Private

Last week, a friend sent me this picture.

I've yet to figure out if she was being funny or if it was constructive criticism.

But it doesn't matter.

As I said to her then, and as most everyone has figured out by now, I don't keep much private.

Humans are funny.

By design, we're social creatures. Most of us crave the company of others, and we know that social connections are a crucial component of mental health.

Isolation leads to anxiety and depression.

So we form groups, clubs, and organizations to congregate with like-minded people.

Churches.

Lodges.

Fan clubs.

Coalitions.

Facebook Groups.

All of it to share common interests or goals.

But then there are things we're not supposed to talk about. Topics we take off the table because they are deemed private.

Yet, if you look at isolation, people often feel isolated because they are going through something and feel like they are the only ones.

Years ago, I wrote a story about my younger daughter's struggles with anxiety. I talked about how it shaped her life, affected our family's life, and how I struggled to cope with it.

In response, I received dozens of private messages, phone calls, and even folks stopping by to share a story about their child's struggles with anxiety.

In some cases, I could see the relief on their face.

"OMG, I thought it was just us."

We need to know that we're not alone.

Similarly, we need to know what's possible.

We need inspiration.

Seeing how other people are doing things helps us figure out how to do our things.

I am incredibly grateful to the handful of people who have been open books to me. To the people who have shared the who, what, when, where, why, and how of their failures and successes.

To those who talked to me about things you're not supposed to discuss.

Because I wouldn't be where I am today without them.

More importantly, I'd have much less chance of getting to where I'm going without them.

But since I'm going, I'll keep sharing—even the things I'm supposed to keep private.

I doubt I'll post my tax returns, but when I'm consistently making $10,000 weekly, I'll share that with you and answer any questions you have about how I did it.

My next moves are building out a retail space in a building I own, opening an IV Therapy Clinic, & opening a bar - which I've already shared.

And my love life?

Well, let's just say Julia's just returned from a week in Acadia National Park, and we've got no kids at home tonight.