Society has ingrained in us the belief that “Boys Don’t Cry.” While there’s also a growing movement advocating that “Girls Also Don’t Cry,”
However, I am going the other way. “Boys/Girls, Please Cry!!”
When it comes to crying, I unfortunately fall in the lower segment of 1-5. This maybe due to the fact that I am a boy, or the way I was raised, or the social stigma, or due to my recent Vipassana learnings of equanimity 🧘.
But then I stumbled across this amazing animated movie “Inside Out”. If you have not seen it, I highly recommend it. Without giving too many spoilers, it demonstrated the importance of feeling sad.
This movie put a question mark on my understanding. And over time, after my own personal experience, I am more than convinced that “Crying” makes my life happier (as also shown by the movie).
These days I look for reasons to cry. My wife is a natural at it. Often I am jealous of her.
Cry, Cry, Cry!
I have come to see crying as a pure emotion. It’s a sign that we’re feeling something deeply, whether it’s love, longing, or heartache. And every time I have let myself cry, I have felt lighter afterward. I have forged deeper connections with the people around me, and most importantly, I have felt more human.
With all my Vipassana training, experiencing emotions is becoming a rarity. So these are invaluable moments for me.
Sure, there’s still a stigma around crying, especially for guys. But the benefits of crying are way too much to care of society.. Coldplay’s “Cry Cry Cry” (Spotify) has been my anthem lately.
So, here’s my message to you: don’t be afraid to cry. Whether it’s in front of a friend or all by yourself, let those tears flow. It’s not a sign of weakness; it’s a sign of strength and vulnerability. You will love it!
Happy Crying.
Recent times when I cried (You can use them as well 😛):
- Watching the movie GoodBye
- This AGT audition by one Dad for his girls
- This inspirational video on the cover of “You Raise Me Up”
Reply in the comments with the times that you cried.