I whipped up some collar covers for the dogs this morning in honor of Spirit Day. Putting my dogs in purple with me isn’t meant to diminish the seriousness of bullying. My heart breaks for those teens who felt bullied or harassed to the point of suicide. But as I often say, Margot and Guinness, and dogs in general, are my teachers. Dogs don’t care about your gender. They don’t care if you’re rich or poor. They don’t care what race or religion you are–or aren’t. They don’t care if you’re gay or straight.
We can teach dogs to be mean, just as we can teach people to hate. But dogs teach us unconditional love. Dogs don’t hate.
So the three of us wear purple today to remind anyone who may stumble across this photo that you’re not alone. There are people who will help you if you need help. Please stay around to find out how much more there is to life than the people who call you names, or hurt you physically, or make you feel like you don’t matter. You matter. The world needs your unique gifts. The world needs you.
Check out The Trevor Project or Hopeline if you feel alone, if you are afraid, if you need to talk to someone.
Oh, I love this picture so much, I can’t tell you.
Aw, thanks. Tim took it. =)
Puppy love
Awwwww……. 😉
About 8 people out of a hundred or so at work today, including myself, wore purple. I almost wore the purple shirt Sam wore when we first met, but I couldn’t. So, I wore one that transitions from purple at the top to blue at the bottom in horizontal stripes of varying shades.
If this was my old job, there would be open discussion about the whole situation. Its a shame that company went off, poof. At the Internship, nobody said a word, but those of us who did wear purple, did nod understanding to one another.
We should have a day where everyone brings in their dogs to work.
You know today I was thinking of my bullying experience. In 7th grade the kids in my math class made fun of me because I had a southern accent. ( we were living in rural Minnesota, so wrap your mind around that.) I completely shut down in that class, I learned nothing and I started to dread it the night befoer I went in … once I got through that Math class the rest of the day was better. They were pretty mean but not anywhere near as bad as I imagine kids experience today with the constant barrage of things thatcan be said and done, at school and on the internet. So here’s the thing, looking back with adult eyes, 3 of the kids that bullied me, the ring leaders were probably being “bullied” at home. I imagine they were in far greater danger then I could have ever been … and if someone would have stepped in ( my mother made the teacher aware of the situation ) I wouldn’t have been the only one that was helped, I think they would have been helped too and they were the ones that really needed it.
PS Becky gets doggie sugar … AWWWW…