I overshared, again. Of authenticity and vulnerability.

We all know that person. 

That person who can’t read the room. 

That person with low social cues. 

That person who shares a little too much.

That person you avoid after that bathroom break slash social human reroute. 

If oversharing was a person, there ought to be someone you’d immediately picture. 

It is fact that oversharing or the act of running your mouth a little too much makes people feel uncomfortable. 

Hearing too much can be a bit too much. 

But here’s my take: oversharing is inescapable. 

How many times do we find ourselves ranting to a friend, only to apologize for being too talkative? 

How many times do we give the classic “You don’t need to reply” or “Reply when you’re free” when in all honesty we’d love to receive that reply soonest? 

How many times do we recall an exact moment and die in cringe for even saying something? 

I know I have. 

Oversharing is a natural adult phenomena that happens more often than we think. The older we get, the more often we overshare. 

We share because we need to let it out. 

We share because it makes us feel heard. 

We share because we yearn for connection. 

And for some, sharing draws out attention, followed by instant validation. 

Come to think of it, oversharing has gotten so stigmatised that we don’t even dare to try. We all don’t want to be that person so we just keep mum and hold it to ourselves. We’d rather be the recipient versus being the deliverer, at least we don’t run the risk of vulnerability.

But if you haven’t realized it — everybody talks. 

You’re damned if you talk too much and you’re judged if you share too little. We catch our breath after hearing their story but we also hope for a remnant of that courage to share our own. 

So, just talk. 

It’s not in your control how people will feel with what you have to say. You’ll be a bit overwhelming for others, pretty underwhelming for the rest. And you’ll never really know what others think about you. 

So, just talk. 

The more you withhold yourself, the higher the chances of sudden overshare with the wrong people at the wrong time. 

Oversharing naturally elicits discomfort because people don’t know what to do when someone is able to own up to their stories and their feelings. Vulnerability is often responded with nonchalance because it’s not often people face up to what they have to say. So share what you want to share, say what you wish to express. Share if it feels right, share even if it feels uncertain. 

If vulnerability means authenticity then you owe it to yourself to fully embrace that person. 

But tread carefully and know that sharing can only take you so much. Your right to freedom and expression doesn’t equate to a free pass in self-centeredness.

Know your true intentions and be reminded of the reality that no amount of storytelling, sharing, or conversation can heal the deeper reason why you are sharing much more than you usually would. It’s easy to find people to listen to you but not all people will be there to stay. 

Whether it be loneliness, validation, attention, or connection — you will not find the answer you are looking for through that person or that audience faced upon you. 

Because after that moment has passed, the conversation has gone, and the night is over, there will be no other person to listen to you. No more words to validate your feelings. No more replies to make you feel heard. 

So, overshare if you must. 

Overshare with no hesitation. 

Overshare if your soul quenches for it. 

But once it is over, share.