If you’re reading this, chances are high that you were bullied at some point in your life.
It’s a universally shared experience by millions of people who are persecuted for their differences, whether it’s being gay, disabled or a different race than the majority.
The internet has only made things easier for bullies to carry out their verbal hate crimes and exponentially more traumatic for the victims.
Fate was particularly cruel to a teen Lizzie Velasquez one afternoon when she went online to look for new music on YouTube. Somehow, she stumbled on a page for “The Ugliest Woman in the World” and discovered that the video was all about her. Under the video, the comments were even worse.
“Kill it with fire.”
“Do everyone a favor and just kill yourself.”
“Why would her parents keep her?”
It’s a moment that could easily drive someone to suicide, but remarkably it empowered her.
Born with an undiagnosed syndrome that prevented her from gaining weight, Lizzie weighed just a scant 58 pounds at 26 years old when this documentary was filmed.
A Brave Heart: The Lizzie Velasquez Story chronicles her life, her quest for a diagnosis and her tireless efforts to get an anti-bullying bill passed in Congress.
The movie is quite possibly the most inspirational of the decade. Her positive outlook and inner strength are something everyone should strive to achieve.
Watching Lizzie makes us want to be better. Do more for others. Affect meaningful change.
Because she’s truly the embodiment of kindness and light.
And a beauty that few will ever know.
A Brave Heart: The Lizzie Velasquez Story
99¢ rental with Amazon Prime
$9.99 DVD
www.amazon.com
www.imwithlizzie.com
