After posting a video on TikTok, I closed my phone and carried on as if nothing ever happened. All I did was remake a video for someone to use in an Uber or Lyft ride in the unfortunate chance that they were ever uncomfortable and no one answered their phone. Little did I know, this actually existed in bracelet form!
The next morning as I rolled over in a groggy stupor to check my phone, I saw that my notifications had exploded. The notification read that over ONE MILLION people liked the post OVERNIGHT! That had to be wrong! I opened it up and sure enough, one million likes and six million views. I “fan-girled” a little, then had to continue on with my day.
By the end of my day when I checked my notifications, the video was at over 10 million views. I saw some uplifting, amazing comments. People were telling me how I have helped them, their friend, family member, etc. People were saying how I am an amazing person for making such a high quality video. Of course, there were the people who have nothing better to do who commented just to make fun of it. Whatever.
But when I scrolled past this comment, it hit me differently. “I hope you get kidnapped, raped, and murdered.”
Instantly, my heart sank and my reaction was to delete it. First off, who in the world would wish that upon someone? Especially not knowing their story? Second, he obviously hadn’t gone through that. He didn’t understand the hurt that abuse brings.
The next day, the post went viral on Twitter, Instagram, and passed 25 million views on TikTok. I silenced the notifications because it was way too much. However, as I was going to Instagram to reply to a friend, a message request popped up. The message read, “how much time u got on ur hands? bet u still salty from when a man did u wrong”
The only thing he got correct in that message was the question mark.
I wanted to respond with “I have enough time to help someone. You obviously have plenty of time to find my name on Instagram, and send me a message. Also, get an education. Thanks.” It took all of me to not pop off on him. But, if I did, that would be pushing the exact agenda that I so badly want to destroy- hate.
Here it is, out and open for the world to see- I have been through abuse. I know the pain it brings. I know the intense feelings of “it’s my fault” that the world wants to push on you. Listen friend, you are not a product of your abuse, and your future is not dependent on it. It wasn’t your fault, and don’t believe it for a moment. No one has the right to treat you like an object. Let me be your example. Did I have a hard time after the abuse? Absolutely. I shouldn’t be alive today, but look where I am now! Now, I am sharing how to stay safe with the world. Now, I am building others up and literally saving lives through the encouragement I am pouring out. I now know that my story is meant to be a megaphone to abuse survivors, those battling with their mental health, and even the abusers.
That’s right, I said it. Hear me- if you only knew and experienced the pain, you would think twice about inflicting it. You would think twice about wishing that upon someone. You would think twice about doing anything else except building others up.
Be a kind human. Comment on posts and build random strangers up. You never know what mental battle they may be fighting, and you don’t know their story.
@jayjayray13 Self defense videos to come! ##selfdefense ##besafe ##fyp ##fypdoesntwork
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