Do You Want to Know a Secret?
This morning we had on Frank Warren, the author of A Lifetime of Secrets.
Frank began soliciting secrets from strangers back in 2004 as part of a community art project. Little did he know what he was unleashing. Over the past three years, he’s received 200,000 secrets from strangers—each one written on a self-decorated postcard.
The secrets range from the oddball (“I pee in the shower”—actually the most common secret he’s received) to the heartwrenching (“I save every card, note, letter, picture, drawing, and email my friends send me so that when I am old and alone, I will remember how much I was loved”) to the deepest and darkest (“I don’t know if I was raped”). Frank considers them individual expressions that also speak to universal truths about us.
We all have thoughts that we are afraid to share for fear of being rejected. I know I do, which is probably why, when reading the book, I got very emotional. I found at least two secrets that I shared. In fact, I was relieved to know that someone else felt the way I do.
Frank told me with a smile on his face that when strangers recognize him, they sometimes come over and whisper a secret in his ear. But he takes each offering seriously, and feels it is his duty to treat it with respect and dignity.
If you’d like to share your secret with Frank, or just read what others have shared, check out www.postsecret.blogspot.com
As for what I do or don’t do in the shower, I’ll never tell…
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Do I have secrets? Only my therapist knows what they are.
Loved you on The View and love you on Today. I didn't start watching Today until you began co-hosting. It's a great way to start off the day before heading off to work.
Hi Mer-- I saw that segment about secrets this morning. My secret is "I've never had a secret in my whole life." DO YOU think that is strange?? And also if I did have a secret, I would rather share it with you or Ann, than with Frank Warren. (ha ha)
I have been hooked on Post Secret for well over a year now and look forward to it every Sunday afternoon just as much as I look forward to going to church each Sunday morning. It has been cleansing to me, heart-wrenching, it-if you will-"keeps it real" and puts perspective back in my life.
I am thrilled Frank got even more exposure-especially when it comes to how he wants to help people with this art. For the ones carrying the secrets around that somehow destroy them inside, maybe sending it to Frank will help them find a ray of hope to take their lives in a new direction.
I know it does that for me on a weekly basis.
Suits me fine!!!
I did. I'm thrilled I can. I peed in the kitchen sink - because I can.
Do you really think a secret can exist unless you tell one other person ?
When you see what are called "microexpressions", you see a whole lot more than most people ever realize they are revealing. It's kind of like seeing secrets.
If you haven't read up on microexpressions, I highly recommend it. It's fascinating.
My 17-year-old daughter borrowed the first book from a friend. It was amazing. I highly recommend them. I wish I'd seen the interview, but I may just buy her a book for Christmas.
I read Post Secret every Sunday when I wake up. I have never sent in a secret, but I get so much help from reading other people's. It was great to see Frank on the show this morning!
This is such a relief to hear loudly we are all human and yet so afraid of what people think even if we don't admit it,that's why it feels so raw, like being exposed sooo emotional...... thank you for your honesty, love you Meredith
What a relief to hear others feel free of thier secrets, releasing the shame that feels deep rooted. How emotional to come out behind the masks and not feel threatened by what others think about us.Thank you for your honesty Meredith...lots of love
Secrets hold such an amazing amount of power! The book, The Memory Keeper's Daughter, really exemplifies just how powerful secrets can be. I absolutley recommend it! I love how Frank has made a safe place for people to express secrets that are often painful.I think it helps them feel less alone.
During the interview, Frank Warren said that he had set up a foundation for suicide prevention since so many of the secrets include thoughts of suicide. Did he mention if he gets confessions to crimes or postcards saying a crime is about to be committed (like the Virginia Tech shooter)?
Meredith,
I watched the whole "secrets" part of the show today. While I am sure that you did not mean to sound this way, I was a bit disappointed in your (and others) flippant response to Ann's comment about praying before the newscast. It is difficult to be up front about one's spirituality; perhaps a comment like that is why.
Karen
I love you Meredith!
You are an inspiration to us all,
Thank u for continually being a class act in everyway!
Meredith,
I am not sure at times they are secrets, as much as being information that others would rather consider stealth, than knowing. Since I was a child, I kept from my family what I could see, thinking that they would not understand and living in this world of mine alone. In my momâs final hours on a respirator, my oldest sister was sitting beside her, and out of the blue made a comment that âmom thought she could see angels and spirits, like grandma didâ and blew a raspberry. My first knowledge was at my mother dying, that we never were different from each other, just stealth to each other about sharing. From that moment on, I chose to not be stealth anymore, and I am who I am, whether others accept me/reject me, but I no longer allow myself to be influenced by being who I might think I should be to exist in this world to fit the mold.
Blessings,
Linda
Meredith,
I watched the show about "secrets" yesterday. While I am sure that you did not mean to sound unkind, I was disappointed in the somewhat flippant attitude from you, Matt, and Al when referring to Ann's comment on praying before she delivers the news. It is sometimes difficult to show your spiritual side in public. Maybe those comments indicate why.
Karen
Meredith,
While I am sure that you did not intend to sound unkind, I was disappointed in the somewhat flippant comments from you, Matt, and Al when Ann revealed that she prays before she goes on air. Sometimes it is difficult for one to express spirituality. Perhaps your attitude tells why.
Karen
I agree with Karen. The rest of you appeared to enjoy picking on Ann. My daughter was home from school sick and when she saw that segment she started to cry. Between gasps she told me that there are kids at school who pick on her the way you were picking on Ann.
Karen you only posted your thoughts three times, maybe a couple more times and they will all get the hint -- maybe they should ALL say a prayer before they go on the air each morning.
gee. I didn't think Meredith could ever do anything wrong.
Meredith,
I respect you as a news anchor, mother, wife, and person; however, I was very disappointed in your response to Ann Curry's "secret" this week. It was unkind of particularly Al and you to respond in the unprofessional and rather juvenile manner that you did.
Ann was clearly hurt by this reaction; she didn't make fun of any of the rest of you. Personally, I think she exhibited a great deal of courage to have shared that secret. She certainly did not have to--she could have shared something different; something safer. But instead she chose to share something of value to her. I wish that more news anchors WOULD pray before they open their mouths to relate the news; perhaps we would have more positively delivered stories and news accounts.
I admire Ann's courage and her professionalism as a journalist. I hope that you all have worked this out by now since the four of you seem to interact on such a positive level overall.
Meredith,
I enjoyed the segment on "Secrets". Is he still accepting secrets? If so do you have a physical address where they can be sent? I think saying "Rabbit, Rabbit" is sort of different. I never have figured out why some people think that rabbit's feet are lucky. I mean really, how lucky was THAT rabbit??
Hi Meredith!
I am an addict of the "postsecret" blog. Today I discover that you have a blog so now I will read it as much as I can. I loved you on The View, but unfortunatelly I haven't seen you on the Today show, because I'm in Germany now. I am sure you are doing a great job! Hugs from Berlin!
Sally.
Do you ever wish you could just walk around like a normal person and not get noticed? Do you think it's hard to be famous and have people wanting autoraphs all the time?
HI MEREDITH! we are so proud to be living just blocks from helen keller;s birth place, it;s a small town and great place to live, my granddaughter will be comeing to new york to be in the macy's thanksgiving day parade this year,mike miller produces this production of cheerleading dance throught u.c.a nbc has axclusive rights to thier prepositioned performance routine in herald sq. my granddaughter is a senior this year,her name is ashley rogers from tuscumbia, al. this is such an honor for her and all the kids that were chosen. they would love an interview with you on tv. thanks love ya, jean from al.
First I would like to say thank you for the blogs on the breast cancer exam and biopsy. I am 42 and I am adopted with no family health history. I can't afford to go to the Dr. I am a single mom that still rents. I am struggling so hard to make ends meet. There are free clinics but they dont offer mammograms. Some days I hurt so bad I can hardly walk. I know I have things wrong but whats a girl to do?