An Invitation to Begin

Episode 1 of Hidden Chapters is here! 

This is a soft introduction to the journey ahead! it’s not the official launch, but today, I’m gently turning the page and inviting you to listen when the moment feels right.  

A quick note:  You may hear a little crackling in this episode.  It’s not perfect, but I chose to share it anyway because the heart behind it matters more than the sound.  I’m learning as I go, and I’m so grateful you’re here to support. 

Thank you for listening through the imperfections - there’s so much more to come, and I can’t wait to grow with each new untold story.   

Transcript

SPEAKER_00: 0:02

Welcome to Hidden Chapters, a podcast where we explore the stories we keep tucked away. The ones we don't always talk about, but that shape who we are. I'm Genevieve, and in this first episode, we're diving into why we hide these parts of ourselves. We all have them, those chapters of our lives we keep to ourselves, sometimes out of fear, shame, or simply because we don't know how to share them. But what if... Sharing those stories is the key to understanding who we really are. What if in revealing these hidden chapters, we could connect with each other, find healing, and even inspire someone else to tell their own story? In today's episode, we'll explore what it means to keep a story hidden, why we do it, and what happens when we finally decide to share it. Let's dive into the power of uncovering those untold parts of ourselves. This is it, episode one of Hidden Chapters. I'm Genevieve, and I couldn't be more excited to finally bring this podcast to life. For as long as I can remember, I've been drawn to the stories people don't usually tell. The struggles, the turning points, the moments that shape us but often stay hidden. And let's be real, we all have them. I have mine. That's why I created Hidden Chapters, to give space to these untold stories. And in this first episode, I wanted to talk about why we keep certain parts of our stories hidden and why sharing them can be so powerful. So, why do we keep parts of our stories hidden? People hold back parts of their past for many reasons, often deeply personal and complex. Maybe we want to share only the polished parts of our lives. The most defining moments are often the ones we keep to ourselves. Maybe it's fear, fear of judgment, of being misunderstood, or having our struggles define us. Maybe it's shame, or a deep-seated belief that what happens to us should stay in the past. Sometimes we don't talk about certain things, because we're still trying to make sense of them ourselves. And other times, we stay silent, because we feel like no one would really understand. But the thing is, so many of us are carrying untold stories, stories that shape us in ways the world never sees. And when we don't share them, we start to believe we're the only ones who've ever felt this way. Think about yourself. What's a part of your story you rarely talk about? What's something that shaped you but isn't common knowledge? I have a few examples of what this looks like, not from any one person's story, but from the kinds of experiences so many people have lived through. You might recognize pieces of your own story in some of these, or maybe they'll remind you of someone you know. Either way, they show just how much we all carry beneath the surface. So let's talk about the first example. Take the military spouse. The military spouse who spent years moving from place to place, supporting their partner's career, holding their families together. They're proud of their role. But deep down, they feel lost. They've had to put their own dreams on hold, sacrificing pieces of their identity for the sake of duty and stability. And yet, when people ask them how they're doing, they just smile and say, I'm fine. Because admitting that they feel invisible or unfulfilled, that might sound ungrateful. So they keep that part of their story hidden. Then there's the strong friend. The one everyone turns to for advice, for comfort, for support. The one who always knows the right thing to say, the right thing to do. But what no one sees is that when they're the one struggling, they don't know who to turn to. They don't want to burden anyone. They're so used to being the rock that the idea of asking for help feels impossible. So they stay silent. They push through, and their struggles remain hidden. Or what about the person who on the outside looks like they have it all together? The career success, the picture-perfect life, the kind of accomplishments that others admire. But behind the scenes, they're struggling, battling anxiety. burnout, or maybe even something deeper, like depression. They don't talk about it because they worry that admitting their struggle might make them seem weak or like they don't deserve the success they've worked so hard for. So they keep smiling, keep performing, and keep that part of their story hidden. And then there's the person who finally walked away from a toxic relationship, whether it was a partner, a friend, or even a family member. From the outside, it might seem like they just moved on. But the truth is, they carry wounds that no one can see. They don't share the details because they don't want to seem bitter or like they're dwelling on the past. So they stay quiet, even though the experience changed them in ways they'll never fully explain. What if we knew these stories? How would it change how we see the people around us? This is just the beginning. In the episodes ahead, we'll be diving into the untold stories of real people just like you and me. Stories of resilience, transformation, and the unexpected twists life throws our way. Because when we start sharing, we realize we're not alone. Thank you so much for joining me for the first chapter of Hidden Chapters. There's power in sharing these stories, both for ourselves and for others. And that's exactly what we'll continue to do here. next time though we dive even deeper as I share a story very close to my heart my own hidden chapter intertwined with my mom's story with my birthday and mother's day around the corner I couldn't think of a better way to honor her and share the hidden chapters that have shaped us both I hope you'll join me next time to hear a story of resilience love and the bonds that define us until then take care of yourself keep listening and remember The stories we hide are just waiting to be shared.