This is post 5 of 5 in my series called, MySpace is YourSpace.
Awhile back, I asked for reader’s gritty responses to 5 deeply personal questions. I created an email account so folks could log in, answer questions and email the answers to that same email address, creating an anonymous space for open, honest answers.
In my last MySpace Is YourSpace post, I asked:
“Do you have a secret or past experience that gnaws at you or you wish you could let go of? If yes, share as much of that secret you are able to.”
In response to that question, today’s fifth and FINAL question of this series is: 
“Why have you kept that secret or experience private?”
Below are the 4 ANONYMOUS and UNEDITED responses I received. The 5th is my own.
(I’m the long-winded one.)
ANONYMOUS #1
Gender: Male
Age Range: 30-33
Relationship: Married
“N/A”
ANONYMOUS #2
Gender: Female
Age Range: 26-29
Relationship: in a relationship
“as for the first secret, i cannot let anyone know how careless i was. i would never live that down. id rather suffer in silence. i paid the price times a million, i dont need anyone to rub it in my face.”
ANONYMOUS #3
Gender: Female
Age Range: 34-37
Relationship: Single
“It’s heavy. sharing the load with others only multiplies the burden, solidifies my identity as “The Weak,” and never could un-do what has been done, and never could make me less guilty of what I have done to try to escape the pain. Also, sometimes your friends can’t handle the really freaky stuff, and while they want to try to help, they just end up becoming voyeurs.”
“Thank you for listening, Mandy.”
ANONYMOUS #4
Gender: Female
Age Range: 30-33
Relationship: Single
“The only person I feel the need to acknowledge my secret to is my sister. I can’t bring myself to speak of it. I have tried. I have tried to muster up an “I’m so sorry.” I can’t bring the word forth. A hundred times the words have been in the back of my throat… choking me out…begging to be brought to the light. I am a coward and I can’t do it. I am so ashamed.”
RESPONSE #5: ME
Gender: Female
Age Range: 30-37
Relationship: Single
In my last post, I explained the freedom (and many times pain) that can come with sharing our secrets and struggles. I believe that sharing is vital and life-giving when fused with trust and tempered with grace.
I’m thankful and blessed to have amazing people in my life who allow me to strip down to the rawest part of who I am and love me in spite of and because of me.
However, I’m painfully aware that many aren’t as blessed as I am and this series has made that even clearer. People lug around weighty baggage never intended to be dragged behind them day after day, year after year and they’re storing up boxes filled with regret, shame and fear. I wish I could wave a wand, pot a potion or say a magic ‘oogidy-boogidy’ or two and have their loads lifted, baggage emptied and boxes trashed.
But it doesn’t work like that.
It takes courage, it takes effort and it takes time. And sometimes we can do that alone, but many times we need others to come alongside. That’s my hope for this blog series and, heck, even my life. I want people to know they aren’t alone in their struggles and that they don’t have to face their fears alone.
I hope you know that you aren’t alone in this thing called life.
Your struggles and fears are real, but they don’t have to be unbearable. Breathe in, breathe out, take a risk and share today.
I want to say a big THANK YOU to the amazing 4 people who shared their hearts with me and with all of you through this series. I’m thankful for their stories, their courage and look forward to hearing about their next steps.
Remember, you are not alone in this.
