Sometimes a little mistake can become a secret that stays with us forever and this is exactly what happened to Kari Vallden, a 78-year-old man from Finland, who kept a secret for almost 6 decades (through his career, family life, and even personal tragedies). But he ended up revealing it… Why did he do that? What was the secret? Do you want to know the answer to these questions? Let’s find out more details about this story!
The secret that haunted Kari
In 1968, when Kari was only 21 years old, he was going through a difficult moment. He just finished his military service, his marriage was over, and he felt lost.
One day, he was at a market in the city of Lahti (Finland) and decided to make a phone call from a phone booth where he found a wallet full of money: 280 Finnish marks, which equals about $500 now.
At that moment, Kari took the money and left the empty wallet at the phone booth, but he immediately started feeling guilty for what he did. So, he came back to the cabin to give the money back, did he do that? No! What he did was to throw the wallet down a sewer to hide the evidence. That small action became a secret that haunted him for decades.
Doing what’s right
Finally, after 57 years, Kari decided to do something to compensate for what he did. He calculated how much would equal those 280 Finnish marks and he added a bit more, in total it was about $900 which he donated to the Lahti Shelter for Women and Children.
Kari hoped the money could help a mother going through a difficult time, reflecting the kind of hardship the wallet’s original owner might have faced. Even after donating the money, Kari felt he needed to fully free his conscience. So he decided to share his secret publicly.
Revealing the secret
The fact that he wanted to share his secret publicly shows that even after many years, it’s possible to correct a mistake and learn from it. His secret, finally shared, is a lesson about the importance of honesty and conscience in every decision we make.
Now, let’s see what Kari said to reveal his secret: “If this story reaches whoever lost that money, I want them to know I’m truly sorry. You have to think twice before acting, because sometimes second chances don’t come. And guilt, however small, can stay with you for life.”
So…
Kari’s story shows that a secret kept for such a long time can affect our lives a lot. Even something that happened decades ago can haunt us and remind us of the importance of doing what’s right.
In the end, he decided to do something positive to make up for his mistake, which may influence others to face their own secrets and remorses. This story is a powerful reminder that honesty and courage, no matter how long it takes, can lead to healing and make a positive difference in the world. What do you think about Kari’s decision? Was it exaggerated or the right thing to do?