Dear Taraleigh, I Hate You. Signed, Anonymous

“Not everyone can leave there job and f*ck rock stars until they get things for free, you get what you want and get to be a stupid hippy because you write and s*ck d*ck. not everyone can do that and we need doctors and people doing real work not just being groupies. some people need to return to save the world unlike you, what do you REALLY contribute?”

Those words were delivered to me in the form of an email responding to the interview I did with Mihali from the band Twiddle for the Huffington Post. It was my first true piece of hate mail. I’ve been ripped a part and made fun of many times on message boards, in Facebook groups, on my own Facebook wall and in the comments section of my blogs and videos. Things have been written such as,

“She would be much hotter if she put a bag over her head”

“Horse face!!!”

“She should be writing for Teen Beat not the Huffington Post”

“She’s only doing this to brag about how awesome she thinks she is. The truth is she’s got no talent, she’s super annoying and she’s a really ugly hippie.”

There was even an entire thread on a message board titled, “Taraleigh Weathers is Freakin Annoying.”

Sometimes people forget that there is an actually real life person with feelings that is going to read the words they wrote. In this day and age it feels like you have the right to state your opinion even if it’s extremely hurtful to someone. It’s like you are now allowed to bully someone and then not have any consequences.

I’m a human being with an ego and I’m not immune to taking things personally. I used to feel every hit like a knife to the back. I would allow myself to suffer from that pain for weeks on end. One day I realized that my suffering was not of service to anything.

When I received the email I shared above I realized that this person took time out of their busy day and read the interview I wrote, clicked on my bio, found the link to my website, went to my website, found my contact form and wrote me that lovely message. The words had so much hate behind them that I became aware of the suffering that this man must be feeling and I started to feel compassion for him. Before I received his email I was really proud of the interview I did with Mihali. No matter what feedback I got, positive or negative, it didn’t really matter. I felt into it a little deeper and realized that even though I would never ever write a message like that to anyone, I’m a little like him. I’ve reacted in not the best ways before when I was stricken with fear and sadness in my own life.

I started to realize that even though this man was acting like a jerk, deep down at his core, he’s probably not such a jerk. He’s just a sad little boy lashing out at someone he feels threatened or jealous of in some way. It doesn’t make what he did ok, but I started to get where it came from. Instead of being mad at him, I felt compassion which then allowed forgiveness to happen.

When you are online and feel the urge to write a mean comment, tear someone down or virtually bully them, remember there is a real life person with real feelings that is going to read your words. Instead of using your words to spread fear and hate, use them to spread love and light. You have the superpower to raise the vibration of this planet!!!

If you are on the receiving end of the hate, remember it’s not about you. You’re amazing and sometimes your awesome is just too much for people. The world is craving your shine!!! Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!

Maybe this blog will open the eyes of a cyber bully. Please comment, like, tag and share it.

The awesome in me sees and bows to the awesome in you,

Taraleigh