PostSecret

PostSecret is an awesome website that allows you to read the secrets of anonymous sharers in the world. Spanning from dark, scary secrets that you could never imagine experiencing, much less keeping it all to yourself, to hilarious or even endearing secrets about love and happiness that you want to share with everyone, these postcards allow us to connect with users all over the world. 

I remember seeing the first PostSecret book on one of my countless trips to my favorite bookstore, Borders (where I was lucky enough to work before its untimely demise & fortunate enough to meet my current boyfriend, Jeffrey). Going solely off memories of 2006, (can't believe that was 7 whole years ago!) I believe that the book was placed in the section labeled "Art & Philosophy". I remember flipping through the book and being so moved by the secrets that lined the pages. Known by founder, Frank Warren as "graphic haikus" people were trusting enough to deliver shameful or embarrassing or beautiful hidden truths that were usually kept private, and not just write them down, but decorate these postcards with drawings or pictures or visual representations of their hopes, dreams, fears, joys or experiences. I bought that book immediately. 

I love the whole idea behind this project:

"You are invited to anonymously contribute a secret to a group art project. Your secret can be a 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."

I had the honor of attending a seminar conducted by the creator, Frank Warren, himself at Georgia State University about 3 years ago, and I was astounded at the courage some students mustered up as they stood to share some of their personal stories. These were people my age and they were struggling with some incredibly weighty situations: suicide, bulimia/anorexia, cutting, finding their true sexual orientation, molestation, abuse, neglect, self-loathing. And other people were rejoicing in their triumphs: falling in love, making new lifelong friends, discovering their self worth, feeling beautiful, appreciating the little things in life. It was definitely an unforgettable experience, and given the opportunity, I'd gladly go again.

These books had such tremendous success that there is now a website (www.postsecret.com) that is updated every Sunday, featuring about 10 new secrets. Always a part of my Sunday routine!

Being that I am a fan of this project and enjoy these ornamental classifieds, I have printed a few of the secrets and placed them around my room like little mantras. Here are a some of the framed secrets I have:

 

Reading these just makes me feel both connected to the rest of humanity, yet also far removed from it. It's a hard combination to express, but nevertheless, they are very thought provoking and evoke an array of emotions.

Here are some cards I particularly enjoyed during this week's update:

 

All of these secrets that are exposed only makes me wonder what secrets the person next to me has (at work, at school, at home, next to me in traffic, in line with me at the store) and makes me think about my own secrets.