someone miserable because I was. On the contrary, my heart breaks and I am often left in tears when I see someone suffering in just a cruel manner. Bullying, or even "teasing" as some want to downplay most of the worse to make it seem like no big deal, is something that doesn't go away so easily. Do you know when I felt the bullying stopped for me? When I was 22 years old! That only happened when I decided to distance myself from the so-called friends I once had. Even now, years after I ended my friendship with these girls, they try to do all they can to make others mistrust or hate me. A great number of girls are this malicious and vindictive. Of course, they can't get me like they did when I was a teenager -- especially now with my faith as strong as it is.

I feel like I have been blessed with the group of friends I have now. Occasionally, there will be one or two that will start to create drama but I cut them out of my lives without a second thought. I have absolutely no tolerance for any kind of drama. As soon as I made the decision to surround myself with people who were as devoted to their faith, whether they were Catholic or not, I have had the peace of mind that I didn't have growing up. With all the anti-Catholic and anti-Christian sentiments that are running wild lately, it's this group that keeps holding tight. Some of us are more outspoken and relish in the debates that are presented and others just speak our piece and/or hold on strong to our morals and beliefs and turn the other cheek when the attacks keep flying our way. I fall into the second category; I will say something if Catholicism is attacked and I won't back down from it... but I won't begin a fight for the heck of it nor will I continue it if the debater is close-minded and their arguments don't hold up.

Thinking about everything, I have to ask myself: what will things be for my future children? I believe that my generation (as well as the next) can still do what we can to try to help those who are bullied or even those who do the bullying. While I am very much the "turn the other cheek so you can slap the other side as well" type of person, not everyone can take so much of it. I don't have an answer as to what we can do, but I would LOVE to start something... especially for the young Catholics and Christians that get ridiculed for anything including their faith. I try to give friends who are dealing with bullying support and advice. As I've said, for us ladies it never ends -- I've even given my own mother advice when she's asked. So, what are the rest of you going to do? Even if you aren't directly involved in a situation, are you going to stand back and watch it happened. Don't be afraid to stand up for someone. I've done it before. Though I ended up bruised and scratched up for it just once (in 7th grade), I would do it again. I am going to begin asking St. Michael Archangel, Blessed Jacinta Marto, Saint Raymond Nonnatus, and St. Dominic Savio for their intercession for young children and teenagers who are still being bullied for no good reason (and there is NEVER a good reason for it.) Btw, if you know any more patrons against bullying, feel free to leave a comment.

I'm sorry for such a heavy subject, especially since the last couple of posts have been pretty light in content, but I just felt compelled to write about this. I promise I'm not just doing it as a procrastination ploy... though I really don't want to work on that paper for Humanities. lol.

Anyway, I hope I've made some of you guys think. I hope the future is brighter for future generations. Now, I'm going to begin the arduous task of condensing thousands of years of Greek and Roman history into three pages. Fun! lol.

I hope everyone has a great weekend. I'll make a post containing all the back posts that have yet to be published when they are all done. No guarantees when because school will be ruling my time for the next couple of weeks. :)

Until next time, thanks for reading and God Bless.

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Prayer Request

Hey guys. Just wanted to make a quick prayer request. Yesterday we found out that the grandson of a cousin of mine, who's only 6 years old, is in really bad shape in the hospital. We didn't know this sooner because (I guess) they were trying to not worry anyone. He was born blind, mute, with missing ribs, etc... but he still has understanding. He needs to have an oxygen mask to be able to breathe and the (presumable) pneumonia, which he keeps fighting, is complicating things. Unfortunately, doctors are giving them a very grim prognosis with no foreseeable chance of it getting better. They already have everything ready in case the worst happens, but we're hoping and praying it doesn't come to that because it would be such a huge blow for us, as we all love him very much -- especially this close to having lost my dad and him being like a second father to my cousin. So if you can please keep little Juan in your prayers, we'd greatly appreciate it.

I'll resume posting on a regular basis this weekend, publishing all the past entries I still haven't posted.

As always, thanks for reading and God bless.

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Something to Make You Laugh

I am still uber busy with school (though my Art Appreciation course is done, whoo!) so the updates will have to wait a bit longer. In the meantime, please enjoy this Little Becky prank call (the best one she's done, in my opinion). This never fails to make me laugh... even after all these years. :D




Hope this made you forget about whatever is going on in your lives and made you laugh (even if it was a little.) :D

I'll try to update soon. :D

'Til next time, thanks for reading and God Bless.

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Letters to God: Movie Review

I went to see this movie, Letters to God, today with my mother. I wanted to see if it was worth the hype... and it was, to a certain extent. For a full synopsis (as well as a differing review), please go here.

Without spoiling it, since I know some people will want to watch it, I will say that it definitely tugs on the heart strings. I went through about a full box of tissues (I wish I was exaggerating.) The protagonist, Tyler (played by Tanner Maguire) is an 8 year-old soccer fanatic... who has cancer. Throughout the movie, you see him writing letters to God (hence the title) and is one of the only positive characters (at least, at first) in the movie. I will stop right there because I will spoil the rest of the movie. However I think it's safe for me to say that, although this movie was entirely predictable, it still hit home and it still made me want to get even closer to God.

For mom and I, this movie really hit home because we went through something similar with my dad. We watched him get sick when he had chemotherapy, we felt what Tyler's mom (played by the lovely Robin Lively) felt -- that hopelessness when someone you love is suffering and you can't figure out what to do, and we definitely know what it was like to be affected (both positively and negatively) a single person. Needless to say, it reopened the wounds that are still healing from daddy's death... but, in a way, I'm glad for it. I am very grateful to have seen it because it made me realize things I hadn't while going through what I did with dad. I got to see it from a more rational perspective. Though I felt physically ill towards the end -- I'd cried so much and the emotions were so raw that I nearly fainted, I'm that sensitive -- I wouldn't have traded watching the movie for anything.

As I said, it was a very predictable plot but I still enjoyed it. I thought the casting was good, and was very impressed with Tanner Maguire (I'd previously seen him in the movie Saving Sarah Cain) and Robin Lively (my favorite Teen Witch ;D) and their performances. I thought they tackled Tyler's battle with cancer as well as the family friend's alcoholism with realism that wasn't overly preachy (which some movies tend to be.) In the end, I'd recommend it... especially if you can handle emotionally heavy films. Be warned: there was not a dry eye in the theater at the end. Not one, I was checking.

Anyway, if you can, this movie is one of the "safer" movies that a family can enjoy as a whole -- so enjoy. :D And that's all I'm saying 'cause I will spoil it rotten if I don't shut up now. lol

'kay, that's it. :D

As always, thanks for reading and God Bless.

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Prayers for Poland; Personal Update

Before I post any sort of update, I just want to ask everyone to please pray for those lives lost in the tragic plane crash that killed the Polish president, his family, and many government officials. A good friend of mine, Maria, is currently studying/working/living in Poland and I know that this news has hit her, as well as others in the country, very hard. I got the news just as it was breaking early this morning (since I stayed up late watching a movie) and the first prayer for the day went to the souls of the deceased. I will dedicate two decades of today's Rosary to them as well. May Our Lady of Częstochowa look after Poland and her citizens in this time of need.

I apologize for not posting anything in over a week. I will publish back posts soon -- as soon as I turn in my Oedipus Rex paper for Humanities class, my POV assignment for Creative Writing, and do my quiz and assignments for World History. Did I mention that I have to turn in a majority of that tonight by 11:30 p.m. Oh yeah. Since a few professors decided to bombard us with assignments for Spring Break, I've been focusing on the work for the past week and a half. Also, what little time I have has been dedicate to novel writing (or, I should say, finishing) since I've been in a creative kick lately. I do have posts to publish, but y'all know that this semester has been crazy and that I sometimes do take a few days to publish all the back posts... but they are published eventually.

Alright, that's enough for now. I have to work hard on my assignments (though I am very happy my Art Appreciation course ended yesterday!). I am also going to confessions later on (I try to go every two weeks, even if I just have one small venial sin on my conscience), which means I have an hour or so that I won't have to study/write.

I hope everyone is having/has a great weekend!

As always, thanks for reading and God Bless. :)

Thursday, April 1, 2010

April Fool's Day? Yeah... No.

I used to LOVE April Fool's Day. It was one of my favorite unofficial holidays, mostly because I had always been a mischievous little girl. My go-to prank when I was old enough was the old "I'm getting married!" prank. At least three people would fall for it every single time I did it. lol. Of course, now that I'm older and I take relationship and my vocation seriously, I no longer do it. A couple of years ago, I pulled a "moving away" prank on a former friend of mine. Since we had boxes and suitcases in the living room (while re-arranging the closest), I took a picture of them, as well as my passport. Since said friend and I had a bet about who would be the first to move to Vancouver, BC this was a good prank. That one was tame compared to some of the other ones I pulled in my teen years. lol.

This year I was going to do a prank (I was going to say that I was going to become a Mormon because the author of Twilight made the religion appealing to me, lol) but decided against it... especially because it's Holy Thursday and I just don't want to do something dumb today. There are no confessions this weekend so I better just stay clean. lol. I'm stay away from Facebook and any chat programs today for the same reason. Instead, I'm going to work on my Humanities paper which is due tomorrow (though I will try to finish it tonight).

Just out of curiosity, did anyone pull any good pranks? Though I'm not doing anything, I'll still interested to hear what others have done. ;)

Anyway, I hope no one has gotten into too much trouble today. :D

Until next time, thanks for reading and God Bless!



P.S. Did anyone figure out which songs where about which character (from this past Music Monday post)?