Love that you’re finishing up Stranger Things. When I knew season 5 was coming I re watched Seasons 1-4. I even convinced Chuck to watch 5 with me and he was engrossed.

So, about secrets. There are, as you pointed out, many sayings about secrets. “Our secrets keep us sick” is one that was often used to help people in both addiction recovery and in recovering from abuse. Shining light on secrets is, I think, essential for healing because they are so often based in shame.

However, I once heard a distinction that has also really stuck with me. What I was told is that “secrets can keep us sick or keep us in shame, but everyone has a right to privacy. And they are two different things”.

I think if we go too far into thinking that all our private thoughts and deeds, which we may choose not to share with others, are secrets, and therefore problems, we can get into trouble. I believe every being has an inner world-humans, animals, etc. And not every bit of that inner world needs to be public. And that’s ok.