20 Years of PostSecret


I’m feeling so grateful as I remember how our PostSecret journey started in 2004 with your first secret. Since then a ton of confessions have arrived – one postcard at a time.

The PostSecret Community and PostSecret Patreons make it all possible.

The Holiday Secrets this week are posted on the PostSecret Patreon page. When you visit the page I hope you’ll consider becoming a member and see all the benefits (like keeping the Sunday Secrets advertisement-free) that come with joining.

Next week the secrets will be back here as normal, but I’m excited about some changes for 2024. We plan to use AI to finally make the whole PostSecret archive keyword searchable. (You’ll be able to custom search all the secrets for any topic.) The PostSecret art exhibition in San Diego is also expanding to include ‘naked mail’. (This exhibition and some live events continue to be free to PostSecret Patreons.) Lastly, I’m working on something television-related, but that has to remain secret for now.

I hope you will join us on Patreon this week to see the Sunday Secrets and thanks for being the most important part of PostSecret.

Happy Holidays!

-Frank

PostSecret Holiday Story

—post on PostSecret Facebook page—
Dear PostSecret,
To the person who feels horrible for telling their child there is no Santa. My son just wrote Santa last night asking for that special present. And I didn’t have the heart to tell him that “Santa’s” back injury has kept her from waiting tables these past two weeks, and with no child support check these past 7 months, all the other bills are adding up too. And the local charity is saying the application deadline is past, and they can’t guarantee anything specific. My secret: I wish Santa Claus was real, so on Christmas, no child would have to go without, and no parent would have to feel like they failed their child.
-Amber

—post on PostSecret Facebook page—
Hey PostSecret,
I just read the response the woman wrote about not being able to get the “special present” for her son. I know I can’t do this for every child out there, but if you’d tell her that there’s someone out there willing to try and buy their son that gift, then I’d appreciate it very much. I’d have to know what the gift is I’m a college student with a limited budget, but I don’t want her to feel like a failure for having an injury. It would be a lovely Christmas present for me if I were able to put a smile on the faces of two strangers on Christmas morning.
-Thanks,
Molly

—post on PostSecret Facebook page—
Hi Amber,
If you set up a PayPal account, I’ll contribute to it, and invite others to also.
thanks,
-Frank

—post on PostSecret Facebook page—
Frank,
First off let me tell you how thankful I am to you and your wonderful offer. I was not in any way expecting any sort of help. I just wanted to let this person know that they’re not alone. I did set up a PayPal account under this email address.
Gratefully yours,
-Amber

—post on PostSecret Facebook page—
Hi Amber,
Thanks for providing us with a way to help you give your son the Christmas all children deserve. I just made a contribution for you and expect that you might get a few more from other PostSecret visitors.
Happy Holidays,
-Frank

—post on PostSecret Facebook page—
Hey Molly,
Check the website again. You can help,
-Frank

—post on PostSecret Facebook page—
Dear PostSecret,
I made a donation and I was surprised at how good it felt. You don’t have to be a millionaire to feel the joy of being generous.
-Molly

—post on PostSecret Facebook page—
Frank,
Santa Claus is real and alive and well. He lives in you and others like you all over the world. I’m overwhelmed by the love and generosity strangers have shown my family today. I never would have imagined it would get as large a response in such little time as it has. Not only will I be able to afford the present he asked for, but clothes and other necessities I’ve been putting off. I’ve got what I need, so please remove my PayPal account from PostSecret and I urge anyone who wants to help someone in need to get in touch with their local charities. Thank you for making my wish come true,
-Amber

[from a series of social media posts, later presented in ‘PostSecret The Show’.]

The Secret Room

PostSecret Exhibition at ‘Museum of Us’ – Extended

See thousands of secrets in San Diego at The Museum of Us

Damian, and other Visitor Experience Associates, have been scanning all the anonymous secrets submitted at the Musem.

Street Secrets

Secret Gifts

All PostSecret books available from Amazon or Indies.

PostSecret Instagram

Hope & Help

Thank You, to everyone in the PostSecret community who has donated their money or time to suicide prevention. As someone who has answered those phones on the overnight shift, I can tell you, There Is Hope And There Is Help.