We have all heard the saying, “Secrets, secrets are no fun; secrets, secrets hurt someone,” but Frank Warren’s speech to a packed Reilly Room house on Wednesday night gave new meaning to sharing secrets.

Warren is the man behind the four PostSecret books and online blog. He came to give Butler students insight about secrets.

Warren started the presentation with The All-American Rejects music video “Dirty Little Secret” and declaring, “My name’s Frank and I collect secrets.”

Warren has been called “The Most Trusted Stranger in America” and even called himself the “World Class Expert on Secrets.” According to him, secrets can hold a lot of power. By sharing the most difficult secrets, we can give courage and hope to others and ourselves.

“I think we all keep secrets,” Warren said. He went on to explain that everyday, we have a choice to bury our secrets inside ourselves or share them and bring them out in the open. Warren believes that secrets can hold a person back and can break hearts.

He even went further to say, “Our secrets could be undermining our relationships with other people.” Warren began PostSecret with the ideal that sharing our secrets could create more peace and compassion in the world.

“I am bigger than the life I am leading.” – PostSecret Blog

PostSecret started at an arts festival in Washington D.C. in November 2004. Warren started this art project because he had been a small business owner for 20 years and wanted to do something creative with his time.

Warren handed out blank postcards with his home address to people on the streets asking them to write their secrets anonymously and send them back. He explained that by using his address it made him just as vulnerable as they were in sharing their secrets.

The project lasted for six weeks and the secrets he received filled his exhibit space. It was a success for Warren; he took the postcards home, but the secrets kept coming.

Warren decided to continue the project by starting a blog and later was contacted by Harper Collins to compile a book with the secrets. Warren has since compiled three more books and had secrets featured in The All-American Rejects music video.

“I pee in the shower.” – PostSecret

Warren explained that this secret is the most popular secret that he receives. Warren’s mailbox is still packed with 100 to 200 secrets a day.

The secrets come in all different shapes and sizes. He gets secrets drawn on regular postcards as well as report cards, sonograms, parking tickets, death certificates, hotel card keys, coffee bags, and even a Rubik’s cube.

The secrets range anywhere from, “I like to watch Dr. Phil, drunk” and “I pee in the sink” to “Everyone who knew me before 9/11 thinks I am dead” and “I know how to fix my life, I just choose not to.”

People have asked Warren if he receives a lot of secrets about crime, violence, or homicide and he explained that he does not. However, he also revealed that he gets a surprising number of secrets about suicide. He even concluded, “Suicide is America’s secret.”

Warren said for every homicide in America, two people take their own lives. He believes that through sharing secrets about thoughts of suicide or other hurtful issues, people can release themselves from these problems.

Warren expressed that sharing these tough secrets can raise awareness and give hope. He shared that PostSecret is very philanthropic and in the three years PostSecret has existed, it has already raised $150,000 for the suicide prevention hotline (1-800-SUICIDE).

“Sometimes the only thing that can make me feel better is coming here, and remembering I’m not the only one who feels this bad.” – PostSecret Blog

Warren said he believes that anyone has the power to grow from their own secrets. He expressed this statement by telling his own secret.

The Reilly Room was dead silent as he recounted the secret that he had not uncovered to anyone since it had happened in the fourth grade. The secret is that a new boy had come to his school and became known for his charismatic leadership. He made two of Warren’s best friends pin Warren down and hold open his eyelids. The boys then proceeded in taking turns spitting into Warren’s eyes.

“I feel more whole,” Warren said about every time he shares the secret with people.

He respects the courage people show in sharing their feelings, hopes, fears, and dreams in their secrets and hopes that people will continue to do so.

Warren left Butler students with a very simple conclusion that summed up his whole presentation. “Free your secrets and become who you are.”