If you ever heard of it, there's this site where people post up stories of themselves. It's called sixbillionsecrets. It's where people go, usually anonymously, to post up some of their secrets. Most of these secrets are quite full on, showing how people feel of what they're going through.
When I first found this site, I was so compelled to read through every single secret that had been posted up, seeing all the insecurities and hard times those people were/are enduring. Even though they were all anonymous, it felt like they were showing their most inner self with the world. Maybe it was because they were anonymous that they were able to share what they really are inside, without ever telling anyone who they are.
But then I started thinking about the people who reading through the same secrets as me. What do the readers feel. Do they relate? Empathy, or maybe sympathy?
"There are people with worst problems out there, so you shouldn't worry." It's what we've been told at some point in our lives, and there are even some people who live by that. And of course, hearing messed up stories does put things into perspectives, but we can only experience these stories from the outside looking in. Our own experiences are the only thing we can truly base everything on, and because of this, and the fact that we can only ever really view other people's lives from the outside looking in, it creates a disconnect. We're able to take other people's lives into account, and even though what you feel at your worst might not be as bad as what someone else is feeling, it is the worst that YOU have ever felt, and sometimes you're own feelings overrule any empathy you might feel for others. It's selfish, but it's human.
There are so many stories on sixbillionsecrets, all completely messed up in so many different ways than I could ever imagine. And even though they're all different, I think there is an underlining feeling that they are share - loneliness. Their pain is not only from the problems they're going through, but that they're going through it alone. And eventually, it's this loneliness that becomes a problem in itself. And I think that's why people post up on that site, not to gain any sympathy because of their problems, but to feel less alone - to feel connected. It's impossible for us to understand someone else's situation, but we can relate to the feelings that these situations evoke. It's not a competition to see who's going through a shittier time than another. If anything, it's about reaching out and hoping that someone out there understands and acknowledges the emotions we're going through. And that's what we all really want, to feel connected with someone else, so that whatever is happening in our lives, we don't feel like we're going at it alone.
I use to think that there were people who needed help, and those that were giving it. But it's not that simple. Everyone needs help in their own way, don't they? But they're also able to give help as well. Helping others might not help out our own problems, but what it does is bring us closer to someone else, breaking down that underlining feeling of loneliness. It's nice to lean on someone who's leaning on you too.
Well that's what I think sixbillionsecrets is all about. It might mean something different to you when you read through it, but to me, it's all about knowing whatever is happening, you're definitely not the only one feeling that way. So like Philosopher Efron once said, "We're all in this together"
