- Forget what they’re talking about on your timeline -

After 5 months, I have decided to take my instagram of private.

Here's the tea -This past December I was recently Cyber- bullied. This experience lead to the decision of keeping my instagram on private. For me, I'm not a celebrity, politician, or a darling of the public eye... I'm really just a nobody so, being the target of cyber bullying was… weird to say the least…

On the 31st of December in the 2017th year, as I was photographing a happy couple on their wedding day. There was love an happiness all around us! In the middle of the photos with their friends and family, a friend of my calls me frantically about 4 or 5 times - 

👱🏾‍♀️: “… I’m working and can’t really talk right now.”

👩🏻: “I need to talk to you. It’s important!” 

👱🏾‍♀️: “Did anyone die?…”

👩🏻: “No..” 

👱🏾‍♀️:  “Well, then I’ll talk to you later. I have to go.”

👱🏾‍♀️:  *Hangs up*

👩🏻: *calls about 4 or 5 more times*

👱🏾‍♀️:  “Yes…?*

👩🏻:  “I found something bad about you on the internet!”

👱🏾‍♀️:  “What?!….”

👩🏻:  “ Did you make someone really mad?!”
👱🏾‍♀️:   “I don’t think so, I am wonderful ray of sunshine…”

👩🏻:  “Well, someone made a hate instagram about you and it says some pretty awful stuff.” 

When I popped over to the profile this person was saying totally terrible, disgusting, hurtful accusations about me. :( This person was calling me a gold digger, bipolar and making other untrue, crass comments. How flattering right? I kind of feel like a celebrity but, I am not haha. 

I think it is extremely unfortunate that someone chose this method to get their point across. Making fun of mental illnesses is never okay. In our society, we as a community are starting to recognize mental illness as something just as serious as breaking your leg, having a headache or diabetes. It just really bothers me because, I have people in my life who have mental diseases and to think that there are people out there that would make fun of their illness to try to bring someone down is ludicrous, and truly breaks my heart.

This isn’t my first encounter with cyber-bullying and, it probably won’t be my last. Some people find it easier to sit behind a screen and say hurtful things they think will bring down other people sparkle. Sadly, I am not one of those people who is easily torn down by people who only exist, on a free app, in my phone. 

I decided since I am now pressing their career path of a branding, social media consultant, I need to make sure my social presence is a top notch that is why I am now choosing to have my instagram public. 

This time with social media, I am going to be more thoughtful, and intentional about what I am going to share with the world, and if anyone out there is bored and chooses to use their time to try to bring someone down, I won’t give them enough ammo to do so. 

I’m ray of sunshine, I’m awesome, intelligent, and I am a phenomenal woman who has no time for childish games. 🙃 

So, if you have any interest in keeping up with me my new Instagram is - @teruhlynn. @teruhlynn @teruhlynn @teruhlynn @teruhlynn