Emotional being I am, for I shed tears every once so often justified or not. I cry because I am happy, on cloud number nine, or for sorrow when I am at my lowest ebb and overcome with emotion. I cry in moments when I feel helpless, hopeless, confused and life seems so complex and unbearable, with perceptively no way out of a dark situation. I cry at thoughts, fears, concerns, reflections as my mental state lingers around my life journey and I need to vent tears that will take me to sleep when I cannot by myself. Shedding a tear does not change or lessen the burden of my situation, but it is an act that respects not logic nor conforms to boundaries, whether of race, color, gender, religion or geography. It is an act which flows deep from my human nature, and in the same way that your blood is red no matter who you are, tears are colorless and transparent no matter who you are, cutting across humanity to confirm and affirm our vulnerability, susceptibility and unity in diversity.
They have no respect for hierarchy and dignity, time and place as well as company surrounding you. The more you suppress them sometimes, the more they flow. Even with your eyes closed they continue flowing, to declare that you cannot deny your presence, existence and humanity. Even the most hardened of criminal, gangster or thug, has shed a tear or two at some point in their life. They are human after all. Tears like a substitute soccer player, wait on the sidelines of your life, getting ready for the moment of deployment into action. They are there lurking patiently as if preying and waiting for the right button to be pressed after which they flow. To one person tears come as easy as saying the alphabet, while for another they are as difficult to find as the top of Mount Kilimanjaro, but at some point a tear is shed, and with it memories of a person, moment, experience or loss.
Let your tears flow, for they speak of your life experiences, who you are, where you have been and where you are going. Do not restrict nor confine them forever, for then you will never know how human and vulnerable yet strong and resilient you are. Let your tears speak your life story and path, and I will dare comfort you knowing that you have been here, written and left a story. A story of sadness and joy, pain and endurance, trial and success, tribulation and delight, decrease and increase, loss and breakthrough. You have not come and gone like the wind, but you have grown, learnt, matured, thrived, struggled, fought, conquered, overcome, risen above and become. Let your tears flow and let them tell your story.
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"Let your tears speak your life story and path, and I will dare comfort you knowing that you have been here, written and left a story." Wonderful line and a great way to wrap up that free flow verse. Enjoyed it very much...I AM a cy-baby. You made me feel better about that:) PS. I love the Isley Brosthers too:)
ReplyDeleteThanks and there is never a reason to feel bad J, especially for a woman (oops, I am not being sexist). Cry baby? Where is the justice...there is your next blog haha. Crying is just a state of vulnerability which many do not want others to know about.
DeleteWhat beautiful words you've woven together. I'm finding, as well, the value of freely expressing emotion. Nothing like cleansing tears to open us up to new thoughts and feelings.
ReplyDeleteThanks Kate, after the tears there is always hope and a way forward. How long can anyone hide emotion?
DeleteHi Welli; this was an incredibly well written post. I felt like I was reading the work of a master wordsmith. you pointed out how important tears are in the good times and bad as well as in times of struggle and times of triumph. you should really be proud of this one, max
ReplyDeleteThank you Max you are too kind. I just let it flow out of me and I am glad you enjoyed it.
DeleteWell written. I like the line "let your tears flow and let them tell your story". So much meaning in this post. Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThanks Donna, I just believe that every tear drop tells a story. Many times when one cries, I have seen others comfort through nodding, agreeing and engaging in that tearful story.
DeleteWhat a beautiful, sensitive soul you are, Welli. Thank you for being a guy who isn't afraid to show it. When I see a man cry (maybe once in my life), it touches me more deeply than words can say. Maybe it's the same for all women; it is so rare to see a man cry for sadness or joy. Fists are the macho way. (What a horrible disservice too many societies/cultures have done to males.)
ReplyDeleteTears wash our hearts and make us human. Let's pray for the belligerent leaders of the world to weep from the wellsprings of their buried humanity. Maybe, just maybe, something would shift.
Thank you, Welli. And have you heard this one with its beautiful and tender lyrics? Tears of an Angel -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gg4zxY1vF1w
What a wonderful piece you sent Ramona, I enjoyed that, very soft gentle and full of meaning. I loved the words "the pleasure of love last a moment but the pain of love last a lifetime." Isn't this that makes people cry? Indeed I agree that if leaders would just find their buried humanity our world would indeed be better. There is so much hardness and macho way around.
DeleteI love this post on so many levels. So often we try so hard to keep the tears in and thus not share our stories. When we do, man or women, it's truly amazing what comes of it. Tears cleanse us and keeps us centered. It's important to remember that.
ReplyDeleteYes Sue, once one keeps the tears in, they can not really share their story. I like that line about tears cleansing us and keeping us centered.
DeleteOH my God. I was crying from last few hours and just to divert my attention I started reading this post and when I read about the importance of tears with different phases of life , happiness , sorrow , victory defeat it gave me bit satisfaction that I should not be shy to express my emotions and its not bad to be sentimental at times.
ReplyDeleteI am happy after reading this post. N you will not believe when I was crying I was thinking about tears , how when why they come and I was thinking to write but I do not this anyone can write better than this.
Hey Anna what an interesting coincidence that you read this just after you had been crying. I am glad it affirmed your emotions and that you can cry freely. I am glad the post made you happy.
DeletePowerful words for sure. Tears serve so many useful purposes, and one of the main things that made me certain my hubby was the one for me is that he wasn't afraid to cry in front of me.
ReplyDeleteVulnerability is such a human state is it not Jeri. Many men will work so hard to avoid it, as if they will die when they are, they put up walls but inside, everyone is vulnerable.
DeleteSince my Mum passed away I have found that a tear can burst through at any sentimental moment; sometimes even a commercial on tv. The best thing is that after the tears comes a smile of joy as I realize what is happening. The whole experience always makes me feel better.
ReplyDeleteSorry about your mum Tim, and yes it is interesting that the triggers come in many forms. Indeed one does smile in the midst of tears of pain and feeling better at the end is a good ending.
DeleteWell said. I am cry baby myself. I will cry easily and effortlessly. My tears sometime show up at wrong times. Usually I am embarrassed at my tears. Do anybody else cry when they got really really angry? I do.
ReplyDeleteI personally think people who cry when angry are better than those who don't, because at least they have that outlet and you know what they are feeling. Those who do not cry, you never know what they are thinking or capable of doing in their anger.
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