July is Disability Pride Month! Today I have been reflecting on how growing up being bullied because of my limb difference (due to being born with Moebius Syndrome) has made me feel extremely powerless. Powerless to stop the bullying. Feeling like I couldn’t get out of the situation and just having to sit there and take it.
That has had such a powerfully negative impact on me and I’m still navigating this, to be honest.
But, little by little I have been learning and having the courage to stand up and take my power back.
I see little ones with Moebius and just feel so sad that anyone could want to be mean and bully them. I think back to little me, who felt so sad being bullied and felt like there was nothing she could do about it.
That’s why I am taking such a strong stance on being kind to people. Bullying can have such long term negative effects, which can be completely avoided if we were to remember that it hurts people when we are mean to them, sometimes even deeper and more profoundly than we can even imagine.
We need to teach our children kindness and empathy from an early age and *keep* teaching them. And also modeling this! Kids look to our actions, not just our words.
For those who are still dealing with the long term effects of being bullied, I see you and am sending you so much love.
Kari Storm 
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