The Power of a Secret Shared
I want to take this quick post to express my thanks for the messages of support and love in the wake of what I recently wrote here. Following that big secret reveal last week, I received a number of supportive e-mails and messages from people across-the-board who had been through similar moments of fear and embarrassment (including one from my own Mom). It was emboldening to hear that others had been through comparable situations and that, even all these years later – I was not completely alone. (One cross-country friend said he missed his high school graduation for the same exact reason.)
It was sad to hear those stories, but it offered solace as well. There is always going to be pain like that, and some of us will get hurt no matter how careful we try to be. I hope there is some comfort in the sharing of my story – the same comfort I felt in hearing others tell their tales. If anything, it taught me the importance of kindness, and of standing up and defending those who may not have the strength or courage to do it themselves.
We’re all in this together. Sometimes I forget that, and it takes something like this to remind me. Thank you.