Airing Out The Dirty Laundry.
Today I was bullied. Today I had an “anonymous” person attempt to sabotage both my professional and personal life by smearing my name and my face online with details of a past experience. Today was not a stand-alone incident, but a string of similar events that have happened over the course of a few years. However, today is the day it stops. I have chosen to share my story with all of you; to encourage you, my readers, that it is not okay to be bullied, but also to tell my bully that “I’m not scared of you anymore.”
Fasten your seatbelts, grab a cup of coffee (or a shot of tequila) …Here we go.
In 2013, I got involved in something I’m not proud of. Hard lessons were learned; lots of tears, lots of reflecting, lots of regret. Being in jail for one hour with a mug shot to prove it definitely takes a toll on your life for many years after the initial incident is over. Moral of the story? Never sign someone’s name to a contract even though they give you verbal permission to do so. While I would never wish this experience on anyone, I have learned some of the most valuable lessons through my situation, my humiliation, and my rebuilding. Life happens, and this is how we live and learn.
Of course, there is a tendency to sweep shameful details under the rug for the sake of my social life, my career, and my family. Today someone chose to air out my dirty laundry and send my mug shot and the story of my arrest to one of my professional contacts in hopes of ruining a business partnership with my blog. Having to wake up to an email from that collaboration business partner was definitely not on today's agenda but this person was soooo amazing and supportive and freaked out by the person she received this message from. What’s worse? This isn’t the first time. Previously this person sent an email to every contact in my last business with the same information. But I’m choosing to take back control of my life. If I can lift my chin and tell you that “Yes I was arrested” and “yes I have a mug shot” then none of you will be surprised when this same low life with nothing else to do decides to leave my mug shot in your inbox or your instagram DM.
I have not told many people until today, which makes this one of the hardest posts I’ve ever had to write. Everyone has a secret they don’t want to let out of the bag; unfortunately today I have to let out mine. I am not writing to stir the pot or to gain people’s pity, but I am writing this to take a stand against my bully and to encourage you to take a stand against yours.
While my story might be very different from yours, I know that women (and men) everywhere are being bullied for details of their life. Whether it’s a shameful moment, an internal struggle, or an issue of weight and beauty, just know; you are strong, you are more than the words (or pictures) people share about you and you will make it out on the other side. In the words of Beyonce, (and probably some other famous person) “When life hands you lemons, make lemonade” I am making lemonade ..and tequila shots! Being bullied is not acceptable and you do not have to live in fear and I refuse to live in fear any longer. Say it with me over and over again !
Xo