Attitude is mental…. #wordtoABC

I’ve always said that most every lesson that we learn about  LIFE is taught in childhood.  It may take us a lifetime to realize the connection, but if you take a trip down memory lane we all find ties between our childhood and our present journey behaviors and patterns.  Schools are a microcosm of the real world. Master “the playground”, master “the world”.

A large part of my job as a school counselor is helping students do that – successfully navigate the real world.  Building postive relationships with teachers and peers, leads to skills they’ll need to maintain relationships in the workplace.  Classroom crushes develops skills we use in the dating world.

Right now, according to the media, the topic of bullying is segzy.  I call it “segzy” because our society tends to hop on board with new causes all the time.  Print a batch of T-shirts with catchy slogans, grab a few celebs to gaze pensively in front of the camera  for posters/videos and everyone pats themselves on the back for a job well done. Don’t think that I’m making light of it.  I’m a former S.afe and D.rug Free schools coordinator and I also sponsor a student-led club that promotes a safe school culture.   I’ve seen awareness programs come and go, but are they really making an impact?

Bullying (and childhood cruelty) is not a new phenomenon.  The tampon throwing scene in Carrie illustrates just how damaging the gang mentality in a school setting can be.  Not that adults are any more evolved.  Log on to a social networking site on any given evening.  You can find cyber-lynchings taking place daily…not just among the teenagers but among 30 and 40-something “grown” folk.  O_o

CNN posted a great article on  “bully-proofing” children.  Many times, people think that by simply punishing the perpetrators, you solve the problem.  But building a culture that doesn’t allow that type of behavior to flourish begins with developing a strong sense of SELF in individuals.

I know, I know.  Easier said than done.  I’ve been bullied and I have bullied.  One of my teachers made a home visit in elementary school when she noticed that I began to “play sick” because I was attempting to avoid a group of kids that were physically harming me because they believed I was “too cute” and “too smart”.  I also remember a few years later, relentlessly terrorizing a new girl that my crew decided we didn’t like because the “our” guys were paying her more attention than us .  Even worse, I remember being a bystander several situations that took place with one awkward girl in particular that used to leave her cowering in a corner.  But when I look at my behavior on BOTH sides of the coin, I can trace the situations back to underdevelopment of at least one of the 7 areas the article mentions.

If you have children, work with children or are simply a part of the village take the time out to check out the link.  Read it for the children in your lives.  Hell, read it for yourself.  I’m sick of seeing grown men and women repeating their own unhealthy playground patterns.  Master the playground.  Master the world.