This entire conversation with Stacie has been a unique experience for me. It was unique in the sense of how much she spoke about her trials within the marriage, her victories, and how amazing her life is now that she has faced them. How she applied herself utilizing what she knew, and stopped using what wasn’t working for her. She made a choice to not hide or protect what was ugly in her life anymore. But, none of the above is what made it unique.

Why it was unique for me, had to do with being responsible for what she was saying. She was sharing her story, from her perspective, and without wishing anyone ill will. Yet, someone, who will remain anonymous, reached out to me, and in a very mild manner attempted to bully me within the context of my vetting process. Again, it was mild, but it was directed towards me and without any supportive information, without any accountability, and it made a very weak attempt to shame me.  More importantly, it was an attempt using children as the carrot for the why. Having seen Stacie’s daughter on social media, and measuring the size of her bright smile, I decided that I was on the right side of this story.

I did not reply to this person. I did, however, go back to Stacie and ask once again if she was okay with her story being shared in the manner it was being shared. Sometimes facing a bully takes timing, especially if the bully doesn’t know they are bullying. So, I felt responsible to ask Stacie. At the end of this episode you can hear Stacie reply for yourself. It’s a great reply, but don’t take my word for it, you should decide for yourself.

When you have people in your life that demand or condemn you for speaking up, it can have a very heavy effect on your daily life. I say that because we all have a right to share what life looks like to us, what it feels like, and how we process it. The bully also has the same right to speak up and voice themselves. That is the beauty of freedom of speech. The heaviness comes when you stay silent, when you take it, when you don’t speak out, and when you think on behalf of other people. Big or small, skinny or fat, child or adult, there are always three sides to a story. Yours, thiers, and the truth. Ask yourself what it is about what they are saying that bothers you so much, ask yourself why are you so bothered by someone sharing their point of view.

As Stacie has shared in this series, her life was not easy from her perspective inside of the marriage, but she chose to move on, and as a result of that decision is living a life worthy of her and her daughter’s approval. She shares from her perspective.

You never know what the other side is going through, so don’t assume. When we believe that our way is the right way, we bully our intentions onto others. Give people the freedom to be who they are. 

To those people who manipulate or cause drama over someone sharing their story, I say this. What is it about someone’s story that doesn’t have you switch the channel? You have a choice, choose. Maybe turn on a comedy and laugh at how complicated it is sometimes to be human. These are stories, told from the person’s point of view. If you are troubled that much by what someone has to say, go tell your story. If you are shy, write it.

If you are someone who knows Stacie but are forced to pick a side, as if divorce was a game and you have to wear the jersey of the team because you want to fit in. Trust what you feel. Speak up and reach out. You will be surprised what happens when you are empowered to have an opinion, when you are empowered to have feelings, and when you are empowered to be allowed...to think.