Warning: there is graphic language in this post which may be triggering to some readers.
“You are invited to anonymously contribute a secret to a group art project. Your secret can be regret, fear, betrayal, desire, confession, or childhood humiliation. Reveal anything – as long as it is true and you have never shared it with anyone before. Be brief. Be legible. Be creative.”
{Source}
This simple request can be found on the postcards Frank Warren handed out to people or left in public places back in 2004. What started as a simple art project flourished into a community of strangers sharing their most “provocative and profound” secrets. Frank still receives dozens of postcards from around the world, even receiving ones in Braille. The overwhelming response to PostSecret allowed him to publish 4 books comprised of secrets he’s been sent.
“I have so many secrets…I don’t know which one to send in.”
After reading the first book, PostSecret: Extraordinary Confessions from Ordinary Lives, I had mixed feelings. Some secrets were peaceful and inspiring revelations. They would quickly give readers going through tough times hope:
“I am in therapy. Learning to love myself for the first time in my life. I am 26.”
While some would bring an easy smile to your face:
I can guarantee that there are as much random confessions…
….as there are somber ones.
“If I had a million dollars, I would give it all away for one more day with her like it used to be in the beginning.”
On the other hand, there were secrets that were hard to stomach, as they dealt with rape, suicide or evil fantasies. Despite the book’s intimacy and insight on humanity, was it safe to be keeping those secrets, a secret?
“I joined because I was patriotic. But since they succeeded in convincing me my life is worthless, I’m just hoping I get shot.”
It was hard to grasp the fact that the happiness I felt while reading one page would turn into discomfort or disgust the next.
“The medication is not enough to make me forget what he did to me…if I see him again I will kill him to save the others.”
“I like it when animals attack trainers. I think they deserve it.”
Though I’m sure the intentions of PostSecret are good, there is a fine line between keeping a secret for secret’s sake and keeping a secret that can endanger you. I appreciate the people who have sent something to Frank Warren because it takes a lot of guts to do so. But there will come a time and place you will confess the secret you’ve bottled up for years, and that is courage at its finest.
Please remember that there is always someone you can talk to. Whether it be your mom, dad, sibling, best friend, counselor or teacher, someone will listen and someone will help. Especially when dealing with overwhelming sadness or grief, know that there are resources such as the Kids Help Phone available to you. PostSecret, in particular, supports the National Hopeline Network (1-800-784-2433) for anyone who is thinking about suicide or knows someone who is. Someone is there to help you.
The secret you read 2 weeks ago that was true might not be come tomorrow. Change is inevitable, so secrets don’t always remain secrets. We must see the value of human interaction at our most vulnerable.
*All images are mine unless stated otherwise.*
“Each day means a new twenty-four hours. Each day means everything’s possible again. You live in the moment, you die in the moment, you take it all one day at a time.” – Marie Lu
Best wishes,
Kandace 🙂