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Loading...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.
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!
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Read more: activist spotlight, bullies, bully, bullying, empowerment, platform, Shivani Cotter, website
Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may
not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.
Recent Comments from Causes
Nice to read this :-)
Thank you for sharing. Hope they can be successfully reintroduced to nature.
Kevin The hubris is yours. I did not state or say anything close to what you claim I said. I merely…
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22 comments
+ add your ownFor all of you that commented, I want to thank you for all of your words! Talking about what I went through during my youth was very difficult for me. For years, I chose to keep my feelings to myself. The more I have opened up though, the more people I never expected to have gone through similar experiences have opened up to me as well. Not only has it been therapeutic, it has empowered me to grow stronger and finally start working towards educating more people about the reality of being a target. I would have given you all star after star for your amazing support but... I cannot seem to send them... :/ Regardless, keep the comments coming and please feel free to reach out to me!
Just love to hear good news like this.
Good for you Shivanni! May God bless you and your family.
Thank you Shivani! And as for Paul C. I am glad you were strong enough to face your bully and overcome- but plenty of other people just feel like crap and would have had a better and more fulfilling life WITHOUT the benefit of a bully. I do wish I could find my bully and tell her that she was a piece of sh-- back then to make me feel bad about myself, and I hope she's had a cruddy life in the meantime- so I guess I "owe" her a lot too....
Thanks for the article.
To Ms. Shivani, my admiration and congratulations for overcoming your experiences w/bullies! You are doing a most laudable advocacy through your website; I wish you more power and everything else possible for your success! For other "victims" of bullies consider this: 'bullies" (and they know who they are), can simply be imagined as ants or mosquitoes that can hurt w/a tiny bite or two but from which one can run away from/avoid/or smack back with your palms. In the end, thank God, they eventually disappear.Be positive; look for the good that you derived from the experience.You can be sure, there's one - or more!
This is just the best!
Fantastic absolutely wonderful Shivanni.
I checked out the blog and she is spreading the news about CARE2 I totally agree with what she says about negative things making the news alot more than positive things. On here we have both--- The best thing is that you get to take action against the negative and support he positive!!! And of course meet lots of other wonderful people doing the same.
Good for you Shivanni I hope God blesses you and your family. I too feel empowered by my time on Care2 I love how much positive energy flows between members. We are all trying to do our part to help make the world better by taking actions on causes that matter to us all.
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