I’m not sure I was very nice to her in high school. Maybe not mean, but I didn’t go out of my way to defend her, or support her when I witnessed actual bullying. My excuse to myself was “well, I’ve got all I can handle,” and I was dealing with a lot, for sure, but I wasn’t blind, I could still see how they treated her.

And it wasn’t just her. There was a lot of bullying. Teasing. Picking. I guess it happens everywhere – all the time. And it’s funny to see them now. And when I say see them, it’s mostly on facebook – but still, it can be very revealing. She, who had been picked on, pushed around, is now a kind and loving survivor. I see her helping others. Befriending those in need. Truly a kind person. And I applaud her. How she rose above the pickers. Way above. Many of them are still just picking away. It must be miserable living that way – constantly digging, trudging in the negativity.

Deserve is a strange word. I don’t know that anyone really deserves anything. You can say she deserved better. They deserved better. I don’t know. No one really deserves to be treated badly, but in the same sense no one really deserves riches either. But she had the strength to grow and get through and get beyond, to rise above. This is really something! I’m sorry I didn’t see it before, but I see it now. And maybe they see it too. I hope so. You just never know what you’re going to have to overcome in order to become. But she knows now. Look up – look at her! She knew. (I hope she’s smiling as she reads this. I think she is. I can see her now – and I won’t miss the chance again.)