Day 128/365 - "Hide"
365 Days 365 Stories, Come, Slow Down with Stories.
"Heat of the moment" - Did you ever make a decision, a statement, or act in the 'heat of the moment'? Share the story today.
We all hide things.
We’ve all hidden something at some point — a feeling, a mistake, a letter, a snack, a scar, a piece of truth, a version of ourselves. Sometimes it’s playful, like a childhood game of ‘hide & seek’! Other times, protective, a deliberate cover-up.
Sometimes, we’re not even aware we’re hiding something—until it slips out in a moment of vulnerability or clarity.
Hiding is not always about deceit. Often, it is about safety. Or shame. Or not being ready. Or not knowing what to do. Children hide to delay bedtime. Lovers hide their disappointment in silence. A parent hides tears behind the kitchen sink. A colleague hides struggle behind performance. A friend hides pain with laughter.
This prompt invites you to peek into that cupboard of concealment. What did you hide? A letter you never posted? A feeling you never voiced? A childhood scar? A little mischief or a big truth? Did you hide it to protect someone—or yourself? Or did the hiding happen by habit, without you even realizing it?
Did you ever feel lighter after hiding it? Or heavier?
What happened when it was discovered? Or is it still tucked away?
The story you uncover here isn’t just about what was hidden, but why. And in that 'why' lies the heart of the story.
You don’t need to go digging for dramatic revelations. Even a seemingly small act of hiding—like pretending to be okay when you weren’t—can hold emotional depth.
Let this prompt be a gentle excavation.
How to Use This Story?
Stories about hiding often carry themes of vulnerability, transformation, and emotional complexity. This kind of story can open up rich conversations — in classrooms, teams, therapy rooms, or storytelling circles — about trust, identity, and human need. Use it when you want to build empathy, normalize inner conflict, or explore the layers behind someone’s behavior. You can also pair it with visual metaphors (like a box, a mask, a shadow) or creative exercises where others draw or write what they hide.
Storytelling Tip:
When telling a story about hiding, resist the urge to rush to the reveal. Linger in the space of concealment — what it felt like, what you told yourself, how your body responded, how the world around you looked from behind the curtain. Suspense isn’t always about plot — it’s about emotion. Let your listeners stay in that quiet place with you, and they'll feel the story deeply when it unfolds.
#SlowDownWithStories and join #365Days365Stories journey!
✨New to 365 Days 365 Stories? Begin here.
✨Spend an hour with yourself. While this prompt will drop into your inbox in the morning, carry it with you through the day. Take a break during the day to recall the events in the story.
✨Journal your story privately if you don’t want to share it openly. Write to me [contact@yourstorybag.com] if you’re following the prompts & enjoying the process.
✨Share your story with your family, friend, colleague, customer, team or even a stranger. Feel free to lead them to **365days365stories.substack.com** so they can join the movement.
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✨ If a prompt doesn’t click with you, make your own! I would love to add your prompt to our repository.
✨ Don’t feel like working on a story? Focus on living the story!
Happy Storytelling!
Rituparna