Bullying is the worst.

During a pretty long period at school, I was bullied. I was jumped on, called names, made fun of, and pushed around. I’m sure that most of the time they thought it was just good fun. Well it was, for them.

It made me feel like an outcast. I felt like I shouldn’t have value and that I didn’t deserve the things I wanted. I didn’t want the attention for fear of being singled out again, even when the attention was praise.

I turned to food, a lot. I ate because it made me feel good. I didn’t realise at the time but it was one of the only things that made me feel good. Until it didn’t. Then I was bullied because I was the ‘fat kid’ in the group. It took me until I was into my twenties to make a change.

For most of the time, bullies don’t think they’re bullies. They’re having a bit of fun. The other people should just lighten up. What’s the big deal? They don’t mind it really, it’s just a game we play.

It isn’t.

It’s not a game and they’re making other kids’ lives miserable and it has to stop.

Kindness Beats Bullying

Every February, we wear pink shirts to remind us that kindness beats bullying. We do it to add a little colour to someone’s day and to show others how good it feels to be genuinely nice.

This is why I’m truly happy to be at Metropolis at Metrotown to celebrate Pink Shirt day. They’re spreading acts of kindness in support of 2019 Pink Shirt Day anti-bullying campaign.

This year, Metropolis at Metrotown will be working with 7 Burnaby elementary and community schools to promote anti-bullying by performing random acts of kindness in support of Pink Shirt Day.

On Pink Shirt Day, February 27, Metropolis at Metrotown is encouraging everyone to wear a pink shirt to support this anti-bullying movement and to perform a random act of kindness. Starting at 10 am, students
from Maywood Community School, Windsor Elementary, Lochdale Community School, Gilmore Community School, Second Street Community School, Montecito Elementary, and Edmonds Community School will be
carrying out random acts of kindness to surprise, delight and educate shoppers in the mall on Pink Shirt Day.

I’m joining a few other bloggers and content creators from Vancouver and Burnaby and doing random acts of kindness around the mall. If you find us on Feb 27th, or if we surprise you with something to make your day a little better, feel free to tag #METMakeNice! – Stay tuned to my Twitter and Instagram to see how we got on.

In addition, a special surprise performance by the students will take place in the Grand Court at 11:30 am.

Metropolis at Metrotown once again is working with the CKNW Orphans’ Fund to promote the end to cyberbullying and encourage everyone online and in-person to spread kindness. From February 15-27, customers are encouraged to post their pledges on how they can #METMakeNice on the Metropolis at Metrotown Instagram page. For every pledge made, Metropolis at Metrotown will donate $1 to the CKNW Childrens’ Fund (up to $1000). By tagging a friend as well, customers have the chance to be entered to win a $500 shopping spree and a $500 gift card to be donated to their favourite local charity.

As a father, I want my daughter to see that the only thing that matters is being kind.

Need directions?

Disclaimer: Thanks to Metropolis at Metrotown for inviting me to participate in such a worthy cause and for supporting this post.