Today, Tami McCandlish joins me on the podcast and shares her painful story of bullying from an early age and how it intensified in her senior year of high school causing her to ultimately petition to do school from home. She shares how at that time the administration told her there was nothing they could do for invisible actions. Even after high school Tami continued to struggle making connections with women and often felt rejected and excluded leaving her bitter and angry towards most of the world.
Tami found her healing through her Faith in God and realizing that her identity was in Christ and not in status, relationships, or achievements. She now has a speaking platform educating women and adolescents of the effects of bullying and how you can find peace and healing. Tami is so inspiring and encourages that forgiveness is an important part of your healing journey.
Please listen, like, and share. I am almost certain that all of us have a memory at some point regarding a person who bullied us and left a wound that we carry us to this day. Healing is possible, forgiveness is possible, all it requires is taking that first step and admitting you are hurting.
Resources Mentioned:
Guide to Healing after being Bullied: Resources | Tami McCandlish
Additional Resources:
Bullying Scars: The Impact on Adult Life and Relationships by Ellen Walser deLara
Ways to Find Tami:
www.tamimccandlish.com
Tami Bio: a Midwestern country girl raised at the edge of the Appalachian foothills. I'm married to my college sweetheart, Charlie. We live in the Buckeye state and work together, coaching people in exercise and wellness.
I struggle with socializing because people aren't always easy to love, but neither am I. So I strive to give others room to express themselves as I, myself, want the same.
I honor friendship because I know the pain of losing friends. I know the sting of gossip, betrayal, and rejection. The aftermath of a wrecked reputation. The heartbreak caused by someone who will never knock on my door again. The absence of community. And the challenge of regaining authentic friends.
When I was 17, bullying changed my life forever. It created a mess in my mind and shook my identity. Twenty years later, what happened to me in school still impacts me, but it no longer controls me. I am not defined by the hurtful things people did or by the mistakes I made defending myself. Others’ approval doesn’t dictate my value. My worth is in Jesus, who taught me to forgive my enemies and move forward in love.
I’ve been sharing my experience since 2007, but I don't consider myself an anti-bullying speaker. I'm just a girl with a story, using my interests to help people navigate the imprint of bullying.
Whether you’re trying to figure out how to survive one more day of school, or you carried the pain of the past into adulthood, I hope what I share resonates with you. When you feel attacked for who you are, I hope my words remind you God's love outweighs all the affection of this world. Although He allows us to endure tough times, He is the Best Friend who will never abandon us. I hope you'll join me in drawing close to the King of the outcasts, who understands our hurt like no one ever could. He frees us from shame and restores what was lost.
Although we may never meet in person, I value you just the same and care about your growth. I hope we can be friends. God led you here, so don’t hesitate to reach out. I’d love to hear your story and pray for you.
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