Listen and Speak Up

As you go through school (elementary, middle, high) in the United States, you will see, or experience for yourself, a type of bullying.

I, from personal experience, have been on the bullying end more times than I can count, from the time I was 8, all the way through high school. And I still hear about it in college, even though I am no longer the one being bullied.

Why am I writing about this sensitive subject?

A boy that I knew from the time he moved to my school, all the way through to the time I graduated, was just sentenced to prison because he shot at a kid who had been picking on him relentlessly for years now, then tried to turn the gun on himself, feeling that that was the best way to escape the bullying. I also know a girl who just went through a terrible ordeal that involved her being beaten up for being different, and her family is currently going through stuff dealing with that. This beautiful girl is just about 18 (if not 18) years old.

I am not naming names, only because this will just bring up a huge fight.

What I am trying to get at is this-

Bullying is not just something that occurs inside the schools, and online (as we all know, cyber bullying has taken a surge in the last few years). Bullying is something that is learned by the children from their parents. Some of us know better, and will treat others as we want to be treated (anyone read the bible?). Others will take a page out of their parents book, and pass judgment on those who are not "normal," or are different from them, and will pick on those people.

After everything that I myself have been through, and then hearing about stuff that is happening even more through out the schools across the nation, I regret not having spoken up about the problems that I had gone through.

Ever had someone start a rumor about you being dead? Picked on you for a medical condition that you couldn't control?

I have been through it, and have friends who have been through it. None of us should ever have to go through something like that. It hurts us growing up, and it causes many problems in many places of our society (eating disorders [not just the loss of weight, but the gaining of weight] are a good example of an issue that pops up).

So before you start pointing fingers, making fun of people, and talking behind someone's back with the intentions of it being heard by them, think about this:

How would you feel if you were the one being picked on?

And parents, speak to your children. There may be issues that they don't want to bring up. If you ask them, they may be more willing to tell you what's going on at school if you tell them that you are there to listen to them.

Private has it right. Talk to your friends.

Friends, talk to your other friends. You know that they are more comfortable talking to you then their parents at most times. If you have noticed a change in their behavior as of lately, there might just be something that is causing them to not be their usual selves.

Again, I wish I had spoken up when I was in school. Though it probably wouldn't have done much, it would have gotten out there sooner.

I know, bullying has been around for decades. But, like I said, bullying is learned from the generation before, and is sent down by those parents who do not tell their children that it is not right to judge those who are different.

TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
DO NOT BE A BULLY.

Be nice. Do the right thing. Just because that person may LOOK and ACT weird, remember that you may LOOK and ACT weird to someone else.

Creative Blocks Galore!

Any artist/writer/creative type person will tell you the same thing: creativity blocks are a BIOTCH!
Having been in college now for just a little over three years, and having been doing art for years now, I have had my fair share of blocks, and have had to punch through them like Rocky with his fight against the Russian.


So, how do you get out of them?


Everyone has their own little trick to get the creative juices flowing again. Things ranging from a run in the park to dancing around your room singing into a hairbrush (I have done this on multiple occasions). But, obviously, not everyone can get out of the horrific rut the same way.


To help out those in need of any processes that may get them out of that rut, here is a small list of things that could help you get the juices flowing once again!


1. Listening to some music.
    Anything from classical to black metal! Put a few different genres into a playlist on your laptop, your iPod or MP3 player, or whatever musical device it is that you have, and hit the shuffle button. You don't have to pull a Britney Spears impression with your hairbrush, but just sit there and LISTEN. You'd be surprised just how many ideas you can come up with just by listening to a few different songs.
To aid those in need of creative flow ASAP, here's a song that I actually like to listen to when I'm sitting at the computer for hours on end and want to smash my face into the keyboard:

I know, not everyone's cup of tea. But hey, I'm a rocker kind of gal.


2. Step away and take a walk.
    I know, easier said then done. I'm not saying walk away for hours until you forget what it was that you were working on. Just take a 5 minute walk around the house. Or, if you're like me and stuck in a class building, just walk around and see what everyone else is working on. I get some pretty good ideas just by going up to fellow classmates and asking them what they're working on. And, every once in a while, asking them to take a look at what I'm working on. It's better to get some creative feed back from someone with fresh eyes.


3. A drink never hurt.
    I'm not saying drink until you can't see straight. Save that for a weekend or after you've accomplished the project at hand. But just ONE drink (if you can have it) will help you loosen up just a little bit. And it doesn't necessarily have to be of alcoholic nature. I actually find having a cup of coffee on hand helps me to straighten out my thoughts (when I've been able to sleep in the last 3 days). One of my friends actually has a drink while she is writing because it helps her to think and come up with some new ideas. 
In fact, here's a drink recipe for those of you who feel a little cocktail will help you get the creative block out of the way. And if not, it's tasty enough to just enjoy as you curse out the universe for such a pain in the tuchus:

 Bay Breeze Cocktail courtesy of diner524 on Food.com


4. A movie and some ice cream.
    Ah, a female's best friend (at least this female). This goes along the same lines as asking for some creative view points from others. Only this time, you don't have to walk up to them. Just pop in your favorite DVD and chill out with a pint of Ben & Jerry's. Yes, you're taking a couple hours away from what you should be doing, but at least when you return to the ordeal on hand, you will be refreshed, and hopefully with some new ideas. My favorite movie to pop in? Either The Mummy, The Mummy Returns, or The Proposal (because Ryan Reynolds is just a sexy beast of a man). Any of these and a tub of Cherry Garcia, and I'm good.


Again, I know that not everyone runs the same in the brain, so don't hate me if none of these work for you. These are just some of the techniques I myself have tried out to get my creative juices flowing, and have found to work.


As for those times when you've been in a creative slump for days? I suggest all of the above (but double the booze and ice cream).