The Honest Letters began as a set of letters addressed to my elementary school teachers confessing things I did when I was their student—things such as cheating on my vocabulary test or having my brother finish my history project. It was a playful idea that came out of the blue, and I caught hold of it.

These letters slowly became a larger project as I included letters admitting things to friends, co-workers, and my younger self. I then decided to open submissions up to the public to see if anyone was willing to share their secrets as well. It turns out a handful of people were.

This growing collection of letters is an opportunity for readers to see that they are not alone in their experience as humans. Maybe the reader has lied to get something they wanted or cried in secret on the way home or wished they could be someone else—but others have done these things as well. Honest Letters is a chance to see ourselves in others and laugh at our similarities in hopes of dispelling separateness and inspiring togetherness.