A bit of me 9 – dealing with bullying

A bit of a different “a bit of me” than the readers will be used to. Instead of Aleksander himself writing a post, I will be doing so in his name. If you haven’t read the contact page of this blog, I’m Magdalena and I help Aleksander with contact management and the visual presentation of his blog.

As Aleksander is too busy in relation to a dance performance, we will be doing things differently today. We will be sharing forward the response to a question that was received a few days ago. This question was already answered, but here’s how Aleksander responded when I asked him in person to answer in his own words another time.

Question: How do you deal with people who bully and call you words like “sissy”?

Aleksander’s answer:

I would first say that I am sorry for anyone who has to deal with this stereotype while dancing. I have been intending to write a blog post about this very subject, but I have not yet had the time to complete this. It requires a lot more explaining than my usual blog posts.

But to give an answer to this specifically, I would always give them the cold shoulder, just ignore them. Don’t give them what they want, as they want you to respond. And if you do so, it often gets only worse.

If this doesn’t help, I would ask a trusted adult for help, like my parents or my dance teacher. Alternatively, you could reach out to your local child helpline. They are trained to know exactly how to help you in these kind of situations. I’ve never done so myself, but it could be that you don’t have a trusted adult.

Bullies are not worth your time, effort, and attention. I know it can be tough, but remember, you are pursuing something beautiful and artistic in your dance, and that’s something to be proud of. Dance with confidence, and eventually, those who try to bring you down will be overshadowed by your talent and determination.

Moreover, always keep in mind why you started dancing in the first place. Your passion for dancing is what matters most. It’s a form of self-expression, a way to connect with your emotions, and a path to artistic fulfillment. Don’t let anyone diminish your enthusiasm. Instead, use their negativity as fuel to prove them wrong.

Remember, every great dancer faced challenges and critics at some point. But it’s their unwavering passion and dedication that helped them rise above it all. Stay passionate, keep dancing, and let your talent shine through. You’ve got this!