“You keep a secret inside of you and it feels like this wall, separating you from others. But if we can find a way to let them go...we can recognize that secret was really a bridge the whole time.”
Frank Warren, the founder of Post Secret, shared these words and his story with the Albuquerque community when he visited UNM on Thursday evening.
Warren said in November of 2004 he had a crazy idea, an idea his mother later called diabolical. He printed up 3,000 postcards and decided to walk down the dark streets of Washington, D.C. after work to solicit complete strangers for true secrets that they’ve never shared before.
Warren said secrets began to slowly fill his mailbox and he began scanning and posting them online. Thus, PostSecret was born.
His postcard collection, which he said has swelled to several hundred thousand, is currently on display at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C., where the project began. He said he knew things were going to change when he started receiving postcards from all over the world.
“I started seeing postcards from New Zealand, Dublin, Hong Kong, Antarctica, Australia,” Warren said. “It was then that I realized I accidentally tapped into something that had been there the whole time. They all talked about the same hopes, fears, desires — reminding us not of our differences, but our similarities.”
He continued by sharing several of the more memorable secrets he’s received over the years. Some were humorous and light-hearted, others inspiring and thought-provoking, still others dark and perhaps uncomfortable, but Warren said one secret changed everything.
He showed the crowd a postcard of a door with several holes in it, with a caption that said the holes were from the time the sender’s mom tried to knock down the door in order to continue beating them.
That day, he said, a million people visited the website. Dozens of people started e-mailing pictures of their broken bedroom doors, and he posted them as they arrived. He said one of the e-mails he received said seeing all these pictures of broken bedroom doors didn’t make the person sad, but rather let them know they weren’t alone.
Warren said he’s received several secrets that divulge the sender is only alive today because a friend, professor, family member or even a stranger asked how they were doing when it mattered most. He said, statistically, 35 individuals in the audience will contemplate suicide this year, and 19 will attempt it.
The founder said one of the things he is most proud of is that, over the 10-year life of PostSecret, the community has raised over $1 million for suicide prevention.
“I believe some of you here tonight have said just the right thing at just the right time, and you’ve saved a life and you don’t even know it,” he said.
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Ryan Lindquist, assistant director at the Student Activities Center, said Warren was effective in discussing key issues that have the potential to affect a lot of vulnerable people.
“He does an amazing job of speaking on mental health and suicide prevention, which are important topics to the college community and everyone in general,” he said.
Linquist said there are several services available on campus, such as the Agora Crisis Center, Student Health and Counseling and the LoboRESPECT Advocacy Center, which assist students who might be struggling with mental health issues, suicidal thoughts or who just need someone to talk to.
Warren concluded by inviting several audience members to step in front of microphone and share a secret. He said that this is often the most memorable and emotional part of the night for everyone.
One woman burst into tears, as her friend held her hand, as she shared how she was bullied in high school. Warren said he considered her a hero for showing the courage to share her story, adding that there may have been a person in the room that night who needed to hear it.
For those who weren’t able to get in front of the microphone or attend the event, there’s always the opportunity to send a postcard.
Robert Maler is a sports reporter for the Daily Lobo. He primarily covers cross country, tennis, and track and field. He can be reached at sports@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @robert_maler.
