BULLYING WILL NOT BE TOLERATED

---

When I wrote my first book, "Mr. Puddle  Speaks on Bullying," I had no idea how bad  things had gotten. I remember as a child being very small for my age.  I learned that my size was a strike against me;  because I was bullied all the time.  I remember one girl in particular, no matter what I did, she would always hit me and say mean things to me. It was one of the worst feelings in the world.  I was afraid all the time and did not want to go to school.  I was afraid  to tell anyone in fear of nothing being done about it.   There were times I would go to the teachers to try and tell, but  they would just say to me, "Stop being a tattle tale, and go play."  I was even afraid to tell my mother because I felt she would come to the school and make things worse. Therefore; I suffered in silence as a child.  I never knew who to go to because I was afraid if the other kids found out that I told, I was going to be teased even more. When I expressed by story though the book, it brought back all those painful memories once again. I still at times experience strong memories of the fear I had being bullied as a child.

As an adult, I had to face a different type of bullying. This time it was on the job. I remember countless of times Supervisors using their power and authority to intimidate their subordinates with the hopes they would be able to get the employee suspended or terminated.  I never voiced my opinion or interacted until the day I was physically attacked on the job. I was slapped in the face by a fellow co-worker  and nothing was done about it by my superiors.  I decided after that incident that enough was enough.  I took action by writing a letter and informing my employer of my concerns.  However; instead of employer dealing with the issues, I was released from my duties, due to me being a contract employee. I was treated like the culprit and told that type of behavior would not be tolerated.  Keep in mind, I did nothing wrong!  ( I felt like that little girl in school again).

No one cared, because it was not their problem, and that day changed the rest of my life. I made a decision that I would not stand for that type of treatment anymore. I even find now when I am sharing my story, there are a vast amount of people that have experienced bullying without accountability from the guilty parties. The only way things are going to ever get better is awareness has to be made. We all have to  take a safe and strong stand together, no matter what age, race  or creed, and let it be known that Bullying will not be tolerated in any form; not Verbally, Emotionally, Mentally, Physically or Socially.