“So now tell me how your story goes. Have you ever suffered?
If so, did you get better or have you never quite recovered from it?
Did you find your lover laying in your bedroom with another and then, did you let it hover over you and everything else well after the fact?
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Show me all your bruises. I know everybody wears them.
They broadcast the pain–how you hurt, how you reacted.
Did cancer take your child? Did your father have a heart attack?
Have you had a moment forced the whole heart to grow or retract?
Or just shrink. Does the heart shrink?
Tell me everything. Tell me everything you know
Were you told as a child how cruel the whole world can be?
Did anybody ever tell you that?
Tell me what your purpose is? Who it was that put you here and why?
Did anybody really put you here at all?
And what of those necessities? Like how to cope with tragedy and pain?
Did anybody ever show you how?
When it hits will my heart burst or break or grow strong?
Is there really only one way to know now?
I’m not sure if I’m ready yet to find out the hard way
How strong I am. What I’m made of
I’m not sure if I’m ready yet to walk through the fire
I’m not sure I can handle it
Do you think if the heart keeps on shrinking
One day there will be no heart at all?
And how long does it take?
Am I better off just bursting or breaking? I don’t see my heart getting strong
Tell your stories to me. Show your bruises
Let’s see what humanity is capable of handling
She lost her kid, only seven, to cancer. She answered with faith in her god and carried on,
While he was attacked by his son and was stabbed in his stomach and his back and his arms.
He showed me scars.
82 years old, told me, “I still have my daughter and my wife. And I still have my life and my son.”
Tell me what your worst fears are. I bet they look a lot like mine
Tell me what you think about when you can’t fall asleep at night
Tell me that you’re struggling. Tell me that you’re scared. No, Tell me that you’re terrified of life
Tell me that it’s difficult to not think of death sometimes
Tell me how you lost. Tell me how he left. Tell me how she left
Tell me how you lost everything that you had
Tell me that it ain’t ever coming back
Tell me about God. Tell me about love
Tell me that it’s all of the above
Say you think of everything in fear
I bet you’re not the only one does
Everyone in the world comes at some point to suffering
I wonder when I will. I wonder
Everyone is out searching for someone or something
I wonder what I’ll find. I wonder”
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Dear Mrs [My Name],
unfortunately I have sad news to bring.
Mr. [Name of my Brother] was found dead in his apartment in [Name of City] on 15.12.2014
From the paperwork, no next of kin could be determined, therefore I was appointed to act as beneficiary of the estate of your brother.
The copy of the appointment is attached.
Your brother was cremated on orders by [Name of City], the burial is still open. You and your mother can decide where the urn will be buried.
Unfortunately I also have to inform you that the estate is over-indebted, therefore you have to cover the funeral expenses of the urn (the cremation etc.). Furthermore, it would be advised to reject the inheritance.
Please inform me of your and your mother’s address.
For contact in regards to the funeral, the details are [Name, address and email of the morgue].
[Name of Coward tasked by German Police]
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I worked at Pret A Manger and survived systemic workplace bullying during bereavement that involved HR, the top leadership, HQ and even the now “retired” former CEO Clive Schlee. I declined 4 settlement offers if I am silent about my ordeal. But I rather speak out to help others. For an overview of important blog entries of my experience with Pret, please visit “My Ordeal with Pret A Manger”. The little arrow to the right next to each heading will lead directly to the post.
An incomplete list on what other Pret staff say about Pret’s bullying environment: Caught in the Act Bullying at Pret and What shop MANAGERS & HQ staff say about Pret incl. CEO Pano Christou.
I tell my story for the first time verbally in below audio player interview on a podcast by The Adam Paradox, and wrote two articles in the Scottish Left Review as well as mentioned by the BBC.
Please also see the MEDIA page for more.
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Interview:
(Please be aware that the player shows 0:00 but just press play)
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Bullied during bereavement in Pret A Manger 