Craigslist Confessional
by Helena Dea Bala
For fans of Humans of New York and PostSecret, a collection of raw, urgent, and heartfelt stories, shared anonymously.What would you confess if you knew it would never get back to your spouse, your colleagues, or your family? What story would you tell about your life if a stranger was willing to listen with no judgement, no stigma, and no consequences—just an unburdening and the relief of confession? After graduating from law school, Helena Dea Bala was a lobbyist in Washington, DC, struggling to pay off her student loans. She felt lonely and unfulfilled but, after a chance conversation with a homeless man she often saw on her commute, she felt...better. Talking with a stranger, listening to his problems, and sharing her own made her feel connected and engaged in a way she hadn't in a long time. Inspired, she posted an ad on Craigslist promising to listen, anonymously and for free, to whatever the speaker felt he or she couldn't tell...