Drake says it best, "Keep the family close." It's the truest statement out there... you can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family; you're stuck with them forever. So when someone messes with a family member, we have every right to react and stick up for that person.
I've recently encountered many issues in regards to my younger brother. Not only is he currently getting bullied, but I myself used to be a victim of bullying. What these ignorant bullies don't understand is that everyone has something going on that others aren't aware of. Yes, it's hard to keep that in mind sometimes, especially when acting on impulse, but it's something people need to learn to accept.
I've decided to speak out and have even written a Facebook post in regards to a certain situation that recently came up. To my surprise, I woke up to this Facebook status having over 200 likes. At this point in time I realized I am not alone and other families deal with this kind of thing all the time.
As an older sister, I see sticking up for my younger brother as a natural instinct of mine and I don't plan on that ever changing. While I've been accused of acting more like a mother than a sister to him, I see it differently. It's my duty to look out for not only my younger brother, but my family as a whole. As many others can relate, my family has been through hell and back but what we have to remember is that everything happens for a reason. Our family will always be there for us, through the good the bad and the ugly. While it's easy to walk away and avoid certain situations that don't directly involve us but involve our family, the right thing to do is to stick up for the people that will be by your side no matter what. Family is family and that will never change.
So to the bullies out there, cut it out and focus on yourself and your own issues. Clearly all bullies have internal obstacles they are dealing with and use the strategy of shaming others to cope and avoid their inner struggles. This is beyond unhealthy and I recommend talking to a professional about why you, the bully, do these things to harm others. There's always a root cause but it can be difficult to discover.
Keep the family close, because if you don't, you'll end up all alone.
