PostSecret's

«I’m 16. These teenage years are supposed to be filled with friendships, parties, relationships.

I don’t have any of that. I’m too afraid to step outside into the unknown world, so I spend all of my time online, pretending to be someone else, someone who’s funny and affectionate and not a total screw up. My parents worry all the time because I refuse to socialize with the other kids in my street. They worry because I’ve built such an indestructible wall around me that they think they’ll never be able to see me again.

Today I waited all day for the site update. I read every postcard, imagining the excitement of the owner of each one when they would see their secrets finally set free. I began to lose hope, but as I reached the bottom of the page I saw it.

When I saw my postcard on your site (Life Is So Much Easier When It’s Pixelated) I was breathless.

I’ve never been happy with myself. I’m too fat, too ugly, too geeky, too sensitive. But I guess I’ll never be able to receive the love and attention I so desperately crave until I learn to love myself.

Today, for the first time in 6 months I walked outside and said hello to the first person I saw. It felt amazing.

[email message received; 1/22/06] »