Bullying: Apathy Gone Viral (Bystander Apathy Revisited)

Familiarity breeds Contempt, as well as Apathy. Apathy is a chronic, contagious, life-threatening disease that spreads quickly and quietly, a progressive plague of epic proportions, striking fear in the hearts of those few who are immune to the effects of its deadening poison. Like a wild fire in the wind, airborne pollutants spewing haphazardly, so are the infectious germs of Apathy out of control, a conflagration of random mutations, growing and multiplying. Without quarantine or containment, “Apathy Gone Viral” breeds and enslaves the ideal host from which Bullies germinate, infect and feed. An ongoing cycle of recontamination ensures a grim prognosis, as Bullying continues to flourish, thrive and victimize. Like the Phoenix rising forth from the ashes, so is the Bully empowered by the smoldering embers of Apathy. Victims are a natural by-product of Apathy, as well. Whether Bully or Victim, each is grown from the same seed. Apathy is the seed, that mutates into Bully or Victim. Apathy is the germ, that must be eradicated from the environment, that human beings must be vaccinated against, in order to put an end to this horrific epidemic called BULLYING. We must arrest this plague before it claims more hearts, minds and lives of our young, promising leaders of tomorrow and benefactors of the future.

© Lisa Pearlman 10/31/12

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Return to Innocence: The Deprogramming Starts Here

When we are young, life is a never-ending adventure. We take risks, throwing caution to the wind, as we seek fun in every experience. As adults we tend to be more cynical and “practical” constantly worrying bout the future (which we cannot control) and perseverating on the past (which we cannot change, hold onto or recreate). As children, we lived each moment, in the moment, always in the present. We looked at the world with eyes wide open with wonder, opportunity revealed itself in every experience as we explored and discovered our environment, our bodies, nature, creatures, objects… We embraced adventure and stimulation in our frivolous pursuit of fun. We were precocious, idealistic, naiive, trusting, fearless, innocent, unconditioned…each of us lost these child-like qualities in one way or another, at one time or another, through our experiences and social conditioning. Born into this world with a clean slate, devoid of precognitions and prejudices, we gradually developed a personality and habits, imprinting mental and emotional schemas, through social programming and mass indoctrination of ideas. After years of social experience these thoughts, feelings and attitudes have become so deeply ingrained in us, we believe they reflect our true essence. In actuality we couldn’t be further from our “authentic selfs.” We have difficulty letting go of or changing our etched patterns…we cling tightly to our egos because we no longer know who we really are! We have lost our “selfs” along the way! Born Human “BE-ings,” we “morphed” into Human “DO-ings.” Now, as adults, we adopt various roles to play, masks to wear, and tasks to accomplish. We identify and define ourselves with these self-stick labels (I.E. I am a grandfather, I am a son, I build houses, I am a teacher, I go to church…) We go through the motions, stumbling blindly through life, feeling disconnected and fragmented, unsatisfied and unimpressed. Why do we continue on this path when we can change direction and alter our life course at any time?

Life can be so much more! We need to return to our essence, revisit our inner child, view the world through new eyes, or actually old eyes…the eyes God gifted us with at birth in order to see all the beauty and wonder around us. Open up your eyes and your heart to the miracle of LIFE!! It is never too late to chase a rainbow or follow a dream!! To laugh that deep belly laugh that arises from deep in your being!! To twirl faster and faster til you fall to the grass, grinning from ear to ear, blissful, dizzy, as you watch the world spin around you!

Now, before you click “like” & get back to practical “matters of consequence,” why not take a life-altering step by “establishing ties” with that of an ephemeral nature, and in turn you will experience meaningful connection that is eternal. You do, indeed, reap what you sow.
“You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed.” ~ Antoine de Saint-Exupéry “The Little Prince”

If you truly want to awaken your senses and experience the extraordinary, I recommend you read “The Little Prince” by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. It was required reading in my high-school Psychology class, and it opened my eyes, heart and mind in a way I never thought possible, that I can’t even begin to explain. It is a quick read, but as a philosophical analysis, it has many deep layers of meaning and Universal Truths which will draw you back in to re-read and re-analyze the many lessons it imparts. I guarantee you will enjoy it if you were ever a child, and if you have any childhood memories you will most certainly relate to this sweet tale of innocence.

Peace, Love & Light to y’all…Lisa

P.S. If you made it this far without sleeping on me, Thanks for reading my ramblings

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