Monday, January 11, 2010

Post Secret

Sunday evening Tom and I went to a Post Secret show. What is Post Secret do you ask? It is a website that Frank Warren started in January 2007. The idea was to have an art project in which people submitted their secrets on homemade postcards. No restrictions were made on the content and sometimes they are graphic in nature. The only requirement was that the secret was truthful and it was never spoken before. Frank Warren would post these on his blog, Post Secret.

The postcards range from the funny to the somber. New secrets are posted every Sunday.

I think part of the appeal for this webpage is people being able to express deep hurts and pain for the first time. It’s like a weight being lifted off their shoulders. I think when someone reads a postcard that they can relate to, they feel less alone. They know someone else understands their pain.

Often I’ve been moved by stranger’s secrets. I’ve said a prayer when I’ve read one that moved me.

So what is a Post Secret show?

Frank Warren told stories of how he started Post Secret. He read some postcards that were not published before. The best part of the evening was the open mike. People who attended had an opportunity to speak a secret or share a brief story. It was very moving and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.

Tom and I enjoyed our evening very much. We were seated in the second row.

Pictured below is a picture I took of Frank Warren from my seat.
© Nadine Zawacki 2010

11 comments:

Unknown said...

So happy you got to go! I love what he has done in creating a safe place to share, connect, release, understand, change....

palmtreefanatic said...

how cool is that! So glad you got to go!

Nadine said...

Grace - I'm glad I got to go too. It was interesting hearing him talk.

Tina - We were so close we could have reached up and shook his hand.

j said...

I read PostSecret every Sunday. I would love to see one of the shows but one of my secrets is that I read Postsecret :) It would be difficult to go without telling my family WHERE I was going.

I haven't ever sent in a secret but I've thought about it.

Susan said...

Oh I'll bet so mucy "healing" goes on there!!! What a great concept. Thanks for sharing it Nadine. I'd not been aware of this.
Susan

Dawn said...

I've never heard of Post Secret before. What an interesting idea. And it must have been a great evening.

I've finally posted the twins' birthday!

Ileana said...

My cup 'o tea. I will check out this site.

It must've been a wonderful experience to be there live.

Cheri said...

Sounds like a very interesting evening.

Christina said...

This sounds like a great idea. I am going to start reading PostSecret.

Shionge said...

I've enjoyed the Post Secret blog and sometimes it does relate to one of our darkest secrets indeed.

yours truly B said...

that sounds really good. glad to here Tom is doing well. it has been a while and I think about you alot.