Tag: Bullying

I AM AN OVERCOMER

Published on by Aimee Eddy2 Comments

What kind of person are you? This is a very important question when you are struggling with things such as a disability, bullying, health issues, and mental illness. First think hard about it. Do you give up? Do you hide in shame? Do you stand up and fight? Do you find away around your struggles? Once you answer these then you can decide what type of person you are. Are you a quitter? Are you determined? Are you a coward? Are you a winner?

I asked myself the question, “What kind of person am I?” at several points in my life. First when I struggled with a learning disability, second when I faced bullying, third while struggling at my lowest point with mental illness, fourth when I struggled with breast cancer, and fifth while continuously struggling with health problems. I concluded that “I am an Overcomer.”

I see each of the challenges I face in my life as something I will find a way around and overcome. Sometimes it takes a while, but I face it head on and I succeed. When I discovered I had a learning disability, I struggled to find my way around it, and I felt defeated. When I reached high school, I found my ways to work around it and made the merit roll, the honor roll, then the honor society, and finally I graduated from high school with a hidden hero speech given about me and five scholarships.

It took me time to find my way around the learning disability and bullying, but once I did, I faced it head on. I spent hours studying, I wrote my own notes from the textbooks, I put my notes on index cards, and I studied the cards for hours. I became very determined I would prove to everyone I wasn’t stupid, and I did. When I made the honor roll some of the kids who once bullied me asked to cheat off my tests. When I was in the National Honors Society, I was given the task to tutor a child in reading for an elementary teacher who once said I couldn’t read. The teacher quickly changed her mind about me. They told me I could never get good grades on my own and yet I did. I found my way around my disability and around the bullying and I overcame it.

When I was at the bottom of the dark hole of my mental illness, I thought my life was useless, I became suicidal, and I felt like I was going to never feel better. I struggled most of my childhood and teenage years with this illness, not knowing what it was. When my cousin was killed in a car accident, I hit the deepest, darkest part of my hole. When I started college, I was in despair. I was planning my death, I was self-injuring, I was getting sick every day, and I wasn’t sleeping. It took all my energy to force myself to get out of bed and go to my classes. I saw a pamphlet at college about depression, and then I knew what was going on with me. I went to my mom for help and started working on a path to recovery. I took a year off college, I started therapy, and I worked hard. I did the homework my therapist gave me, I started a job where I made friends, I got rid of a bad relationship, and I got a social life. I reached recovery, but several years later my mental illness hit rock bottom again.

I could have said, “I give up,” but I didn’t. When I noticed myself falling, I found myself a therapist. While I was struggling, I got involved in an abusive relationship. When he kicked me out of his home he told me, “I can’t help you. You gave up.” I needed to hear those words because they sparked determination in me. I went to several different therapists until I found the right one for me. She knew I was a writer so she had me do homework that involved writing, like putting my feelings down on paper, starting a positive journal, writing out my bad thoughts and turning them to positive ones, and so on.

I decided I didn’t want to live at the bottom of the hole, so I fought to climb out. I carried a journal with me wherever I went, I did the homework my therapist gave me, I fought my negative thinking, I joined a self-injury support group, and I went to a psychiatrist to get medication for my illness. I reached recovery and I have been living a happy life for several years now. I have bad days, but I handle them with coping techniques and the help of my support team. I faced mental illness head on, and I overcame it.

I did the same with breast cancer, nine surgeries, and many health problems. I don’t sit down and give up. When people tell me I can’t do something, I find a way to do it. I felt like giving up several times during my many struggles and at times I felt hopeless, but I didn’t quit. I couldn’t give up. That’s not who I am. I’m a person who faces my challenges head on and I find a way to rise above them and grow from them. I am an overcomer.

What type of person are you? Think hard about it. If you’re struggling with mental illness or other challenges, decide what you want to do about it. Do you want that challenge to define your life, or do you want to work around it and rise above it? Once you make the decision, then you can discover the type of person you are. When you figure that out, use it to propel you forward to success and recovery. Life’s hardships do not have to define you. An illness or a disability doesn’t have to define you. Your willingness to fight comes from the person you are deep inside, and that’s what defines you. 

When I needed back surgery and I had to lose weight to get it, I worked hard with a friend to lose the weight. I faced the challenge, and I overcame it. An overcomer is the type of person I am. It’s what makes me a strong person and is the reason why I stand happily in the light of recovery.

BULLYING HAPPENS AT CHURCH

Published on by Aimee Eddy4 Comments

The one place we would think we could go and not be judged, put down, or treated badly is church. In the Bible we are taught that everyone is equal. Jesus saw all people as equal, despite their sins or evil ways. Jesus fed the hungry, healed the blind, and made the lame walk. He never put people down and he never turned his back on anyone. We as Christians should do the same especially in God’s house. Unfortunately bullying happens in the one place where it shouldn’t, church.

Bullying happens in many churches especially small churches. I’ve seen it myself. In many churches there seems to be one person who likes to take control of everything. This person seems to have a following. Other church members want to be on her or his good side, so they conform. By doing this they form a pack against those who stand on their own and pass judgment when they don’t have a right to.

This happened to a woman, I’ll call Sally, who means the world to me. I went to a small country church with this Sally. One bossy lady in the church took control of everything. She also had a group of women who followed her. Sally was a homemaker. Sally spent her life dedicated to raising her children and taking care of her home. The bossy lady and her followers judged her for that. They judged her for the way she dressed, the style of her hair, and much more.

Sally wanted to help revive the Sunday school at this church. The bossy lady agreed but insulted or turned down any of Sally’S ideas and plans. Sally would go to church events and be ignored by the others. Being ignored and left out of social events is another form of bullying. The bullying began to drag Sally down, causing her emotional pain; she and her husband ended up leaving the church. This should never happen anywhere and especially at a church.

Church is where we are supposed to be accepted no matter what. It’s not our job to judge anyone no matter how different they are or even if we don’t agree with their lifestyles. God is the ultimate and only judge. Church is the place we should be able to go and be welcomed with opened arms. Our baggage, our sins, our differences, and so on should be left at the door. Inside church we are God’s children loving each other for who we are inside. God loves each of us equally and treats us the same and so we should do the same.

In churches sometimes you hear rumors. I’ve heard it at church myself. Gossip is a form of bullying. It’s telling information about someone without knowing the facts. Rumors destroy lives because they change and grow as they are passed around. Such as “I heard Jessica is cheating on her husband with an old friend,” becomes “Jessica’s child is not her husband’s; it’s the child of the man she slept with behind her husband’s back” and so on. The truth could be that Jessica just had lunch with an old college friend.

Bullying is a big problem in our churches, society, and in our schools. People should never be treated badly for their differences especially at church. At church we gather as sinners, as beautiful unique people, and as God’s children. Love, acceptance, and kindness should be shared with all. No one person should take charge of things in a church. Each person has the right to take part in all church activities. When you go to church, love each person as God loves each one of his children.

God made each of us different. Not one of us is the same. Our uniqueness is what makes us special individuals. Differences are beautiful and not something to judge. In church, at school, in communities, and at work, embrace everyone’s uniqueness and treat everyone the way you want to be treated, with kindness.

Standing up against all bullying and spreading the word about the harm it causes fills me with pride and helps me bathe in the light of recovery.

HELPING ONE PERSON AT A TIME

Published on by Aimee Eddy2 Comments

We can all reach out and help each other through volunteering. Giving a little bit of your time to a cause that means a lot to you strengthens you as a person and helps you help others. There are a lot of organizations that need help, but one that means a lot to me is The One Life Project created by Alexander Kovarovic. This program fights for teens, college students, and young adults who are struggling with mental illness.

One Life Project’s mission statement is: The One Life Project works to build and create a kinder world where we educate, advocate for, and support teens, college students, and young adults who are struggling with mental health in the hopes of preventing suicide in young people and ending the stigma that surrounds mental health.

I volunteered several years ago with another nonprofit Alexander ran. I believe so strongly in Alexander’s missions that I agreed to volunteer with his new nonprofit, One Life Project. The Project’s mission means a lot to me. I use my blog to fight the stigma that surrounds mental illness, to educate others, and to inspire those who struggle with mental illness to fight for recovery. By volunteering for One Life Project, I am taking my advocacy even further to help in an even bigger way.

I am assistant to the director of One Life Project, and I will be dealing with research and education. It is an important position. I will have other volunteers under me who I will direct to do research that will be put on One Life’s website. It’s important that we provide as much information to the public as possible to help educate, guide, and save lives. I can also do some research of my own. I also write for the Project’s blog.

You don’t have to sacrifice hours that you could be working, spending with family, studying for school, and so on to volunteer. I am volunteering on my days off. If you can only give one day a week or a couple hours, your help is valued. Volunteering for One Life Project is your chance to help others learn about mental illness and to help those who are suffering with this awful illness. There are many ways you can volunteer and there are many aspects to this project. To explore the project and to find out about volunteering, go to their site at Inspire Kindness | One Life Project (projectonelife.org).

A lot of issues tie into mental illness such as bullying, dating abuse, sexual abuse, suicide, and more. One Life Project deals with every aspect of mental illness and even the related issues. We put together information to educate, train, and inform society about these topics. One Life Project also arranges events to bring awareness to mental illness. It’s our job as volunteers to reach out and help others. We may be just helping one person at a time or maybe hundreds. We are helping save lives and bring change into our world by volunteering to this nonprofit.

Suicide is a big problem among our teens, college students, and young adults. Young people are taking their lives because they feel there is no other way. They’re struggling and are afraid there is no help for them. By bringing awareness to suicide prevention and mental illness, we can give these younger people a second chance at life. We can show them there are other choices and there is help. How can you turn down this chance? How can you not volunteer for this project?

According to the World Health Organization, “Globally, one in seven 10-19-year-olds experiences a mental disorder, accounting for 13% of the global burden of disease in this age group. Depression, anxiety, and behavioral disorders are among the leading causes of illness and disability among adolescents.” You can find this information at Mental health of adolescents (who.int).  That is a lot of young people who need help. Imagine giving a young person a chance to get help and reach recovery.

One Life Projects motto says it all, “Be true, be you, be kind.” The goal is to create a kinder, more understanding, and accepting society for everyone despite their differences. The Project accepts everyone as the special unique individual they are. Please consider volunteering.

Checkout the Spectrum News interview by clicking this link. When it asks to log in click ask later. https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/capital-region/public-safety/2023/04/17/one-life-project-nonprofit/

Because I am volunteering for One Life Project, I am growing stronger as an advocate for mental illness and I stand tall in the light of recovery.

ADULTS ARE BULLIED TOO

Published on by Aimee Eddy6 Comments

We hear quite a bit about children being bullied. It is a big topic in the news and on social media. However, the fight against bullying should stretch beyond the walls of schools because bullying also happens to adults in their workplaces, communities, and even churches. Many children who bully learned how from their parents. They see their parents bully and think it is all right.

I have never faced bullying in my community, workplace, or church, but I have witnessed it. Being a victim of bullying as a child, I know how harmful this type of abuse is to a person. I worked in the bakery department of a grocery store and witnessed bullying. A Greek woman worked there with us. The others found fault with her traditions, how she did things at work, her accent, and so on. They insulted her accent and her lack of knowledge of American ways. They made snide comments to her and made fun of her behind her back. They insulted the work she did, and they did what they could to get her in trouble.

I enjoyed working with the Greek lady and learning about her customs and country. I even admired her accent. The others claimed that she had been in our country long enough that she should not have an accent. They were foolish. You don’t just grow out of it, especially if she still spoke the language at home. To me her accent made her unique and exciting.

They bullied her daily and when she tried to fight back, the manager punished her for it. The abuse got so bad that she left the store and found a new job. I see her from time to time and we fill each other in on our lives. She is much happier now. I was and am angered that she was bullied so badly she had no choice but to leave. I’m angry that the manager of the bakery didn’t defend her. Bullying should never happen in a workplace and this should have never happened to my co-worker.

I also witnessed bullying in a small church I was going to. One woman seemed to take it on herself to run everything, and she had her faithful followers. If she didn’t like someone, neither did her followers. She bullied a person who means a lot to me. She made this person feel small and worthless. When the person tried to revive the Sunday school, the woman put her down and made it evident that the person would fail. Other church people joined in on the bullying. They excluded the person from events, put down her clothing styles, her role as a housewife, and so on. The person struggled emotionally with the bullying. It dragged her down and tore at her self-esteem. She was judged in the place where she was supposed to receive acceptance. She ended up leaving the church. The only person who is supposed to judge us is God, not our fellow parishioners.

Gossip is a big problem in communities and even in workplaces. One person tells something about a person, and by the time it gets around it turns into a whole other story. People’s lives are destroyed by gossip. That odd man who keeps to himself killed his son, then it turns to he killed his son and wife and next he killed a family that suddenly moved away in the night. What they may not know is that odd man is simply different and lived an interesting life. He may be just waiting for the right person to tell his story to. His son may have died unexpectedly from an illness.

We need to fight bullying not only in our schools but outside of our schools. If we show our children how to treat each other with respect and teach them not to judge by our example, then maybe we can prevent some bullying in schools. It’s our job to not only stand up against bullying in schools, but to stand up against all bullying. Wheter the victim is a defenseless child or an adult, this type of abuse is damaging and needs to stop. Stand with me to stop bullying.

I’m working hard at spreading the word wherever and whenever I can that bullying is abuse and we must rise together to stop it. In advocating against bullying, I am healing my own wounds and helping others. I am standing stronger in the light of recovery.

UPDATE ON MY BOOK

Published on by Aimee EddyLeave a comment

A customer at the grocery store where I work, said, “You have a book published; you shouldn’t have to work.”

I wish that were true. I wish it were like in the TV shows where you write a book and make a fortune. If that were true, my husband and I wouldn’t be struggling right now with finances and I wouldn’t care that my job has cut my hours. I’m making a small profit on my books. I get a percentage from Amazon for each book I sell, and for each book I sell in a bookstore I get a percentage. For books I sell myself, I must take money out for the cost of each book and I have to take taxes out. I am making money, but not enough to live on. The extra money has helped us, though.

My main reason to write my book was not to get rich, but to bring awareness of bullying and to speak out against it. I’m doing that by doing speaking and book signing events. My most recent speaking event was at McCord Library in NorthEast, PA. Twenty-four people came and I sold seven books and a few “Stop Bullying” bracelets.

A lady brought her son who is being bullied at school. I had met her online, and she happens to be taking care of my grandma’s best friend. She messaged me before the talk that her son had to meet me. I met her son and gave him a hug. She was so inspired by my speech she told her pastor who has ties with Westfield School. The pastor called me and asked me several questions about talking to schools. He said he will get back to me. My fingers are crossed.

My next speaking event is May 17 at Patterson Library in Westfield, NY at 4 P.M. I’ll be speaking to children and their parents. I’m also working on speaking to my church’s youth group. I’m researching other places I can speak at where I can reach parents and their children. Selling and signing my book is very rewarding and a dream come true, but bringing awareness to bullying and the effects it has on people is even more rewarding. God wanted me to write my story to help others, not to get rich.

I would love to get a movie deal and for my book to become a bestseller so I can stay home and write for a living, but I’m proud of having published a book and being able to speak out against something I am passionate about. When people ask me if I’m making a fortune on my book I say, “I’m not the next J.K. Rowling, but what I’m making is helpful.” Times are rough for my husband and me right now. It would be wonderful to make a living off my book, but that is a dream. Who knows it may happen? Dreams do come true.

How can you help me with my book? The best gift you can give an author is to write a review. You don’t have to be good at writing to do a review. Just put down what you like about my book. You can go on Amazon or Goodreads and post a review. Reviews help sell a book. Good reviews tell readers “This is a book you want to buy.” If you have bought my book, please consider writing a review.

Last week I did a promotion on the Kindle version of my book. It was on sale for ninety-nine cents for a week. I sold eighteen books. I consider that a success. I got an excellent review from someone who bought a Kindle copy. I hope more will write some reviews.

Many are asking me if I am going to write another book. Right now, I have not started on any books. My friend Roberta is organizing some of my blog posts for a book. I have plans to write about the years after the garage and I am writing down memories on index cards. I have written an article about adding emotions to memoir which I hope to submit to Pennwriters’ newsletter. Otherwise, I have not done a lot of writing. I put a lot into Escape to the Garage: Family Love Overcomes Bullying and I just need time to sort out my emotions to write another book that deals with powerful and painful memories.

Speaking out against bullying and bringing awareness to the damages it causes help me stand proudly in the light of recovery.

SPEAKING EVENT

Published on by Aimee Eddy2 Comments

While I was writing my memoir, a fellow writer told me that I was going to become an advocate. She was right. Since my book came out, I have become very passionate about speaking out against bullying and sharing my experience with the world. My book is a testimony of the bad effects bullying has on a child, and the effects are the same for an adult. I am proof a person can rise from that bullying to help others. I believe God helped me write my book so I can help others.

Saturday, I gave a talk at McCord Memorial Library in North East, PA. Twenty-four people attended. So far that is the biggest audience I have had for my talks. Most of those who came were older people. One lady whom I had met through Facebook brought her teenage son who was facing bullying. I spoke from the heart and received a big applause at the end. Many told me how inspirational my talk was, some shared experiences with bullying, and many told me I am an excellent advocate for those who have been bullied. It was great, but I realized something. I need to find a way to speak to younger adults and children of all ages.

I’m working with a lady from my church speak to the youth group. I need to also find ways to speak at schools. I have a customer who works at a local school who hopes to have me speak there, but I haven’t heard anything from her yet. If you have suggestions on how I can bring my messages to schools and parents of children, please leave a comment.

A common question I have been getting from my readers is “How do you become an advocate?”

There are different kinds of advocates. My friend Alexander Kovarovic gave me some advice on this topic.  This is what he told me: Advocates are people who want to step up to make the world a better place for a certain reason like suicide prevention, bullying, domestic violence and more. This can be as simple as people sharing things on social media, going to events etc. Advocates are also people work on creating laws, people who run nonprofits and people who run charity events. To become an advocate, it’s good to start by volunteering for a nonprofit.

For me I became part of a nonprofit organization called National Internet Safety and Cyberbullying Taskforce (which is now called The One Life Project). First, I wrote blog posts for them and then I helped them set up events and interview volunteers. Then my book came out and I began to set up speaking and book signing events. Then being an advocate fell into place. I found myself able to stand up in front of people and speak from the heart without even planning my speech.

I think the biggest part of becoming an advocate is to find a topic you may have lived through and rise above or something you passionately want to change and speak out about it. Find a nonprofit that deals with your topic and volunteer. Learn as much as you can about your cause and how you can help others. Be willing to speak at events in front of crowds of people. If you have experience with your topic then share your story. Your story can help many.

I believe my talks and my book is helping many. I received a email from a reader who said by reading my book she learned more about bullying and the affects it has on people. I hope that many more are learning from my book too.

By speaking out against bullying I am growing stronger each day and I stand proudly in the light of recovery.

AN APOLOGY LETTER

Published on by Aimee Eddy4 Comments

Part of life is getting hurt by people. Sometimes they hurt us by accident, some don’t even realize they hurt us, and some hurt us because they are not nice. Getting an apology helps ease the pain, but not everyone apologizes. How do we mend our broken hearts if a person who hurt us never apologizes?

Since my book has been published, people have asked me, “Has any of your bullies read your book and apologized?”

Unfortunately, none of them has apologized and I don’t expect them to. I’m not even sure they would admit it was them in my book if they read it. My friend, Roberta, suggested I try writing an apology letter from one of my bullies to me. I thought about it and decided that would be a great idea. Below is an apology letter I have written from one of the bullies in my book, Donna. If you haven’t read my book, Escape to the Garage: Family Love Overcomes Bullying, reading my book would give you a better idea about what Donna did to me.

Dear Aimee,

  I’m so sorry I called you a retard and other names in school. I didn’t understand what a learning disability was. I was a fool to think you were stupid. Look at you. You went to college. You wrote a book. You were never stupid or retarded. My words were cruel and wrong. I wish I could take them back. Now I’ve read your book and I can see how much they hurt you. I’m sorry I caused you so much pain.

  In school I thought you weren’t smart enough to ever work a job and I told you that you would be on welfare. Boy was I wrong. My life turned out to be a mess, but you went on to college, you got a degree, and you have worked the same job for twenty-seven years. I’m sorry I said that about you. I was so wrong. I’m the one who failed to succeed, but you are a success.

  I’m sorry I took your friends away and turned them against you. I’m sorry I stopped other kids from making a friendship with you. I didn’t feel good about myself and I turned that on you. I made your life miserable. It wasn’t nice of me to tell others lies about you so they wouldn’t be your friend. In a way I was jealous of you. My family and home life weren’t as good as yours, so in turn I made your school days miserable. I’m sorry for that.

  Maybe if I took the time to really get to know you, we could have been good friends. Maybe you could have been someone I could have confided in instead of someone I tore apart. I’m glad to see you were able to rise above the abuse I put you through and are now able to help others.

  You are a smart wonderful person and I’m sorry I never took the chance to get to know you for who you are. I can never take back all the pain I put you through or heal the wounds I caused, but at least I can do is tell you how wrong I was and how sorry I am.

   I am truly sorry for being so awful to you in school. I hope you will forgive me.

Sincerely,

Donna

I’d be surprised if I ever got an apology from Donna, but writing this letter helped ease the pain in my soul. It helped me see Donna as a person who acted out of ignorance and as an imperfect person instead of a monster. I’ll never be able to tell her I forgive her, but I forgive her for my own benefit. I don’t want to talk to her or have her in my life, but she is no longer that evil monster that tore me apart in school. Now I see her as a broken person who used her own insecurities to hurt me.

Try writing a letter of apology from the person who hurt you deeply. It will help you in the healing process and help you to forgive that person. It will also help you let go of the grip that person has on you. Once you have written the letter whisper or yell it out loud, “I forgive you.” Then let the wounds in your heart heal.

Writing the letter to Donna helped me heal. Because I wrote the letter I bathe in the light of recovery.

BULLYING AFFECTS MENTAL HEALTH

Published on by Aimee EddyLeave a comment

Bullying is aggressive behavior towards another person whether it be verbal or physical. It is a form of abuse. Many people can remember a time when they were bullied by another kid or an adult. When the bullying is a prolonged problem that expands over weeks, months, and years, it takes a toll on the person’s mental health, causing problems that may require medication and therapy to treat.

Bullying has effects on a person’s mental well-being that can last a long time or go away in a short time. It took therapy and medication to help me deal with the scars that bullying left on my soul. People can already be predisposed to mental illness through genetics and chemical imbalance, and the bullying brings it out.

I found lists of short-term and long-term effects of bullying on WebMD The Effects of Bullying on Mental Health: Impact and What To Do (webmd.com).

Here is a list of short-term effects of bullying:

  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Low self-esteem
  • Self-harm
  • Suicidal thoughts
  • Difficulty sleeping

The long-term effects are:

  • Generalized anxiety
  • Panic Disorder
  • Agoraphobia
  • Depression
  • Loneliness

Many of the short-term effects can go away in time, but sometimes they follow you into adulthood. I struggled from childhood to now as an adult with depression and anxiety. As a child I started self-harming by pulling my hair, pinching myself, and hitting myself. In my young adult years, I started cutting and burning myself.

 During my school, I struggled to sleep. I had nightmares about my bullies, my thoughts raced, and I was afraid to go to school the next day. I tried sleeping on the couch, snuggling with stuffed animals and I tried to fight my racing thoughts, but nothing helped. My sleeping problems continued into my adult years. I am currently on sleeping medication. Sometimes the medicine doesn’t even work. Instead of nightmares I struggle with obsessive worrying and racing thought.

I was also predisposed to psychological problems. Mental illness runs in my family and I have a chemical imbalance in my brain. These factors also made me more vulnerable to mental illness. The bullying was another factor that helped me slip down that dark hole. 

If you’re a parent or family member of a child or even an adult who is being bullied, look for the short and long-term effects of bullying. When you start to notice the short-term effects you should get the victim help. Also investigate your family history for mental illness. Know if it runs in your family, there is a chance you or your child may be predisposed to it. Tell your psychiatrist and therapist about your family history.

Any type of abuse takes a toll on a child’s or an adult’s well-being. We can save the victims of bullying by standing up for them, standing up against bullying, and helping the victims get help.

Speaking out against bullying and writing about it helps me stand proudly in the light of recovery.

LIVING MY DREAM

Published on by Aimee EddyLeave a comment

In high school I found out I had the talent to write. I daydreamed a lot in class as a way to escape the bullying I faced, and I started writing my daydreams in notebooks. The best part of writing was that I was in control of what happened to my characters and I could give them happy endings. It was in high school that I started dreaming of publishing my own book. I dreamed of doing book signings and giving speeches. I just never imagined that it would feel this good.

Since I started writing my book, I have been telling everyone about my memoir and my writing progress. Even my dentist. This past week my gums started hurting when I drank or ate cold beverages or food. I called my dentist’s office, and they had an appointment for me. I brought my book to show the dentist. She went around to the employees in the office and asked them if they would like a copy, and she was buying. Before I knew it, she wrote me a check and told me she needed seven books. On the way out the secretary told me she wanted a book too, but she was paying for her own. So, all together I sold eight books at the dentist’s office. Bad news: I have gum disease. Good news: I made money at my appointment.

I have learned to take a few books with me wherever I go. I sold a book to my doctor and several books at my breast cancer support group Christmas party. I never know who will want to buy a copy of my book. I keep a bag with four books in my SUV and when I go to parties, out with friends, or to appointments I bring a couple with me.

Saturday the fourteenth I did a book signing at a small bookstore called Werner Books. A reporter from a local news station came and interviewed me. The interview was aired Saturday at 6 P.M. and 11 P.M. I watched it at both times. I was so excited to be on TV. Then on Monday my customers told me the interview of me was aired again. Customers keep coming in my line, telling me they saw me on TV, congratulating me, and asking where they can buy my book. Some customers are waiting in my line to get their books signed. I feel like a celebrity. Thursday Werner books contacted me and said they sold out of my books, and they had a waiting list for more. I took ten books to them. click the link below to watch me on the news.

https://www.yourerie.com/news/local-news/local-author-teaches-children-about-overcoming-bullying-with-new-book/

I can’t explain how wonderful I feel. I feel like I am floating on a cloud. My dream came true, and it feels better than I could have ever imagined. One customer insists I should be on Good Morning America. That is a long shot, but who knows. God has plans for me and my book. I just know his plans are big. He gave me the talent to write and the ability to share my story with the world. I’m letting him guide me in my path to stand up against bullying with my book and speaking.

Monday the sixteenth I spoke to Lawrence Park (the area where I live) Historical Society. I only sold one book, but I sold several, “Stop Bullying” leather bracelets I had woodburned. It was a small group of around ten, but I just spoke from the heart. Many who were there already had my book and just wanted to hear me speak. The Historical Society paid me to speak for them. It was my first paying speaking engagement.

I believe I survived bullying and the damage it caused so that I could write my memoir and talk about bullying to help others. I want to make as many people as possible aware of the affects bullying has on a person. I urge people who come to my talks to buy my bracelets and to wear them to show the world we are standing up against bullying.

My next speaking and book signing event is February 25 at McCord Library, NorthEast, PA at 10:00 A.M. I have a customer who works at a local school looking into having me speak at the school.

We don’t struggle through hard times for nothing. Our struggles and what we learned from them can help others. I’ll never be able to stop all bullying, but if I can help a few people and bring more awareness to it, I have accomplished a lot.

These wonderful experiences of selling my book and speaking to groups of people have me dancing with joy in the light.

Take the pledge today to stand up with me against bullying by buying one of my leather bracelets for $5.00 and wearing it with pride. Leave a comment if you would like a bracelet or email me at aimeeeddy3@gmail.com.

A DREAM BECOMES A REALITY

Published on by Aimee Eddy2 Comments

Dreams come true!! In high school when I discovered I had the ability to write, I dreamed of having a book published. I studied writing, I went to writing conferences, and I read books on writing. I studied writing like it was a requirement to graduate from school. I attempted to write a book, but it didn’t work out. I wrote short stories until about five years ago when I started writing my first book. I struggled with reliving bad memories, I struggled with my confidence in my ability to write a book, and I struggled with my learning disability to edit my own writing, but I wrote my book.

I learned a lot in my journey of writing my memoir, Escape to the Garage: Family Love Overcomes Bullying. I grew as an author and as a person. With each new chapter my writing improved and with each memory I relived a wound in my soul healed. This has been a long process, because to write about the bullying I had to relive it. While reliving it, I had to take breaks from my writing. The tears fell, the pain burned, and a piece of my heart ripped open. With each word I put on paper I learned how to fill the pages with not only emotions but with happiness.

In high school I daydreamed about having my first book published, giving speeches, and signing books. I dreamed of signing books for the teachers and classmates who bullied me. I imagined writing, “You said I couldn’t read yet I wrote a book. I forgive you.” Part of that dream is coming true.

My dream is becoming a reality. Escape to the Garage: Family Love Overcomes Bullying was published on Kindle on Saturday night and on Sunday the print version became available. You can get your Kindle version for $4.99 and print version for #15.99 at https:amzn.to/3vatPTU.

I’m flying high. It is so neat to see my very own book on Kindle. It’s a wonderful feeling to have all my hard work and my dream becoming a reality. The last few weeks I have been driving my friends and my husband nuts. I don’t do good with stress. A lot of problems delayed getting the formatted manuscript finished. I had planned for it to be done sooner. I tormented myself with obsessive worrying and anxiety. I even angered the person kind enough to format my manuscript and make my cover.

I thought I had a well-edited manuscript when I sent it for formatting. I had two editors and several beta readers. I edited it several times and I read over it multiple times and yet I missed things. Because of my learning disability I have a hard time editing and finding mistakes. The lady editing it, Susan, found some errors and said I should have it proofread. A proofreader had problems with her computer and couldn’t continue. Susan proofread from chapter 16 on. I had to find someone to proof chapter 1 to 15. I emailed all my writer friends until I found someone. This put a big delay in getting my book ready for publication. I became a wreck.

I learned some important things through this process: I learned not to plan a book launch party until I have the manuscript formatted. I learned to have extra beta readers and proofreaders read over my book before I send it for formatting. I learned to be patient with the people who are helping me out, and I learned that I need new coping techniques for dealing with stress.

Through the trials and errors and years of writing, growing, and learning, my dream has become a reality. Just seeing my book on Kindle made my heart flutter. Soon I will be signing books and maybe I’ll be signing books purchased by my former bullies. I’m so happy and excited that I feel like dancing and shouting in joy.

Making my dream come true has me dancing in the light of recovery.

My book is a memoir about how I was bullied at school and found the strength and acceptance I needed at the family garage.

Be sure to get your Kindle or print version now https:amzn.to/3vatPTU