[substitute]

Hmm... I don't see much evidence of people gaining strength from the experience of being bullied. In fact I feel like I've had to painfully build and claw some strength for myself, fighting hard all the time against the psychological scars the bullying left on me. And even to this day I find myseld trying to be useful to people because it just doesn't compute for me that anyone could genuinely just like my company, so I have to somehow 'earn' people's time. I've known this guy for over 10 years, he's seen my kids born and grow up and yet I still hesitate to call him my friend in front of him in case he disagrees and feels embarrassed to be associated with me. Rationally I know this is all BS and I'm sorta over it now, but the ghosts from the past still haunt me and I have to fight against them every time I approach someone to say hello or try to make friends.