In some countries, crying is perceived as a sign of weakness. You hear sayings about how men should not cry, because if they do, that means that they are weak. People cry for different reasons. Sometimes we cry because of the loss of a loved one, or because we just cannot take the situations in our lives anymore. Some of us cry because we are overjoyed, and some of use cry because the movie makes us too damn emotional. Jerry McGuire, anyone?
The first time I cried uncontrollably was when my older sister died. My sister’s boyfriend (at that time) had to carry me out of the church. I missed the whole ceremony. I could not understand why mother never cried. In fact, she was the only one who did not cry. I guess some people deal with pain differently. My sister died when she was 29 years old. She had a complicated disease; one of the ones that doctors cannot diagnose. Memories of her kept popping in my head. She never had her own children, but she became the mother of four siblings when my mom left Haiti to come to the US in 1985. She was my mother. She taught me how to cook, braid hair, and she took my best-kept secret to her grave. I mourned her death for years after the funerals.
The second time I cried was not in public; well, sort of. I was praying in my closet and I started crying from out of no where. I did not realize that I was screaming until my husband entered the room. He held me without asking what in the Barnacles –in Spongebob’s language– was wrong with me. It was the kind of crying that I needed to do. Crying replaced the words that I could not find to express my anger toward my father. He destroyed my teenage years, and he was about to do the same to my marriage. My anger was the baggage that I brought into my marriage. My husband and I could not get along after we moved into our first house, and I thought it was his fault. I was the problem. God showed me that day that it was okay to cry. I needed it. I left all my anger in that room that day. How I got out of control until my husband heard me is still a mystery to me.
Now I cry out to God every time I feel overwhelmed. He always sends me a helper somehow. Most of the time it is that little voice inside me, a gut feeling that whispers, “Everything is going to be okay. Trust me.” Sometimes it is a phone call from my sister, or a rose and a bottle of Pinot Noir from my husband. There is nothing shameful about crying. You may cry until you lose control, but that does not mean that you are weak. It only means that you are getting rid of the old and you are making room for the new. If crying is all you feel like doing at a certain point in your life, do it! Cry in the shower, in your closet, or in public if you cannot control it. It is okay to cry! Those who say crying is a sign of weakness have certainly never experienced it. So they have no idea what they are talking about.
Do certain movies make you emotional?
*Photo credit
Some see it as a sign of weakness but i say, "Get it all out if you need to cause you will feel better after".
http://www.thefashionstirfry.com
Crying does make me feel better. Thank you!
Very emotional write up Nerline! I cry too much, I cry at little things, big things, everything! I would say most times unnecessarily. I cry when I see someone else cry. It's that bad.
I cry when I see other people cry too, Onyeka. Thank you!
You are an emotional mess! you know I love you:-)
XO 🙂
Totally agree with Busola!!!!!!
Great post Nerline… always original!!!!!
Kisses hun!
Thank, Paola!
I've tried stopping by several times but it gave me a message something like I didn't have permission to access your blog. Not sure what that was about but I didn't intend to be a stranger.
The uncontrollable crying out of nowhere in my faith called the holy spirit. It's a good thing from what we believe. Crying is therapeutic. I cried many nights in the shower during the days when my husband had cancer. I wanted to be strong for him so he could know that everything would be ok. I felt like crying in front of him would not help the fight that was ahead of us. It would only make him worry. I do believe crying is helpful because if not, you'll find yourself grieving later.
You have journaled a touching story. Thanks for sharing and I'm sorry about your past struggles. However, the power of God seen you through back then and will continue being your guiding light in the future.
Divachyk @Relaxed Thairapy
Thanks, Jay. That's very comforting.
Only strong people cry! I always cry when i watch movies like Titanic etc.
Very powerful post!
x Lori
http://fabeau-trends.blogspot.com
So sorry you went through that lost when I lost my brother due to cancer my mom did not cry found out she scream and cry in private later that night. Your mom was being strong for the rest of her kids maybe she cry in private to.
http://tifi11.blogspot.com
I am sorry about your brother, Jackie. I am pretty sure my mom cried in private. Thanks hun!
Sorry for your loss and thanks for this beautiful message. I always cry when watching sad movies likeThe Butler.
effortlesslady.blogspot.ca
Thanks, Dianna! I need to see the Butler!