The Lion and the Hunter

​Until the lion learns to write every story glorifies the hunter. – African Proverb
This proverb plays out in life all the time. In many cases the lion and the hunter becomes the main theme of blockbuster movies.  In my day it was the Nellie Olsen character on the TV series “Little House On The Prairie” that depicted this ugly bully behavior. It always seemed as though the lion was writing the story because as a viewer you could see the ugliness of bulling.   Nellie a rich privileged girl, considered sweet poor Laura Ingalls as her nemesis. It was upsetting to watch and really showed the character of both in a true light. My hero was Laura. She had a fire in her belly and did not let the abrasive tactics of the bully get her down. Later in the series Laura becomes friends with the bully Nellie Olsen.  The bully is reformed by a friendship, having a tenacious sweet heart ultimately brings reform.  We all love happy endings.

If you have had encounters with a bully you may want to ask yourself, who is writing the story in your life?  Who is the main character in your story? Is it the lion or the hunter, the bully or the bullied? The best-case scenario is to learn form the stories told by others. You can change your story line. Don’t leave it up to a bully to write your story. Write your story anew where the bully is reformed. By taking a stand you can change the outcome. Be the reason others have a happy story, as you stand up for someone.  Find courage to know your identity and do not believe what others say about you. The bullied (lion) becomes stronger, better and all the more wise because the actions of the bully (hunter) made them rise up and so they learned to write.

We need to know who is writing our story. Both the Lion and the Hunter can inflict harm. Some children who are bullied grow up bitter and retaliate in society in some documented cases of shooting up schools and clubs as in recent incidents.   The Lion has the ability to kill and so does the Hunter. The hero is not the bully or hunter in this regard but the one who shows true character and the best way to treat everyone. The hero is the author who changes the narrative and causes the bully and the bullied to become friends. Both can be better and stronger because one can learn from the other.  That “Little House on the Prairie” TV show taught me valuable lessons.  Bullies can change and the secret is keep your heart sweet and true. Don’t let a bully dictate what you do. The true hero of the book and TV serious is the writer Laura Wilder. I believe there is an Author who writes my life story. That being said I have a decisive role to play in the outcome of my story. I decide the choices I make. To treat all others good and with respect weather they believe as I do or not. I am responsible for my actions. I have kindness to bring into the story so the bully can be my friend after all is said and done. Kindness wins. #HaveASweetHeartTreatAllGood 

 Just a few thoughts and this being the first blog I would love your input. Join me on a quest to end the Bulling unrest. #HaveASweetHeartTreatAllGood

 Written by  Sharon Swanepoel 
Author of Hashtag Big Bad Bully