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Get Onboard Audrey's Joy Train's avatar

Wa-ow!! I am consistently amazed by the things you reveal and the bravery you share/shared. How did you even know that about waiting till you’d established a record? You were born for this moment! Thank you.

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Walter Rhein's avatar

Thank you that's so kind!

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Jo Burns's avatar

Great post and a reminder to keep our power and face them down. I had an incident in middle school. A girl wanted to fight me. Not really in my DNA, but instead of being the aggressor, she tried to trigger me into that role. I flatly stated I refuse to fight and just looked at her. She then slapped my cheek. I blandly said I would not fight her and asked if that action made her feel better and more powerful. She just stared, turned, and walked away. End of that episode. Bullies bully, but staring them down weakens their aggression.

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Walter Rhein's avatar

Thanks for that story Jo. Yes, the key is to get them to short circuit. They don’t know how to respond and it triggers the flight mechanism in them. I’ve had similar things happen.

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Patricia Ross's avatar

We have things in common Walter. . . my childhood was filled with terror also, only it was my father that I feared rather than teachers. And the confusing thing was that he could be loving one moment, and the next I'd be fearing for my life! In any event, I agree: we must be unafraid, and in order to be unafraid, we have to believe that we have nothing to lose, or what we have to lose is inconsequential compared to losing ourselves. Being subjugated by a tyrant is unacceptable, and we must stand up and say "No." (also: just thought I'd mention: at the top of your page is written: "If you can't upgrade to paid, I really appreciate it!" I think you're really meaning "If you CAN upgrade to paid . . .")

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Walter Rhein's avatar

I had the same issues with my father too. It was a battle on two fronts :) Yes, you're right, it should have said "can" haha! We have more power than we realize. More and more the old tactics are coming back to me!

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Joe Walker's avatar

Great post, a must read!

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Teri Gelini's avatar

We need more people to do this to the orange menace!!!

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