Hang Black Garbage Bags Over the Windows: Turn Fear into Strength!

Every kid’s got that one kid who haunts their nightmares. You know the type—the kid who walks around like they own the place, and when they come up to you, your stomach drops and your mind races. They might not even need to do anything, just show up and you’re already feeling small.

This is the kid that has a hold on you that makes you question if you’re ever gonna stand up for yourself. But let me tell you, that one kid is more than just a bully. That kid is a defining moment in a kid’s life.

Back in the day, me and my friends were no strangers to this. We all had our own version of that kid, and I remember it like it was yesterday. My dad used to be a boxer and was always one of the tough guys. All of our friends called him "Big D."

One day I see my dad in the garage hanging black garbage bags over the windows, so I went in the garage to see what he was doing. He was turning the garage into a fight training spot for us kids who were getting bullied. He had just hung up a heavy bag. I asked him why he was covering the windows and he said "that is called the element of surprise." He didn't want the bullies to know he was teaching us how to fight.

He pulled me, my brother, and our friends Tom, Ed, and Paul into that garage. It wasn't just about punching. He was teaching us how to hold our own. He spent hours with us in that garage every day for months. We were out there in the daytime. We were out there at night. He was building us up, making sure we were ready for whatever came our way.

But there’s always that one kid who still makes you freeze. For Paul, that kid was the ultimate nightmare. He’d push Paul around, and Paul would just fold, feeling that crushing fear. He tried to act like it didn’t bother him, but inside, he was a wreck, dreading every time that kid showed up.

Then came the turning point. Paul came tearing up the driveway, shouting, “Big D! It works! It works!” My dad’s looking at him, confused, asking what he’s talking about. Paul’s like, “What you taught me, it works! I hit him and he went down!” You could see it in his eyes, this incredible mix of relief and newfound power.

That moment wasn’t just a win in a fight; it was a win over fear. It was a win over feeling like a victim. It was win he would carry with him for the rest of his life. Paul went from being scared and cowering down, to standing tall, walking with his head high and his shoulders back.

Every kid’s got that one kid who makes them feel powerless. But don’t just let them sit with that fear. Be the one who helps them hang those black garbage bags over the garage windows. Teach them how to be strong and fight back. Because when that moment comes, when they finally stand up and say enough is enough, it’ll change them forever.