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Stand Up To Bullying

This article was featured in the Activist Spotlight Series on Care2. Please help me spread the word!
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Activist Spotlight – Shivani Cotter Stands Up to Bullies Everywhere

Note: This is another part in our Activist Spotlight series, where we shine a light on Care2 members who are making a difference in their communities.

http://www.care2.com/causes/activist-spotlight-shivani-cotter-stands-up-to-bullies-everywhere.html#ixzz2HUMVR1fT

Everyone experiences seasons of pain, and it takes a special strength to remain soft and open instead of hardening into bitterness. Care2 member Shivani Cotter is familiar with life’s darker aspects, and yet deep compassion and empathy practically spill out of her every gesture and word. More than anything, she is passionate about empowering others to overcome whatever obstacles prevent them from being the people they were meant to be.

“Whether people, animals or the environment, we all need a fair chance to grow the way we were meant to,” she explains.

Shivani’s activism springs from a personal experience of injustice. Born in Calcutta, India, she was “no stranger to witnessing those less fortunate.” After her family immigrated to Massachusetts, however, she experienced hardship of a different kind when she became the target of bullies at school.

These experiences in elementary and junior high school “tainted me for life,” she explains sadly. “The bullying shaped who I was, which prevented me from being who I am today earlier in my life. I was very insecure and my sense of self was not strong. Constantly trying to be the type of person I thought would be accepted prevented me from doing many things that I genuinely wanted to.”

Like so many others who have been victimized, Shivani was able to finally move past this period of emotional devastation, and the experience gave her a renewed appreciation for the resilience of the human soul. Even while she was being ostracized and demeaned, her heart ached for those going through the same torture.

She is thrilled that she now has a fresh platform from which to empower others — her website. Via TrendingMom.com, Shivani encourages people to set their own trends and embrace their individuality.

“My voice is now being heard and I am loving it,” she gushes. ”My website is my opportunity to let others into my life, and write about all the things near to my heart, from parenting to humanitarian efforts and technology. Quite simply, it’s a bit of me, to you!”

Aware of just how much our environments shape our identities, Shivani is passionate about fostering a safe, healthy, affirming habitat for her own two daughters. “My children, of course, are my world,” she confides. “I feel very accomplished as a mother, but cannot take credit for who they are internally. They are beautiful people. My husband and I may have created them, but, they came out knowing who they were, and they never cease to amaze me.”

Care2 features prominently in Shivani’s narrative of personal empowerment. She enjoys reading news and signing petitions from Care2′s bloggers and nonprofit partners, but her favorite thing about Care2 is how individual members keep the site’s energy going. “Every time I enter the Care2 website, I know I am making a positive contribution to a cause I feel good about,” she says. “The best part is how easy it is to do!”

Thank you, Shivani, for courageously seeking to empower others!

by Ellyn Schwaiger
April 15, 2012
11:00 am

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Posted in Centered, Children, Family, Humanity, Kids, Media, Parenting | Tagged activist, bullies, bullying, bullyproof, school | Leave a comment

Wildlife In Suburbia And Some Strange People

A Quiet Life In Suburbia Turned Upside Down In Less Than 12 Hours…

It was dark… very, very dark… Danny and Cooper left for a walk… as they strolled down the driveway, they saw two spooky looking eyes staring at them. Within seconds, the eyes were overshadowed by the screaming they heard coming from the creature in front of them. Petrified, the two froze for a moment, then turned and sprinted back up the driveway. 6 legs, moving as fast as they could! My tough looking husband and really tough looking bulldog, finally made it into our home. Breathing heavily and emotionally scarred the two of them could barely use their vocal chords. I asked what was wrong. Danny replied, “A fox! You Didn’t Hear that???” “No,” I said. He continued to tell me how scary it was, and how it basically attacked them with the awful scream. I could tell he felt violated.

This morning… Danny had taken Talia to breakfast with dad morning at her school, leaving Julia and I home with the dogs. As I was getting ready for work, both dogs began barking in an aggressive manner. I looked out the window to see what all the fuss was about. There it was… right in front of me, showing no fear… a fox! It was staring right at me and not moving an inch. Our eyes locked, thus beginning the stare down. Thanks to the “Stare Master” My Little Pony episode I watched with the girls, Moments into the stare down, both dogs were still barking but running from the front window to the back door slider. The dogs were such a big distraction that I had no choice but to put up my white flag. The fox won this time… I turned to see what the dogs were barking at in our backyard and noticed yet another fox. My house was surrounded and I was being kept hostage. Fortunately, they dispersed soon after, Danny came home and I was able to leave for work. As I drove down my street, in front of my very own eyes was another fox! The fox was not only in the middle of the street, it was carrying an animal in its mouth. Disgusted, I quickly drove off. Thinking it was time to call our Animal Control officer regarding the “fox issue” we were having, I pulled up in front of our local library.

While at the stop sign in front of the library, a large sign caught my eye… The large black lettering was hard to ignore… JUNE 7^th, 7PM COYOTE AWARENESS MEETING AT THE LIBRARY! Great, never mind the fox, now I have to deal with Coyotes. Maybe they could have a FOX AWARENESS MEETING as well. Unfortunately, I saw the sign a bit too late as June 7^thhas passed. Driving along, I neared our towns Police Station and Dunkin Donuts. In front of the Dunkin Donuts (directly across from the Police Station and on a main road), I saw a large table and two men standing behind it. They were on the sidewalk and had signs and posters hanging from the table. Being a bit nosy, I slowed down… Yes, I was one of “those” people today. You know, the ones that slow down because they are nosy stopping traffic everywhere for no good reason. Anyhow, what I saw was overwhelming. The posters were of our very own President Obama. His face had been altered on them though. They had moustaches on them, similar to the German leader I don’t like mentioning the name of. The men were verbal about world peace and stopping the war… I have no more words.
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