Dear Haters,

You thought you could bully me. You thought you could make me look stupid. You thought you could shut me up. You thought if you raised your voice that somehow you could intimidate me. You thought you could dim my light because perhaps yours didn't shine as bright. You thought you could break me. You thought you could... Or maybe you thought you couldn't. Maybe you tried to take my thunder because you thought you didn't have any. Maybe you tried to tear me down because you thought you couldn't build yourself up. The truth is you're hateful ways stem from jealousy and in that I found my motivation. Being a Christian I had to find a way to deal with your nasty attitude and bad temperament in a way that a Christian should.

The Bible says to let my light shine and in order to do so I had to find the strength not to lash out. Through your negativity I found my inner peace. I learned that you're miserable and in order to separate yourself from the misery of your life you thought you could tear somebody down to make yourself feel better. Well you chose the wrong person. I learned that your a small person and you let your insecurities control you. But more importantly I learned a lot about myself. I learned that I too have insecurities but they'll never stop me the way yours have stopped you. I learned that I have the stamina to push through and be unaffected by someone like you. I learned that through your almost constant put downs you found in me something that you don't have...inner peace and strength that it would take you years of practice to learn. Through it all there is one thing I want you to remember.

I forgive you. I forgive the ugliness inside of you. I forgive the way you tried to make me feel. I forgive the rumors you spread about me. I forgive the situations you put me in. I won't put you on blast. I forgive you. I forgive you mostly because I know you didn't have what it takes to be half the woman I am and because of that I have a soft spot for you.... and I thank you for the lessons I've learned through bitterness.

I want you to know that even while I knew you were spreading lies on my name and speaking negativity about me, I remained honest and consistent. I only spoke positively about you through all I knew about you. But I will move on with my life and I might not always remember you because there were many before you and there will be many after you. But the strength I learned I had through your mistakes and your wrongful judgements I'll never forget.