Yesterday there was an article in a local newspaper about my book.
Crazy.
And it was a front page story.
Crazy.
It was exciting (and odd) to grab the paper at Starbucks and flip it over to see my own face smiling back at me.
When I sat down to enjoy a latte with my friend Sharon, she was so giddy and excited about my article that she stood up and in the middle of the coffee shop and announced to all the patrons that they were in the midst of a celebrity who’s book was featured on the front page of the paper.
Crazy. (And cute.)
A few hours later when the emails and texts and phone calls of praise started coming in I was humbled and affirmed and said to myself, “This is crazy.”
When one of my students came into class with a copy of the article and said, “Ms. Carson! You’re in the newspaper…how crazy!” I agreed, it was crazy.
Then midway through my day I decided to look at the article online and scrolled down to the comments. After reading two or three I said, “Wow, now this is crazy!”
The article had generated over 75 comments. At last check it was up to 102.
Since the article went to print the commenters have called me a “delusional nutcase”, accused me of plagiarism, suggested I’m single because of my bad hair, and told me I am narrow minded because I’m only willing to date a Christian man. Not to mention that I’m a “5” looking for a “10”, that I should purchase 5 cats and essentially “throw in the towel”. Apparently, I’m desperate and lonely and should look into invitro because at 31 (though one person said I look like I’m in my early 40s) I’m past my prime and most likely never had a prime anyhow.
Wow! Now that’s some serious crazy.
But you want to know the craziest part of this whole thing…the comments have hardly bothered me. Sure, in the moment they stung, but more out of shock and less out of the vein of a personal attack. I’m just shocked at what some people will say about a stranger. These people don’t know me. I don’t know them. What they think does not matter. If I loved and respected them and they said these things about me, I’d be reduced to a pile on the floor, but I don’t know them, so I choose to stand tall.
I don’t know them, but I do know who I am. And I know that I don’t seek the praise and adoration of man; I seek the praise and adoration of God.
And thankfully, for every negative comment online, there have been many positive comments in my inbox from those I love and respect.
It’s those comments that prevent me from going crazy!
Good for you at not even thinking or dwelling on those online comments!
I read a few of them and wanted to personally punch these so…people. (Jerks is more like it.) They don’t know you. They’ve never had the delight of sitting with you or carrying a conversation. They don’t know you throw great parties at your condo or are considerate of your friends. They needed someone to rag on and you happened to fill that viod in their life. I once heard that hurt people hurt people. Must be somethign there…
You are wonderful Wonder Woman!
Hi Megan!
I was so excited to see your name in the paper! I plan on taking my 21 year old, Brooke, to get your book this weekend and have you sign it! Hope to see you at Barns & Noble Saturday. What a great looking read.
Oh, gosh, I hate comment sections! People say the stupidest and cruelest things in their anonymity. You’ve got a great mindset on it, but when you feel down about it, just remind yourself that it’s not YOU – these comments would be written about anyone. Stupid people say mean things about anyone they don’t know – not Megan Carson specifically. I hope that makes sense.
Megan Carson–one of the most beautiful, fun, smart, caring, well-traveled, compassionate, funny, interesting, accomplished, kind, godly women I know….I want to be just like her, because she lives a life that reflects her desire to love God and love others, and what’s more important than those things?
And THAT’s the truth about Megan…
The article was fantastic! I’m horrified that people would say such things! Good for you for standing tall! Don’t let the turkeys get you down!
I’m reminded of a Farside cartoon in which “God” is in the kitchen standing over a big pot with “Earth” in it. He’s grabbing a salt shaker of sorts that is labeled, “Jerks” and is about to shake some into the pot. The caption below says, “Now just to make things interesting!”