What are the things you wanted to say but never did?
5As a photographer, Geloy Concepcion’s motto is to stay looking and listening to the world around him.
I was working as a professional photographer in the Philippines, explained Concepcion. I got married and then my wife gave birth here, and so we decided 'okay, let’s move to the U.S. and try our luck.’
When Geloy moved from the Philippines to the United States in 2019, he faced hardship as he awaited his work permit. When he received it, the pandemic struck.
They say the first three years of your life as an immigrant would be the most challenging ones, and it’s true, said Geloy. (It) made me feel very isolated.
Those struggles as an immigrant really started my yearning for connections, like human connections, he added. I just realized that if I’m going through this, then I’m sure a lot of people…also have their own struggles.
Geloy took to social media and posted a question for his 3,000 followers. Little did he know it would kick off a project that impacts people across the globe.
I posted on my story, on my Instagram, the question 'What are the things you wanted to say but never did?’ said Concepcion. If you feel isolated, you kind of have a lot of things in your head you wish you can say but for some reason you can’t. I was surprised that I got answers.
Things You Wanted to Say But Never Did shares anonymous thoughts, fears, and confessions paired with powerful imagery through Instagram. The social media project has become a safe place for people around the globe to confront hardships.
People send Geloy notes via a Google form (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScHTq4nNsM3TbO3Rn2uVQnnpMtBF30Uvy47OJApLXTh5WQ6WA/viewform) to share what they want to say but can’t for personal reasons. Each week, he picks 10 anonymous notes to share on his account, hoping that someone going through the same thing will read and feel less lonely.
Now, it’s 700,000 strangers in one community, shared Concepcion. The letters I received from the project became more and more personal, love, childhood trauma, regrets, grief, and sometimes joy.
Geloy personally writes the notes in his handwriting. He pairs each note with photos that match the tone of the feeling expressed, hoping that someone going through the same thing will read and feel less lonely.
I received a note about someone who was planning to take his own life, he chanced upon the project at the right time and it kind of saved his life. He postponed his plans, said Concepcion. That moment made me realize that the project grew beyond me.
This year, Geloy released his book (https://www.harpercollinsfocus.com/harper-celebrate/things-you-wanted-to-say-but-never-did/#order), "Things You Wanted to Say But Never Did: A Photographic Journal to Process Your Feelings." Geloy’s book includes notes, photos, and journal pages, so readers can keep a record of their feelings and insights.
The project really helped me too personally, I started it out trying to look for common ground, said Concepcion. I feel like the project made me more considerate, kinder in dealing with other people.
He added, All of us have our own struggles, I hope that this project impacts other people the same as it affects me.
For more information, visit linktr.ee/Geloyconcepcion and follow @geloyconcepcion on Instagram.
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