Alone with my Secrets

I thought I'd start with two of the largest fandoms out there, the two shinning stars of English TV, BBC's Sherlock and Doctor Who.

Both shows have a high level of attention from Steven Moffat, co-creator of Sherlock and Doctor Who's lead writer after Russell T. Davies, whom many fans love to hate.

I find it supremely satisfying when I find parallels between the two shows about breaking down misconceptions--specifically about secrets and isolation.

Images from Fanpop, edited by moi.

Sherlock Holmes is the quintessential Autistic man. Though he would tell you he's a sociopath (antisocial personality disorder in the states), it doesn't rule out his often extreme behavior that is associated with Autism and/or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. But we could quibble all day about diagnosis,  I'd like to focus on a more common misconception of many people that experience suffering (i.e. the universal hardship of living). This misconception is the idea that isolation is some how protective, that being alone is safer than having connections.

"Alone is what I have. Alone protects me." 

I know that I have felt that way at times--that alone is better than trying to explain the painful process of what I am going through. But then there's John; and he says the thing we all need to hear at times-- "No. Friends protect people."

The second part of this we find on Doctor Who, with the 11th incarnation of the amazing Time Lord and his traveling companion in time and space, Clara. The Doctor has a long history, and not every companion ends up delving into his shrouded past and the doctor would have us believe that there is a good reason for this.

Images from screencapped.net, edited by moi.

Clara Oswin Oswald is one of those rare companions that, for the most part, does what the Doctor tells her. (Honestly, who does what they're doctor tells them? Really?) And when she stumbles upon one of the Doctor's most well kept, closely held secrets, he insists she forget that information. Even in the midst of being fried by the TARDiS, he desperately holds onto Clara, straining, "Secrets protect us. Secrets make us safe." To which Clara replies, gesturing to their impending demise, "We're NOT safe!"

I find the combination of these two scenes from Sherlock and Doctor Who to be beautiful, telling us two important things. The secrets that we lock away from the world, and ourselves, or when we lock ourselves away from connections with others, we think we are protecting ourselves and loved ones. But we are not.

It's not easy, it might even be emotionally painful, but those feelings and secrets only heal when we share them with others. I hope you have the courage to share your thoughts with someone. Maybe you won't bring that important secret up yet, but share something of yourself and find that others are happy to know you a little better.