Public, Private, Secret

 Public, Private, Secret

This is the tag line of the book I am reading these days. It’s a biography of Jaqueline Kennedy. 

The forward explains the tagline. 

I found that interesting. It says we all have three lives. One that is there for everyone to see. Second is for our family and close friends and third is just ourselves. Our deepest, darkest thoughts and desires we never share with anyone. 

Quite true. I can hear many of you saying that is not true. I have no secrets. I am what I am for everyone to see. I am not two faced. Even while saying so, deep down you know the reality. I think we all have a private and a secret aspect of our life and that is necessary for our mental balance. Not just for celebrities but for everyone. 

 

We are all entitled to a private life. With our family and friends we can relax and have a breathing space. We can chill and open our hearts to a large extent. We share our aspirations, ambitions and our desires. In fact the family and friends make important contributions by asking questions, offering help and providing moral and sometimes financial support. Of course they can be skeptical and ask uncomfortable questions but that can help us see our project or whatever endeavor it is from a different perspective. Many disasters in business have been averted because of family discussions and vice versa. 

But the third aspect of ourselves goes with us till death. Very few times and that is one in a million that we share our secret desires or thoughts with may be our spouse. Otherwise they remain buried in the multilayers of our persona. 

These compartments of our life help us in maintaining our mental peace. Their extent in our life can vary but they are important in our life. They are our refuge. In fact the third part helps us in making our solitude interesting.

What is the extent of these three in your life? 

Go ahead and have your secrets. 

So be it !!!