when i put this page up in january i figured maybe three people would read it, and one of them would be my mom. instead people started writing to me. a lot of them started their e-mail with "i've never told anyone this," which i understand completely, since that's how i started this page.

i asked if i could share a few, first names only. here they are. if you're reading this alone in your room at 1 a.m. with your heart going, these are for you.

"i'm 31 and i have never once called in my own prescription refill. my wife does it. i always told myself i was just busy. reading your list of things you couldn't do was like reading my own mail."
— michael

"the part about walking to the pizza place in february. i laughed out loud and then i cried a little, because i have done that, in buffalo, which is worse."
— dena

"i'm a sophomore. i read your page and the next day i went to my school's counseling center. i walked away from the door twice, like you. the third time i went in. i have my first appointment friday. i wanted you to know."
— yolanda

"i'm a high school teacher and i'm going to be a lot more careful about calling on the quiet ones 'to help them out.' thank you for the shell-on-fire line. i'll remember it."
— brian

"i didn't know there was a name for it. i'm 34. i thought i was just a coward. i'm going to talk to my doctor about it at my checkup next month. i've written it on the calendar so i can't pretend i forgot."
— suzanne

"i made a ladder after i read yours. my bottom rung is 'make eye contact with the bus driver.' i did it this morning. it doesn't sound like much. it was much."
— andrew

"i found the zimbardo book at a used bookstore after reading this. you're right about the brown corduroy."
— gregory

"i'm 28 and i work nights stocking shelves at a grocery store so i don't have to talk to customers. i'm good at my job. but i'd like to have a choice someday. this page made me think i could."
— willard

"my daughter is 16 and won't eat in the cafeteria at her school. i always thought she was being dramatic. i'm so sorry, and i'm calling her school counselor tomorrow, and tonight i'm going to tell her about your page."
— renee, one of several moms who wrote

i answer every one of these, and i will answer yours. it's the easiest thing in the world for me, writing back. it's the only thing on my whole ladder that was never on it.

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