While at Borders I stumbled across two books. The first one was entitled: My Secret. As I started reading it, all I saw were words and phrases and pictures of "secrets". I was slightly confused as to what kind of book this actually was since there was no story, plot, characters, or setting. I read the entire book and when I went to put it back, noticed the one next to it entitled: The Secret Lives of Men and Women. The dust cover on this book gave a better explanation as to what the books were all about.
Frank Warren's endeavor started out as a community art project in November 2004. He began by giving out postage-paid postcards on the street, leaving them lying around in bathrooms, restaurants and in the subway, inviting people to send their secrets to him. Soon, people were sending their own home made cards, with photos, drawings, diagrams, anything to get their secret out there. He's now gotten over 100,000 postcards and continues to receive about 200 a day. Some secrets are hopeful, some are sad, some are disturbing, some are funny. Frank took his art project and compiled 4 books full of postcards. He has a website that is updated weekly with new postcards. You can visit it at www.postsecret.com Also, some of you may have heard the song "Dirty Little Secret" by the All American Rejects which was based off of Frank's project. On the way home I was thinking about some of the secrets that were in the books and marveling at how each person is so complex and not near as simple and perfect as they make themselves seem. It's nice to know that I'm not the only one....
My favorite post card was a picture of a girls perfectly pedicured toes which read: "Sometimes when I'm getting a pedicure I get the urge to kick the girl doing them in the face." Maybe I'm weird, but I laughed and laughed at this little gem of a secret in a sea of depressing or disturbing ones.
My Secret: I made fun of a girl in 3rd grade for liking the New Kids On The Block and ended up making her cry. She was the only person I ever "bullied" and I still feel bad every time I think about her. One day I will see her and say I'm sorry and tell her it's ok that she liked New Kids on The Block....
What's your secret?
14 comments:
My secret: Somedays are spent surfing the net and peeking at other peoples friends-friends blogs and eating ice cream and drinking diet coke all day, while my children watch endless dvds and eat cheetos. Then at about 5:00 pm I hurry and shower, get ready really fast, spiff up the house, make sure my kids are cleaned up and throw some chicken in the microwave to defrost. Around the time my husband gets home I act like I've been so busy all day, when really I've been slacking on the job!!
Ha ha, Crystal if thats the worst thing you've ever done, I think you are doing just fine! But doesn't that just kill you to remember that? I know how that feels! I like this post, I might just have to check out that website, make myself feel a little better.
My secret: When I was in preschool we were playing dress up and I had on some gold bracelets, I forgot to take them off and I accidentally wore them home. I realized it but was too embarrassed to tell my mom, they asked everyone the next to if someone had accidentally taken them home, but I was to ashamed to tell them it was me. I don't think I ever gave them back!!!!! I'm a thief!!!!
Haha! Those finds are the best. There's nothing like finding an awesome book. As for my secret? I'll have to think about it...I'm going to check out that website, it sounds so interesting.
If this could be anonymous you'd get some good info from me. I'm glad you think that people are much more complex than they let up because I have to remind myself of that everytime I feel imperfect.
My silly secret is: In 2nd grade I was fascinated by all these older girls smooth legs. I had no idea how they got them so silky looking(don't think I'm crazy) So I asked and everyone told me they shaved their legs. I probably should have known that thats what girls did but I was to into myself. So I didn't know how they did it so I made up my own way. I got my mom's lotion and disposable razors and shaved. I went through A LOT of razors cause I didn't wash the lotion out of them...and when people asked me I just said my legs were like that naturally.
That is so funny! Gina was so sweet to come and see you. How is she doing? I would love to see her and some of the other girls that I don't ever see.
I've been to that website before. Some of those secrets are sad, but I think it's a very creative community project.
My secret: When I was in the 6th grade I was selected for this crazy extra curriculur school program called "future problem solvers", which is where they teach you how to solve these made up world-wide problems that they called "fuzzies". My team went to BYU to compete and took 3rd for our skit (yes, you had to make up skits). I don't think it really helped me become a "problem solver" because it seems like I have a lot of problems, and sometimes I wonder if I even made this experience up because I know of no one else that ever participated in "future problem solvers"...sigh...I was (still am?)a big nerd.
P.S. I'm sorry you still feel bad about that girl :) Maybe someday you'll get your chance.
That's great! I love the pedicure girl. I have lots of secrets but here is my most recent:
When it is slow at work and I am really tired I will go to the restroom and sit there for a while- just so I can sit down without my manager eyeing me.
You know I watched that video and I was quite moved about the fact that so many people (myself included) keep secrets. Everyone has a secret. Even if it is not something like stealing or hurting someone, but maybe just wanting something or fearing something.
I think that is so fascinating that he has had such a great response.
My secret: I wish that I would have been more supportive to my sister when she got pregnant and was not married. I will forever regret my attitude at that time.
Thanks for sharing this neat little find. What an interesting day at the bookstore you must have had.
I saw this book at the store and I thought it looked really weird and so I didn't think twice about it. Now I'm wishing I would have looked into it a bit more. So, my secret: I judge books by their cover...literally! Thanks for all the deep insight and sharing your secret.
P.S. Happy Birthday!! I was remembering when we would go to tumbling and you told us when your birthday was and I asked "Isn't May 24th a holiday or something?" And you would always say "Yeah! It's my birthday!" Good times.
Hey Crystal! Happy belated BirthMcDay!
What a cool find! That secret book is great cuz it brings out every emotion possible. Great art will always do that, whether its books, movies, music or whatever. That's definately how that Fall movie was, you would love it. (It does look like the Cell a little bit, I didn't notice that before!)
I have a "secret" similar to yours infact: I was pretty mean to a kid in 9th grade just so I could look cool in front of other people and I always felt bad about it. Years later in my senior year I was actually friends with this kid, and one day I asked him "Do you remember when we had math together in junior high?" He said he didn't remember and I repsonded "Ok, that's good," and left it at that. Thankfully, he never remembered me being a jackass to him.
I have one more I can tell cuz its funny: When I was like 5 I used to get my sister's Supergirl costume and wear it when nobody was around... to this day I am not sure why I did that. I'm not gay or anything...
What, you did not like New kids? Hello, they are returning! You have the opportunity to fall in love with them now, if you never did before!! Ha!!
Crystal...just yesterday i was at a store in downtown columbus "urban outfitters." it's a pretty random store: clothes, gag gifts, home decor, and books...so i saw this "Post Secret" book and picked it up. I must say, while flipping through this i was a little disturbed, and real sad, but at the same time very intrigued by everyone. I too saw the pedicure one and thought it was hilarious!!
I know i have lots of secrets, but i wonder if i should put any of them on here! Then they wouldn't be secret anymore!
This is so fasinating, thanks for sharing, I am going to find that book and look through it.
One of my secrets: I am contantly thinking about being homeless. I often pass by things and think "if I was homeless I would take that bag of slightly spoiled produce the grocery store puts out and eat it" or "if I was homeless, I would shower at the public pool in central park, they have a real shower and it is free" (we went one time and I had that thought and have never been back). I also think about where I would sleep. But I am constantly having the thought of "if I was homeless"
ummm....New Kids on the Block are back and I think I like them....How embarassing...
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