It’s happening again: the scheming, misconstrued sentences with no particular order that still somehow seem to cut to my center when they are thrust like knives across the room. These sharp words with hollow meaning begin to flow without ceasing, piercing me violently and causing each individual wound upon my back.

You see, this is how I have felt throughout my life whenever nonsensical insults and harsh words were hurled my way. And if you’re anything like me, odds are you’ve experienced them yourself. You know just what I’m talking about: the people who ensure your destruction for no particular reason at all, per their fun and games. They entice the pressure to be perfect, all the while holding a standard infeasible for you to grasp because no matter how hard you try to fit into their mold, you will never be good enough for their expectations.

For me, it began in elementary school when a girl made fun of everything from the shape of my nose to the gap in between my two front teeth. As I got older, attention shifted from my physical appearance to my persona and attitude. I was berated for my love of learning and apparent urge to attain personal victories and successes. It was almost as if I was being constantly suppressed by those around me: “You like to learn too much. You spend too much time thinking. You are too vocal about your opinions. Don’t make waves. Be quiet and keep the peace.”

I had a distorted dream that this would cease post-high school, but I still find a breed of people all their own eager to bring me down for their own pleasure. Don’t get me wrong, I have found my best friends in college who will fight tooth and nail for me and who love me fiercely, but I am still greeted by naysayers and begrudging tormentors in other areas of my life in the forms of rude bosses, fierce competitors, ruthless frenemies and the plethora of people who attempt to berate me as if their life depends on it. And because we are human, I’m sure you still see these people in your life as well.

So to these people who attempt to wreak havoc on our lives, the ones who think that our day-to-day happenings are a part of their dysfunctional soap opera or sitcom, I say this: your time is over. In fact, it never really even began because while you were busy casting stones and pointing out flaws, I was living my life. While you were scheming, I was believing in something greater. I set goals, I dreamed big, and I turned my aspirations into realities. Your words may have hurt for a fleeting amount of time, but they only made me stronger. Today, I stand as a better version of myself, your once-eclipsing presence now no more than a fading memory. In fact, I’d like to thank you for pushing me harder to achieve greatness than anyone else. You pointed out my flaws and demeaned me at my weakest, only causing me to beat back against the fierce current of misfortunes and malice you intended to cause. I genuinely appreciate your contribution to my happiness. Without you, I wouldn’t have the guts to state my opinion for fear of criticism, I wouldn’t know how to laugh at myself from time to time, and I wouldn’t know how to ignore senseless comments.

So here’s to the bullies (even though they suck). Here’s to the dreamers. And here’s to shaking it off.