Caused by Oxytocin

It made me feel good when I paid for three kids in my class to play pinball. How did I know? I didn’t know that the feeling was caused by oxytocin. I knew my feelings were linked to doing something I thought was good.

Remember from last time; three kids picked on me for being skinny. My amygdala worked overtime, putting me into flight mode.

But why did I pay for them to play pinball? Because I wasn’t strong or big enough to fight them. Besides, there were three of them and only one of me.

I had tried all the other ways of dealing with them. You might know some: ignore them and hope they’ll stop, tell someone, get help from a teacher.

Back then, bullying wasn’t given the same attention as today.

And, if you’re someone who is bullied, I feel for you. There are so many more ways it can happen today than back when I was at school.

Anyway, we’re getting off track. When those kids picked on me, I felt miserable. When I came second in the writing competition, I felt happy. But I soon felt miserable again when it came time to go home. They waited near the gate and unloaded as I walked through it.

Imagine their surprise when I flashed my $10 prize and invited them to play pinball. Like most good ideas, I didn’t think about it too much. It kind of just happened.