Abuse is any action or pattern that causes harm—physically, emotionally, or mentally—and often, it’s not just what’s done, but how it’s done. Abuse isn’t always loud or violent; sometimes, it’s subtle, silent, and woven into daily behaviors that go unchecked. At Bug & Peg, we recognize that abuse is a significant stressor that interferes with well-being, healing, and wholeness. And while external self-care—body scrubs, candles, soft lighting—can soothe the senses, lasting peace often begins with identifying the things that truly disturb our inner calm.

For the month of August, we’re highlighting scorn as a form of abuse. To scorn is to belittle, mock, or dismiss someone—often when they are already down. Whether someone is struggling with addiction, surviving abuse, or navigating personal dysfunction, scorning them is a way of reinforcing their pain, not relieving it. We often respond more harshly to the addicted driver than to the trafficked victim—until the person struggling is our own family member, or ourselves. When we gossip, compare, mock, or judge people for their visible struggles, we may be participating in abuse without even realizing it. Instead of offering compassion or respectful distance, we choose rejection—leaving those already hurting even more isolated.

This August, we invite you to pause.

Give yourself the gift of attention:
Think of a challenge you face—your health, your finances, your habits—and count the times you’ve justified, excused, or quietly wrestled with it. Now imagine someone scorning you for it. Instead of letting scorn pass unchecked, replace it with self-reflection and care—when you’re tempted to be harsh or unkind. Light a candle in someone’s honor. Write an affirmation in your journal. Post a kind word and tag @bugandpeg so we can cheer you on. Your compassion is not weakness—it’s power. And someone in this world needs it more than you know.