So, the submissions have begun to come in from all over the country and a few "other" options... which I would take to mean AK, HI or international. First thing I've noticed right off the bat, they have all been from women. This does not completely surprise me, getting men to air the dirty laundry is never an easy task. However, being anonymous I would think would make the process easier- and the participants more willing. I would love to her some of the men folks out there chime in with any insight on this one. Perhaps they just need more time to digest the project and becoming willing to share. While I am fully aware that men and women operate from much different places emotionally and such- for one second I cannot believe that men live without regrets of some sort. I was not intending this project to go the way of a study in gender behaviors, we shall see.
On to other unintended or not foreseen aspects to this projects. As I read these submissions that have come in at this point, I cannot help but have a reaction to them. Many of them are full of pain and brutal honesty. I have to say, I never once going into this whole thing considered what the effect on me would be as the keeper of these stories and all this pain. I am fairly certain that some of these stories have never better shared prior to being submitted, they are that gut wrenching. I am humbled that these people have entrusted me with something so sacred and at the same time I hope that it does not become a burden for me personally.
On to other unintended or not foreseen aspects to this projects. As I read these submissions that have come in at this point, I cannot help but have a reaction to them. Many of them are full of pain and brutal honesty. I have to say, I never once going into this whole thing considered what the effect on me would be as the keeper of these stories and all this pain. I am fairly certain that some of these stories have never better shared prior to being submitted, they are that gut wrenching. I am humbled that these people have entrusted me with something so sacred and at the same time I hope that it does not become a burden for me personally.