Issue # 117 | Date May 1st 2026 | Previous issues​

Hey Reader,

Let me tell you a quick story about Shera.

She-Ra was a fearless cartoon warrior I used to watch on Saturday mornings in the 1990s.

Shera was also a bully I went to school with in Paterson, New Jersey. I don't know her real name—she was nicknamed Shera after the warrior cartoon. You can imagine why.

One day, I instigated Shera. I jokingly put my foot out pretending to trip her on Field Day. She did NOT think it was funny. The more I laughed, the angrier she got. When she said I better stop smirking, I smirked even more 😏.

That was pretty bold (ahem stupid) of the smallest girl in all of 7th grade, who had never been in a fight in her whole life, to antagonize Shera.

Needless to say, when I smirked back, Shera came at me—ready to kill.

I saw my little life flash before me!

That's when my hero stepped in. (Everyone should have one, I highly recommend them).

Darrelle stepped in front of Shera and fiercely said, "Nobody touches my Anna, you'll have to go through me first!"

For the next week, everyone in school sympathetically said to me, "it was nice knowing you, Anna."

I didn't know Shera was planning on killing me until I asked why the kids were saying this to me.

Thank God for Darrelle and thank God for my fierce cousin Rosa. If it wasn't for them, I'd have a disfigured face right now, if I had even survived. Shera and her gang were ruthless, ripping earrings off girls during fights. Everyone was scared of her. Except stupid little me.

I learned my lesson.

Never taunt Shera, or any bully for that matter. Stay quiet. Keep your head down and mind your own business. Do not stick your foot out pretending to trip anyone.

But guess what happened?

I constructed an internal Shera.

Yep, you heard that right. My mind created an internal version of Shera. An internal bully that loves prosecuting me, loves making me feel small, loves making me feel like I'm going to die because of my stupidity.

Shera loves reminding me of how pathetic and unaccomplished I am.

Do you have an internal bully?

One that loves mocking you? That loves following you around with a clipboard documenting EVERY mistake in shameful permanent ink and reminding you of them regularly?

Ugh.

Shera is very much alive in the cast of characters in my head. (Yep, I have a whole cast of characters commenting on my life and on everything I say and do.)

Well, here's what I am learning to do.

Remember how Darrelle came to my rescue?

I created a Darrelle character too! (Better late than never lol).

Now whenever Shera starts to barge into my thoughts, I threaten to summon Darrelle. It's been working. Shera has retreated to the background and she sounds small and distant.

If she threatens to get closer I picture Darrelle stepping in with her protective attitude and saying, "nope, not today, this is my Anna and you're not hurting her."

Oh sweet, sweet Darrelle!

If only I had summoned you sooner. I wonder what my life could have been like?

What could I have accomplished without this internal belief system of fear, unworthiness, shame, and wanting to stay small and invisible?

I don't know. And you know what?

It doesn't matter, because now that I recognize Shera's voice, I can challenge it. I can send her to the background where she belongs.

Does your inner bully have a face? A voice? A name? A character? An origin story?

Shera didn't create my origin story, she just embodies it perfectly. I make stupid mistakes or look silly and foolish, and Shera gets sent to squash me back into place.

Except, she doesn't need to kill me anymore. She needs a new job.

She needs to transform her message into one of compassion and understanding.

She needs to sit me down, hug me, and say, "you got this, don't give up" just like a good parent or coach would do.

How much time are you wasting letting your internal Shera be the director of your story?

And when was the last time you sided with yourself when your inner bully threatened you?

With love,

Anna

P.S. Does your inner bully have a name? A face? A clipboard? Hit reply and tell me. I’m collecting characters for the internal courtroom.

​aferalhousewife.com​