I read that you're planning to delete your journal this weekend. I ask you, I beg you, to reconsider.

Your journal represents countless hours of thoughtful writing, unique photography, and serendipitous connection. When you go to other cities people recognize you by its name. It's a precious brand you have created and nurtured. I know from personal experience that you will read in amazement and gratitude, many years from now, to see how wise and young and brave your younger self was. As long as you can access the files...

I can see that you have been hatefully and repeatedly attacked by two people with too little content in their own lives and too many bored hours on their hands. They are trying to trick you into into hurting yourself. Do not play their game. Just as with spammers, every time you respond in any way, it only encourages them. 

It could be (it has been) argued that I have mental problems. Yes, well, they help me to see this even more clearly. From the land of the not always functional, here's the truth: the #1 way to get even, to get back at the unstable haters, is to ignore them. The ONE thing they cannot stand is to be overlooked as the unable-to-create-anything-themselves worms they are. If you're in the mood to delete, wipe out all recent references to the haters. Pretend they never existed. But don't erase all your own beautiful history.

Remember when Oscar's boyfriend's father called him hateful names? If he had ignored the haters, how much longer a life he might have had - and how much more he could have written! But no. He had every right to feel hurt, but in his hurt and anger he started a lawsuit, and because of the lawsuit he went to prison, which broke his health, and you know the sad story better than I do. We honor him. We can learn from his example, to rise above the hate.

Erase the evidence of hate if you want, but leave the journal up.