Sunday nights are hard. They’re especially hard knowing you have to go back to school the next day.
Maybe you hate school. Maybe you hate who you *are* at school. Maybe you’re the bully. The mean girl. The pack leader. Maybe you’re the target. The person nobody sees. Maybe you’re the bystander. Maybe you’ve been all three.
High school is all about five minute moments.
Each day – at least once – there’ll be a moment when you have five minutes to decide WHO YOU WANT TO BE.
Someone pisses you off.
Someone insults you.
Someone 'had it coming'.
Someone is lame or a joke or an easy target.
Someone looks up themselves on Insta or pathetic or thirsty for attention.
Someone is embroiled in gossip.
You're itching to say something. To start something. To make a mean joke to make yourself look good. But in the next five minutes - you decide which path you're going to take. You get to decide WHO. YOU. ARE.
In that five minutes when you're tempted to stick the boot in, to have a go, to be cruel, to spread a story .... don't.
LISTEN: Bec Sparrow talks to Holly, Mia and Jessie about the dangers of cyberbullying and what we can do to stop it. Post continues after audio.
Breathe. Let it go. Walk away from your device. Go outside. Drink some tea. Take a walk. Talk to someone who brings out your best self. Cuddle your dog. Think about who you really are underneath that tough exterior. Think about the person you want to be in high school. If you're hurting, talk to a favourite teacher or a parent.
Don't be that person who makes others feel small to make yourself look cool.
You're better than that.
Just get through that five minutes.
Now maybe you're the target.
Maybe someone is teasing you or you're being bullied.
Maybe it feels like the walls are closing in.
Maybe you think it's always going to feel this bad.
Maybe you think they're right - that you're a loser or pathetic or have no friends.
Maybe it feels like you will never escape the gossip or the torment or the bullying.
Maybe you've lost hope. Maybe you want to say to them, "YOU WIN. ARE YOU HAPPY?"
Just give it five minutes.
Breathe. Go outside. Take a walk. Play your favourite music. Phone someone who loves you. Log on to ReachOut.org.au. Call Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800. Go for a run or a swim. Bake something. Eat something. Google "Ruby Rose Lisa Wilkinson Osher Günsberg Eddie Woo Dylan Alcott bullying" and see what you find. Talk to your parents or your favourite teacher and make a plan.
Just give it five minutes and let the moment pass. It WILL pass. Just get yourself through these five minutes and let that pain pass over you and away.
High school is about five minute moments. Life is about five minute moments where we feel angry or jealous or afraid or sad. Feel the feelings and let them pass.
Take it one moment at a time. And in those moments, choose kind. Kind to others. Kind to yourself.
Feature image: Supplied.
