During the PostSecret UK and Ireland Tour, I spoke at the Brighton Dome Concert Hall outside of London. That night, I shared secrets with a full house at the Indian-inspired venue, but the most extraordinary story of the night came from a woman in the audience.

After the event, I was signing books in the lobby. A late autumn chill and the smell of clean salt air filled the space as people left through the front doors. A young woman reached my table and with an emotional voice and full eyes told me how a stranger had saved her life weeks earlier when she shared her secret.

One day last month I was so lonely I told my secret for the first time using the PostSecret App. I took a picture of my street and typed. “I stand in the middle of this road at 2am and will cars to hit me.” I sent it out to the world anonymously like a message in a bottle. Right away I started getting back kind and hopeful responses from strangers. That night they saved me but my biggest surprise came tonight!

I asked Sarah to email me her whole story so I could share it in her words. She leaned against the friend she was standing with and said she would.

~~~

Sarah’s digital secret had been just one of millions created worldwide and shared using the PostSecret App. The popular App illuminated the hidden connections between people who felt isolated by their secrets. Secrets can be walls that separate us or bridges that show us that the loneliness we may sometimes feel is an illusion.

This was the trailer for the App. <Link>

Even though all the PostSecret App secrets and replies were anonymous, each message had a geotag so people could share locally. This also made it possible for me to search the entire database for secrets and replies from Brighton and include them in my presentation. (Secrets can be even more impactful at a PostSecret Event if you think it came from your neighborhood, or from someone sitting in your row.)

The images below were the local and international secrets I selected for the Brighton audience.

Under the images, I included the email that Sarah sent me after I returned home to Maryland.

—Email—

Dear Frank,

At your Brighton PostSecret Event, you showed my secret (the one about wanting to be hit by a car). I was so shocked. My gut reaction was to grab the arm of my friend and whisper ‘oh my god that’s mine’. I didn’t even think if I was prepared to admit to it or not. I just did. For a little while I felt quite uneasy, but as the event continued and other people began to share some really moving things, I put it to the back of my mind, but I was shivering for the rest of the night.

It wasn’t until the end of the event and we were getting up to leave that my friend leaned across to me and said that she was one of the people who had replied to my secret. I can’t even begin to describe how that felt. ‘Safe’ is the best I can come up with.

Shhh- the cover and name of the new PostSecret book are a secret but you can pre-order it now; CLICK HERE.

—–Email—–
—–Frank@PostSecret.com—–

Dear Frank,

Last week you were speaking in Portland, Oregon.  I walked in a little late to a very crowded room. You said a few words, a few more and then, suddenly, I recognized my words:

15 years-ago . . . adoption . . . 1 year-ago . . . trick or treating . . .

Tears sprang to my eyes. You were reading MY secret.  And I heard it. Everyone heard it. My heart was thumping so hard in my chest I was certain everyone could hear it too. I wanted to yell out “That’s my secret!”

I went home later, after buying a few books, and told my husband that you read my secret to hundreds of people. He smiled and hugged me.  I asked him if he wanted to know what it was.  He said; “No, a whole room full of strangers knows, and that’s enough.”

Thank you.

—–Email—–

Dear Frank,

I mailed in one of the secrets that made it into your book, PostSecet Confessions on Life, Death and God. Mine reads-

“When another woman steals your man, the best revenge is to let her keep him.”

Funny story, my ex-husband’s wife (the other woman) dropped my kids off at my house last week and saw my PostSecret book in the kitchen. She exclaimed,

“I love that book! Have you seen the one about stealing another person’s man? That one’s my favorite!”

She had no idea it was about her.

—–Email—–

Two weeks ago I was placed in a psych ward for attempting to take my own life. I was sitting alone until another boy came up to me and simply said, “You’re not the most fucked up person anymore.” For the first time in my life I didn’t feel like I was the only one struggling.

—–Email—–

Frank,
The message about the girl in the psychiatric hospital with the boy who let her in on the secret that she isn’t alone. I’m the girl. I sent you that 8 years ago. Two week after my suicide attempt. It stopped me in my tracks to see it again. I sent it to you on a whim. I can’t remember why. I struggled hard for a few years after this. I struggle still but am stable now. Thank you for honoring me and all of us in what you do.

The ‘Museum of Us’ in San Diego has expanded the PostSecret Exhibition to include “Naked Mail”. Secrets written and mailed on objects, not postcards.

The potato and knife mailed to PostSecet with secrets are not on view, but you will be able to see the artificial banana, (packaged) condom, coconut, license plate, shirt, roller skate, the original PostSecret mailbox, and more.

Visit the online exhibition of audio secrets to hear a collection of voicemails from friends, parents, brothers, sisters, partners, loved ones. Some are funny, many are brief and heartfelt.

Listen here. Or upload your own voicemail, story, and photos.

Our profound gratitude to everyone who contributed their emotional voicemail, photos, and soulful story. Special thanks to exhibition curator, Savannah Morin, and the team at WordPress. This exhibition was made possible with the generous support of the PostSecret Patreons.

—–frank(@)postsecret.com—–

Dear Frank-
My boyfriend knew I was a PostSecret fan and a couple of days before Christmas this was in a package on my porch. It was the most thoughtful and unexpected gift. Thanks Rod and Frank!

All six PostSecret books are still in hardcover are available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble or your favorite Independent bookstore. Order now in time for the Holidays. 

See the postcards on exhibition at the Museum of Us.

Get free passes to see the exhibition plus a signed proof from the first PostSecret book and join the community by becoming a ‘PostSecret Partner’ on Patreon. Details