Ever since I was in the 8th grade, I have been a dedicated follower of PostSecret, “an ongoing community art project where people mail in their secrets anonymously on one side of a postcard." Frank Warren, the creator of PostSecret, shares the secrets he receives in the mail on the PostSecret website every Sunday.
As a 13-year-old girl, I discovered the website through online browsing and quickly became enthralled by reading the secrets of other people. I would wake up every Sunday morning to read through Sunday's secrets with my middle school boyfriend (you know who you are), and after reading through the 20-or-so new secrets, we'd talk about our favorites, and I'd save those favorites on my computer to come back to later on.
Reading PostSecret became a weekly ritual for me. Since then, it's been 7 years, and that ritual still lives on. Regardless of whether the secret is comical...
...embarrassing...
...striking...
...loving...
...hopeful...
... inspiring...
...or heartbreaking...
...they each reveal some intimate glimpse of humanity that ignites an overwhelming sense of empathy for readers. Reading the secrets, I've laughed and I've cried, and I've felt all of the in-between feelings. When reading a secret that I personally relate to, I feel a connection with the anonymous stranger who made the postcard. PostSecret is truly a community in which people let go of the things that they hide, and this anonymous exposure provides a platform for understanding, support, acceptance, and forgiveness.
So far, I have sent in three secrets – one at age 14, one at age 17, and one at age 19. Despite the evolution of my maturity from adolescence to adulthood, I have experienced the same strange sense of comfort when sliding my handmade postcard into the dropbox outside of my local post office. I remember looking around me and making sure no one was looking before quickly reading my secret to myself one last time and releasing it.
Seeing my secrets on Frank's website made my heart race. The exposure felt temporarily mortifying, but at the same time, it was incredibly empowering and comforting finally being able to share what I had been hiding, even if it was done so anonymously. I eventually found one of my secrets published in one of PostSecret's books. Knowing that my secret would not only be read by millions made me feel peace rather than shame.
Telling a secret, whether to a family member, a friend, or a complete stranger, can allow you to let go and forgive yourself. I encourage you not only read PostSecret, but also to share your own secrets - it's nice to be honest with yourself.
Best,
Jessica
