Luke Martin-Jones Awards - Blog Topic Of The Year!

2017 was a great year for ‘Spanish Views,’ thousands of people read my blog every week; a vindication of all the hard work both myself and others have contributed to! Personally I have put in a lot of sweat, blood and tears, working up to eight hours a day; dedicated to writing about issues that are important to me. These subjects can be wide ranging and diverse, but they are consequential to my new life in Spain. When I started blogging in 2015, I concentrated on the difficulties behind my relocation, to the other side of Europe and the significant events that shaped my destiny, giving me the opportunity to move to Gran Alacant. As a writer, I tend to blog about all aspects of my life as an Expat, living on the Costa Blanca. Current affairs, especially about Brexit and my years living in the UK, also feature throughout ‘Spanish Views.’ I have also moved my website forwards, by including posts from guest bloggers and interviewing those who have played a role in my successes and been there during difficult times, as well as other bloggers and writers, who are making an impact both here and abroad! Together, all these categories form the website, I am proud to call my own.

In today’s entry I want to talk about the topic, that remains important for my readers; the one aspect of ‘Spanish Views,’ that continually generates interest from you. I get more messages, emails and comments about ‘Oxfam and bullying,’ than I do on any other subject. My first blog Bipolarcoaster, evolved because of my own experiences, at the hands of bullies working for Oxfam GB. Nearly three years later, I am still discussing this very difficult, rarely talked about problem.

On average I receive up to forty emails a day; eighty percent of those are from people dealing with bullying, in their daily lives, all suffering but wanting to talk to others, who they feel can help them dealing with this trauma. I remain shocked at the stories I hear, but heartened that these brave people, continue to come forward and ask for advice and support. Of course I am only a blogger; I am not a counsellor or helpline; I am just another victim in a long line of victims. My credentials consist of nothing more, than no longer being afraid of the bullies and an inbuilt ability to talk about my difficulties. Bullying remains a terrible indictment on the society we live in. In 2018 we are still picking up the pieces, mending broken hearts, dealing with depression, self harm and a lack of self esteem; all because we can’t stop the bullies in their tracks. It is true I was tormented at work, but most of my correspondence involve younger voices, dealing with daily abuse at school; all because those in charge of our education and welfare systems, can not face up to the abuses on their doorstep. Bullying starts here, left unchecked It will adapt and evolve, exploding into our work life, Bullies who get away with their crimes, become the sociopaths and psychopaths of the future; this is the end result, that I am dealing with today.

I write and campaign against bullying because readers ask me to. Without your positive input, I would not always have the stamina to relive my own personal journey, dealing with the after effects of aggression. Bullying has impacted my life for many years; it still does today but only because I am trying to help those suffering. I no longer consider myself a victim; strong enough to face what happened to me and most importantly able to write about dark times in this blog. You have been judge and jury and voted with your comments, using my encounters as a reference point, in which to explore your own, very real obstacles. It is of course heart wrenching to read your stories, detailed in the emails you send on a daily basis; they are however an important aspect of this blog. The challenges you face, not only provide me with material, to work with but also offer an insight into bullying from another’s point of view. This is extremely helpful and enlightening for me, also coming to terms with my own perplexities, two years after my problems ended!

I am awarding ‘Blog Topic Of The Year,’ to all those who have and continue to suffer from bullying; whether at school, in the workplace or in their home environment. Keeping their stories alive, so others can learn from their experiences is a rewarding part of ‘Spanish Views.’ I agonised as you did, I cried in the same way and I understand your pain; I am also grateful you continue to use my websites as tools to help you work through your own anxiety.

Thank you for all your input in 2017, If you have any questions, want to express an opinion or wish to contribute in some way, please don’t hesitate to contact me. ‘Spanish Views,’ is looking for writers and guest bloggers to compose articles on subjects that my readership find important. If you have a story to tell, that could help others overcome their hardships, send me a message today. There are many victims of bullying who need your help; you could be there, when no one else is.

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​     Blog Topic Of The Year

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