Teen Launches On-Line Anti-bullying community

Philly teen launches on-line anti-bullying community
Philadelphia, PA - Recently local high-school student Joey Kemmerling was talking to school security, reporting anti-gay graffiti that was aimed at him in a school bathroom. Such instances have become almost commonplace for the Council Rock High School South sophomore, who has decided to fight back against school bullying —— not with his fists, but with dialogue. Kemmerling, 15, launched The Equality Project, an online community that gives victims of bullying a forum in which to share their stories —— and an effort that is growing by the day: At press time, The Equality Project’s Facebook page had more than 4,700 members, started offering its own line of merchandise and recently formed a board of executives. If can be reached at http://www.theequalityproject.net/

While The Equality Project is meant to foster awareness and prevention of all types of school bullying, the initiative grew out of Kemmerling’s own fight against anti-lgbt sentiments at both his middle and high schools. The teen said he started to realize he was gay in the fifth grade and made the decision to come out three years later, as a student at Richboro Middle School. Kemmerling said the reaction of his classmates rapidly deteriorated from the initial awkwardness to physical altercations in the locker room. Kemmerling said he and his parents finally went to the police after a student threatened to light him on fire and he saw no support from his school administration. “When I talked to my principal, he said, ‘Well, you know you don’t have to be so open about it, maybe calm it down a little.’” and I said. He says that the bullying has continued in high school.


The pervasive bullying he’s faced has made Kemmerling consider taking his own life many times, he said. It was the Internet that pulled him back. “Every time I thought about killing myself, I’d go on Facebook and talk to guys who’d help me through it,” he said. He had the idea of launching a discussion group dedicated to raising awareness about bullying at his school, but school administrators would not give him the go-ahead, so he brought that effort to Facebook. The Equality Project launched as an online forum for students to share their own experiences with bullying and offer one another the same support Kemmerling saw in his Facebook interactions. Kemmerling said overseeing the site has helped to heal some of his own wounds. “Whenever I get discouraged, I look at the stories and think, ‘OK, I’’m not alone. . . I have to take all of my feelings and put them to good use,” he said. (Philadelphia Gay News - Jen Colletta at epgn.com)

Transformation

Longing for a miracle that will transform your life? Miracles happen, and if we don't want that magic to disappear on us, we need to learn from each epiphany -- to integrate it, apply it, and build on it so we can permanently shift to a new level of being.

The real key to fulfillment lies in ONGOING transformation: building our awareness of daily opportunities to change our perceptions and raise our consciousness. Life is about dissolving the old and creating anew. The more we open to accepting and learning from every life experience, the more our lives transform.

"Enlightenment must come little by little -- otherwise it would overwhelm."

-- Idries Shah

Self Deception

Self-deception

"The first and worst of all frauds is to cheat one's self."

-- Phillip James Bailey

Are you hiding in some way from your own inner light?

I wouldn't dream of stealing things but I do steal from my own potential. I can be a master at rationalizing, at justifying why it�s not the right time to do something challenging. My arguments seem valid but deep down, I know they're excuses.

"The longer the excuse, the less likely it's the truth."

-- Robert Half

"When we know deep down that we're acting with integrity despite impulses to do otherwise, we feel gates of higher energy and inspiration open inside of us."

-- Dan Millman

Stress - How To Cope, How to Handle It

One of the most significant problems human beings face as a general population is how to handle stress. It largely depends in the way you learn how to handle stress. Learn how to handle stress by turning it into a positive force that can uplift and empower you. Want more tips on how to handle stress. Before you can learn how to handle stress you need to identify the source of your related stress. Life has its ups and downs and when the downs come, it is so important to know how to handle stress effectively so you can deal with the events without entering into a harrowing episode of stress, anxiety or depression. Knowing how to handle stress effectively means being continually aware that there is always a solution. By learning how to handle stressful feelings, by creating time our in our lives where we can recharge our batteries, and by learning how to relate to ourselves in a different way, we come to a state of being where the things that used to bother us, no longer do.

Yourself
Discover what you need to feel good about yourself and get your needs met. DON'T OVERWHELM YOURSELF: If you are stressed and overwhelmed, perhaps you are trying to handle too much. Rid yourself of extra duties that aren't necessary or important. EXTEND YOURSELF: Make your own life better by making someone else's life better (unless someone else‘s life is the problem of the stress) . If you can't change the world, change yourself. Learn how to love yourself as you are, while you work towards your goals. Then, make a commitment to yourself to start improving the things about yourself and your life that (you believe) need it. Focus on the good things about yourself, and in your life. Take a few deep breaths, breathing from the stomach and chest, and gradually feel yourself becoming more relaxed. Instead of feeling sorry for yourself, get involved and become a participant.

How much stress do you cause just by putting unnecessary pressure on yourself. Having a positive attitude will help you assert yourself and feel more in control. You waste energy if you constantly criticize yourself or set unrealistic goals. Being able to laugh at yourself and the world can break tension and give you some relief from stress.

Enjoy having nothing to think about other than your breath and if you find your mind wandering just bring yourself back to your breathing. Take a break and take yourself away from the stressful situation. Sometimes it can be difficult to see the bigger picture, but if you take yourself away and give yourself a short-break you will come back to the situation feeling refreshed and ready to face the challenge. Talking releases stress; sometimes other people can offer solutions you didn't think of yourself. When you are stressed, remember to give yourself "treats".

Body
If you learn about how your body reacts to stress, you can also learn how to counter that stress. Learn to listen to your body's signals and find ways to reduce your stress, even if it's just "taking five" to clear your mind. This can actually create the a reaction in the body that results in a good feeling and the some stress relief. It also increases the amount of oxygen in your body and boosts your blood circulation. The body responds to stress by going through three stages: (1) alarm, (2) resistance, and (3) exhaustion.

Relief
Go to this website to learn some interesting tips on how to handle stress and get some relief

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What Is Soul Consciousness

What is soul consciousness?

"You are a holistic being with both nondualistic energy and the energy of the physical plane as a part of your being at your disposal."

-- Wayne Dyer

Andrew Schneider helps us understand our human experience of being soul. He says, "Soul consciousness arises when we stand facing in opposite directions at the same time - toward eternity and toward time, toward infinity and toward space, toward unity and toward complexity. We stand in that dualism without being dualistic, for in consciousness we can accommodate the opposites. We do this by identifying with both. This identification results in the experience of being an individual while at the same time being the whole, and finding no contradiction in this experience."

"Give your difference, welcome my difference, unify all difference in the larger whole -- such is the law of growth. The unifying of difference is the eternal process of life -- the creative synthesis, the highest act of creation."

-- M. P. Follett

Forgiveness and Anger and Regaining Control

Forgiveness

Forgiveness is a hard topic for me to discuss because I myself have a very hard time forgiving others who have wronged the ones I love and myself since I tend to take things so personally. I’m sure many out there have the same problem so I have gathered up some inspirational sayings about forgiveness and anger, etc. I hope you find this beneficial.

Forgiveness is part of carrying your cross. Forgiveness is letting go of the negative emotions that keep our energy and our thoughts tethered to the past, and keep us from progressing forward. Forgiveness, mercy, and not judging are all related. Forgiveness is the right choice to make, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ve forgotten what has happened. forgiveness isn’t a statement "I forgive" but to really not let the matter bother you anymore. Forgiveness may feel like letting our offender off the hook without punishment. Forgiveness is love practiced among people who love poorly. Forgiveness is typically defined as the process of concluding resentment, indignation or anger as a result of a perceived offense, difference or mistake, and/or ceasing to demand punishment or restitution. Forgiveness removes the blocks to seeing the eternal goodness in, and unity and equality with, one’s brother. Forgiveness removes the fog obscuring the reflection of God within others, which leads to the same sight within ourselves. Forgiveness is simply a decision to let go of our regrets and our own view of justice.

Anger

Anger and forgiveness seem opposite, and yet in many ways they are very similar. Anger becomes a part of how others view you. Anger can make you yell or scream at those around you, even people you like or love. Anger and resentment take you away from love. Anger is one of the most common and destructive delusions, and it afflicts our mind almost every day. Anger is "an emotional state that varies in intensity from mild irritation to intense fury and rage," according to Charles Spielberger, PhD, a psychologist who specializes in the study of anger. Anger is a natural, adaptive response to threats; it inspires powerful, often aggressive, feelings and behaviors, which allow us to fight and to defend ourselves when we are attacked. Anger is a serious emotion, but it's often accompanied by ideas that, if examined, can make you laugh. Anger is a temporary emotional state caused by frustration; aggression is often an attempt to hurt a person or to destroy property. Anger can be a vicious cycle and spiral out of control despite the fact that you truly do not want to be angry. Anger can be a tool to motivate us to change our circumstances if we’re not happy with them. In my experience anger tends to manifest only because of the fear of being injured or hurt once again. Forgiveness is a Grace given to remove animosity and anger from our souls so as not to let those poisons spread and muddle our relationship with God.

No Need For Comparison

No need for comparison

"Nothing is good or bad but by comparison."

-- Thomas Fuller

We are each unique, so comparing ourselves to others serves no purpose. Even comparing myself to how I was a while back is not usually helpful. Typically, comparison just brings the ego a false sense of either superiority or inferiority.

If we let go of comparison and choose instead to completely accept where we are, we can enjoy both peace and growth.

"Do not judge and you will never be mistaken."

-- Jean Jacques Rousseau