Thank you for your honesty and grace here, Teri. I would never have thought to view my mean girls with gratitude, but it makes so much sense. Every experience shapes us in some way 💛
When the diabolical wheel stopped, it stopped on "thank you". There were a thousand treacly things I could have written, but all I could think of was them. Thanks, Amy. We are who we are because of things that happened to us when we were tender, I think. I would have hated to develop callouses on my heart.
What a perfect letter, Teri. I recently came across my own school bully online. She was "suggested" as someone I might like to follow on Instagram. Her online presence is very confusing. If I hadn't known her 30-something years ago, I'd think she was someone I'd love to be friends with. I'm curious to know what a conversation with her now would be like. But I think I'll give it a miss. At least for now. Like you, I can appreciate what the experience of being bullied gave me now, but I think I'll stick with the forgiveness and forget the forgetting. For now.
Oh, Miranda! I know just what you mean! I'm not calling any of them for coffee either! :) Learning give us new info that leads to changing the way we approach things. Back then we had little opportunity to change things up but now we do. Thank goodness. I have been pretty surprised to see that over the years my high school class has moved past the cliques, at least on Facebook. :)
Oh Teri, I could have written this letter myself. Every memory sent shivevrs up my spine, of familiar feelings. Such a good way to flip the perspective on a really awful time. Thanks for sharing. Sending you love my fellow square peg 🤍
Wow, Lisa! Thank you. As an adoptee processing a lot of rejection (perceived and real) elsewhere it was horribly painful then, true.. Now, not so much. But it's taken many, many years. I'd love to trade stories someday. Thank you for the solidarity!
I love this, Teri - It's so adult and evolved to look back on painful memories and the people who dished out the criticisms to you (decades ago) and regard them as gifts that made you who you are, today. Beautiful.
Thank you for your honesty and grace here, Teri. I would never have thought to view my mean girls with gratitude, but it makes so much sense. Every experience shapes us in some way 💛
When the diabolical wheel stopped, it stopped on "thank you". There were a thousand treacly things I could have written, but all I could think of was them. Thanks, Amy. We are who we are because of things that happened to us when we were tender, I think. I would have hated to develop callouses on my heart.
What a perfect letter, Teri. I recently came across my own school bully online. She was "suggested" as someone I might like to follow on Instagram. Her online presence is very confusing. If I hadn't known her 30-something years ago, I'd think she was someone I'd love to be friends with. I'm curious to know what a conversation with her now would be like. But I think I'll give it a miss. At least for now. Like you, I can appreciate what the experience of being bullied gave me now, but I think I'll stick with the forgiveness and forget the forgetting. For now.
Oh, Miranda! I know just what you mean! I'm not calling any of them for coffee either! :) Learning give us new info that leads to changing the way we approach things. Back then we had little opportunity to change things up but now we do. Thank goodness. I have been pretty surprised to see that over the years my high school class has moved past the cliques, at least on Facebook. :)
This is beautiful Teri, thank you for sharing your grace learned from years of wisdom gathering and hurt healing.
Thanks, Natalie! Hard-earned, isn't it?!
Oh Teri, I could have written this letter myself. Every memory sent shivevrs up my spine, of familiar feelings. Such a good way to flip the perspective on a really awful time. Thanks for sharing. Sending you love my fellow square peg 🤍
Wow, Lisa! Thank you. As an adoptee processing a lot of rejection (perceived and real) elsewhere it was horribly painful then, true.. Now, not so much. But it's taken many, many years. I'd love to trade stories someday. Thank you for the solidarity!
I love this, Teri - It's so adult and evolved to look back on painful memories and the people who dished out the criticisms to you (decades ago) and regard them as gifts that made you who you are, today. Beautiful.
Thanks, Cindy!!