Names.

They tell us who we are

and make us individuals.

They identify us,

show us our uniqueness.

A name

was given to us at birth

to distinguish us,

to mark us as human,

to paint a picture of who we are.

A name

is the one thing

that should build us up,

but too often they have torn us down.

 

Names can burn us,

or dig a hole so deep

it is impossible to fill up.

It can mangle and destroy

the person we are

until that person is simply a memory.

Even names as weak as

stupid or ugly,

or worthless or dummy.

They can strip you away

bit by bit,

‘til you’re numb.

 

As children

we learn that sticks and stones

are the only things that break our bones,

that only weapons can harm us

and penetrate our skin

until it is barely recognizable.

We learn that words were only words;

they were sounds

that were produced from one’s mouth.

There’s no way that those words,

those names,

could truly hurt us, right?

 

Wrong.

 

What our informers failed to understand

was those words had a bigger power.

The power to scar us.

To hurt us.

To diminish us.

Words had the capability

to do more than any stick or stone,

and more than any gun or knife.

Words have the ability

to transform into actions

that transform into brutality.

Words;

something many have to fear.

 

Any word or name

can morph into a deadly beast

that you run away from.

It starts off with a simple word

that’s filled with hate and insults

and burned when it hits its target.

More words join

to fuel the flame

until a sentence is formed.

Then the sentence brought on actions;

a kick, a punch, a slap.

And just like that,

one little word formed into a monstrous act

otherwise known as bullying.

 

And when that one bully

finds that one name

to fire at that one person,

it affects them more than

a stick or a stone,

or any weapon that’s known.

It leaves a repulsive bruise

on the life you once thought was great,

except this bruise never heals,

and it becomes a reality.

 

And with every name,

every word,

every sentence,

every action that the bully charges into you,

the bruise deepens,

cuts into you

and impacts you’re life,

your personality,

you.

 

The bully becomes bullies.

The sentences begin to hurt

more than the burn of fire on flesh

or the pierce of a bullet through bone.

And time after time,

word after word,

name after name,

you begin to believe that they’re right.

Everything they say to you is true.

You’re ugly.

You’re stupid.

You’re pathetic.

You don’t belong.

You’re worthless.

And it doesn’t stop

and slowly you turn from

the unique individual you truly are

to nothing.

 

But what you failed to realize is

that you’re pain will soon make you stronger,

and you will laugh back in the faces that laughed at you

when you rise above them.

They’ll cower in the background

as you stand center stage

and show them that you’re worth something

‘til they see it for themselves.

‘Til you see it.

 

If you haven’t noticed,

these names that are not yours

but have been aimed toward you

have blinded you

from seeing who you really are.

They have prevented you

from looking past the flaws

made up by the bullies

and from seeing the beauty that lies within you.

 

But it’s time to notice the beauty.

It’s time to see that

you’re here for a reason.

That no matter how many times

you’ve been called ugly

or beastly

or any antonym of beauty,

that can’t change the real fact

of how beautiful you are.

And it’s because of your beauty

that you’ve gotten this far.

 

You may look at yourself and wonder

why me?

Why must I go through this pain?

Why must I look this way

or sound this way

or be this way?

Why do I still breathe this air?

But God put you on this Earth

to walk with your head high

and stand up tall,

stand up proud.

Because He made you beautiful.

He made you because you’re special.

Because no matter what they say

or how hard they hit

or how many names your called

you’re worth something!

 

You’re always worth something.

 

You’re worth more than you could ever imagine.

You mean more to this world than you realize.

You help to light up the world

and make life happy;

make life special.

 

That’s why the only name you should be called

is the only name you answer to;

the only name you know is yours and no one else’s.

The name that is special to you.

The name that identifies you.

The name that distinguishes you.

The name that was given to you.

 

The name that is you.