As most people know, today is Anti-Bullying Day. However, what most people may not know is the history behind Anti-Bullying Day and how it originated.

The original event was organized back in 2007 by two twelfth-grade students named David Shepherd and Travis Price of Berwick, Nova Scotia, who bought and distributed 50 pink shirts after a ninth-grade student named Chuck McNeil was bullied for wearing a pink polo shirt during the first day of school. That year, Nova Scotia Premier Rodney MacDonald proclaimed the second Thursday of September (aligning with the start of each school year) as “Stand Up Against Bullying Day” in recognition of these events.

In 2008, then-Premier of British Columbia, Gordon Campbell proclaimed February 27th to be the provincial Anti-Bullying Day. Since this time, our entire Country now recognizes and acknowledges this day on the last Wednesday of February each year.

The original Anti-Bully Day was instituted to prevent further bullying.

However, 15 years later, I question how much things have changed. And I don’t mean just in schools, but also at home and in the workplace.

I Was Bullied

Growing up I was bullied all the time. I was small, chubby, quiet and shy. Essentially I was the perfect target for any and every bully whose path I crossed. Not a single day would pass where I wasn’t ridiculed, shamed or made fun of. I was constantly abused both verbally and physically. I remember purposely taking different routes to school, strategically planning where to hang out/hide during Lunch Break, and even faking an illness or two, just so I could take the odd sick day when needed. I would do anything and everything just to avoid any potential altercations with my bullies. Back when I was in school, little to nothing was ever done by authority figures when a bully would attack. If anything, letting someone know would more often than not lead to disastrous results as this would turn you into “a rat” or “a snitch” which would only make your problems worse off school grounds. Therefore I learned quickly to just keep my head down, and mouth shut, and continue to run and hide whenever I could.

How I Stopped Getting Bullied

I’ve told the story in the past as to how I became a Personal Trainer/Coach however I never told the story as to why I started working out with weights. And to be honest, there isn’t much of a story to tell. When I was 14 years old, I lost all my baby fat. However now I was too skinny. When I first reached my adolescent years, I struggled to keep on weight. In less than 1 year, I went from being made of fun for being overweight, to being made fun of for being underweight and scrawny. As I began high school, my new bullies were much bigger and stronger than me. As a result, I would get my ass kicked (literally) daily. At the time, the only way I knew (or thought) I would be able to fight back is if I got bigger. And so after receiving my first official pay cheque from my restaurant job at 15 years old, I joined a gym. After a great deal of help and guidance from the older bodybuilders at my new gym, I was able to pack on some size. And to be honest, as a result, the bullying eventually stopped.

However looking back now, I question if this was the correct action to take.

How Do We Get Rid Of Bullying For Good?

In my opinion, we will never be able to truly get rid of bullying for good. There are always going to be jerks and assholes in the world – both young and old. As a child, I encountered my fair share of bullies and now as an adult, I’ve continued to encounter bullies regularly.

My solution to stop from getting bullied was to become bigger and stronger. However, I don’t feel that this is something that everyone should have to do (or perhaps is even able to do) in order to live in a world where they are accepted and respected by their peers and others around them. Instead, I believe a better solution would be to stand united against bullying and not only support, but promote days that acknowledge and recognize how serious this issue truly is.

What Can We Do?

Whether it’s in school, at home, in the community or online, I think it’s important to reach out and show each other the support we all need. Reach out to someone you trust if you need to talk. Reach out to someone you know is being bullied. Reach out and consider a new approach.

Remember, strong people stand up for themselves. But the strongest people stand up for others.

Yours in Good Health,

Nick Cosgrove
Forever Fit Performance