postsecret

Today I went with two of my really good friends to USF's University Lecture Series, starring Frank Warren of PostSecret. I've been following his amazing blog for a few years, and so I was super excited to see him speak in person. The two girls I went with are some of my favorite people in the world. They're dating, are a little on the crazy side, and absolutely endearing.

We attended free pancake day at IHOP, where I acquired the nickname Short Stack. Marvelous. Some of my hardest times laughing are with them. I feel completely comfortable in my skin around them, and it's great. I've been friends with one girl since middle school, so it's kind of surprising our friendship has spanned through some of the most stupid/selfish years of my life. I was just awful in middle school. I can honestly say that she is in my top 5 of people who have influenced my life. I wouldn't be the person I am today if we hadn't met. And now I just love her girlfriend, she's fabulous :)

The actual event itself was incredible. Frank talked for a little bit, shared some "secret secrets", and cracked some jokes. One thing he said that I absolutely loved was "The children most broken by the world are the adults most likely to change it." He then opened up the floor for people to come to two microphones set up around the room and share their secrets. There is something so amazing about people's honesty. We're all so devastatingly human, with flaws and faults and screw ups. And when we share that with one another, barriers are broken and walls are shattered and it's beautiful to watch and experience. There was so much I could relate to, and more than once I found myself close to tears.

On our seats, Frank had placed a blank postcard for us to write our own secrets. The girls and I decided to write our secrets on them, and hand them to random people we saw walking out of the event. I think more than anything it inspired me to share my secret with the person it's about, regardless of their reaction. There is strength in being open, and I think that it will be good, so we'll see.

I was brought back to an important realization tonight- of how much frailty and beauty there is in each human soul, something I used to recognize often, but have been neglecting lately. I want to return to that. To seeing how interconnected we all are, and what a glorious thing it is to be human, have a heart beating in your chest, and share this earth with every other person on it.

Namaste. (The divinity in me bows to the divinity in you.)
sarah∞mae