The Benefits of Crying

Studies have found that those who NEVER cry are by far the strongest amongst us, both mentally and physically.

JUST KIDDING! Our culture has done us a huge disservice by equating repressed feelings with strength. I feel very lucky to have been raised by a mom who always encouraged me to “have a good cry,” and trust me, I often do. However, growing up I got more than my fair share of pleads and scolds to stop crying. (It turns out many school teachers are deeply uncomfortable when you cry in class.) You’ll learn in this newsletter that humans evolved with the ability to cry emotionally for very good reasons. It’s a normal human reaction that should be encouraged.

That cashier who just snapped at you? He probably needs a good cry over the recent death of his cat. When these emotions are kept inside, they often slip out sideways, cleverly disguised as anger.

Speaking of anger, if you want a surefire way to enrage me (I hope you don’t, but just in case), tell a grieving person to stop crying within my earshot. I understand that it often comes from a good place, but as a society, we need to learn how to sit with others in their despair and not rush to fix it or shut it down. I truly believe the world would be a kinder place if we all cried more often*.

I could go on forever about shedding tears, but who reads long intros to newsletters? (If you do, oh my gosh, THANK YOU.) Now on to the super cool stuff! As always, keep scrolling and you’ll find the artwork and song of the month, as well as a delightfully funny comic.

Thank you so much for your support, I deeply appreciate it. If you or a loved one needs to talk about any end-of-life issues, I’m here for you.