“Three can keep a secret, if two of them are dead. -Benjamin Franklin
It’s not easy keeping secrets. Because, we know what we aren’t allowed to do is what we’d want to do the most. And we spill the secrets, most often, without intending to. Not that it makes it any more justifiable but here are some reasons why we really can’t keep secrets!
Can you relate to them?
1. It’s stressful as hell!
Do you remember the time your friend asked you not to tell anyone about the thing you eventually told someone? Charge me as guilty, but I sure do. Not because that person didn’t matter to me or anything but solely because I felt like I was carrying around huge blocks of lead on my shoulders! And when I did spill the beans, I breathed a sigh of relief! *Phew*
2. It makes you the star of the group, doesn’t it?
I am so sure everyone has a friend in their group who is called ‘The Gossip Girl.’ It’s kind of sexist if you ask me, because I have a guy friend who is our group’s Gossip Queen! But yeah, people love to tell tales because they love being so important! Who doesn’t love hearing other people’s secrets, anyway?
3. You just crave attention! It’s not really your fault, right?
You are just sitting there in the corner with the secret held tight inside you. You aren’t even planning to commit the utmost horror of telling anyone about it. Everyone around you is joking and having fun. And you realise they have forgotten your existence. Like, how could they?! And that’s exactly when the darkness that rules you makes you blurt it out. There! Now, everyone has your attention. And you smile sheepishly. Sorry friend, your evil mind says!
4. It’s so much easier to shift the responsibilities!
A friend whispered in your ear the secret that they want you to take to the grave. Well, honestly, that’s a huge responsibility; keeping your mouth shut about that thing forever? And your brain keeps thinking about it all the time! And, you decide to shift that very serious responsibility. You go to another friend, whisper in his/her ear and then add, ‘Don’t tell anyone about it. Take it to your grave!’. Done. Responsibility shifted. And you go back to your sweet, carefree life.
5. You just can’t shut up!
Do you talk a lot? I mean, so much that it’s extremely difficult to shut up? Then, I can bet you spilled out that secret you were not meant to only because you don’t have a zip to seal your babbling mouth.
6. Because Silence is so uncomfortable!
There must have been ample occasions when there is Silence, who so dominantly is showing its presence and that is so uncomfortable and annoying! And you search your head for something to talk about and then decide, ‘What the hell! What are secrets for?’ and you beat Silence. And probably break that promise of keeping the secret. But yeah, silence is definitely more terrifying!
7. Damn alcohol!
You are perfectly innocent here. You didn’t mean to. You didn’t want to. You wouldn’t have done it, had it not been for that night in the club, where you lost track of the number of drinks you had, your senses and probably, your morality. But you were under the influence, right? So that’s alright? Just, maybe?
Let’s just quit having secrets. That’ll make things easier. No secrets, no spilling, no guilt, happy lives!