This is What Happens When You Share Your Stories

I’ve been writing personal essays here off and on for almost three years. I often wonder if I share too much about my life and my experiences with the world. Recently, I shared my thoughts on what makes a story, our story.

I know if it’s something I struggle with, others may too.

We’ve all heard, there are two sides to every story. We know it’s true and I don’t discount that. Whether you’re recounting the best day of your life or the worst, someone else who was involved will tell the story differently than you.

We all have different perspectives and that’s our prerogative.

But what about sharing too much?

Is there such a thing as over sharing? I recently shared a story reviewing a sex toy. This isn’t my normal niche, though I talk about sex and sex positivity here. My initial post was on Instagram, which is shared instantly to my personal Facebook page.

Honestly, I forgot that option was clicked on.

Cue Facebook messenger blowing up like the 4th of July.

I was pleasantly surprised at the number of positive messages I received from people I don’t normally interact with regularly. Most wanted to know how I got involved with sex toy testing, wondering if there was a way for them to do so.

There was the nasty message or three.

Those, I quickly nipped in the bud with a response of, don’t like it, don’t look. I deleted them from my page after I noted the message was read, then blocked.

I got three nasty messages, two of which were people I’ve known for over 20 years and I blocked them without a second thought. I made a promise to myself not too long ago to no longer live feeling ashamed of what I do and how I feel.

Throughout my life, I’ve always been too much for most people. At least, that’s how they made me feel. What I realize is, that’s not exactly true.

I’m not too much, they’re too close-minded.

You don’t have to enjoy what I write, what I feel, or how I think.

It’s just as much your right to remove yourself from anything that makes you uncomfortable as it is mine to share my thoughts with the world.

“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” — Maya Angelou, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

That quote changed my life as a child. I read I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings and realized for the first time; it was not only okay for me to tell my story; I needed to tell it.

If it were not for strong, brave women like Maya Angelou, women like me would still cower in the shadows, meekly surviving life, not thriving and living.

A review of a sex toy may seem like a silly place to take a stand, but it’s my hill to die on if I choose.

Is there such a thing as over sharing? For me, I don’t think so. I think we all have the right to share what comes natural to us, to be as vulnerable as we choose.

We do what we must to heal, to educate, and to live.