Sometimes You Just Gotta Cry

Crying can be good. The best cry, I think we'd all agree, is when you've cried good and long and feel cleansed, like your tears carried all the sadness, anger, or frustration you had inside of you.

But sometimes crying and feeling worse afterwards is good, too. Because let's face it: no matter your past or current situation, all of us have felt intense pain. We may even be feeling intense pain now. As silly as we may feel at the torture of something like a lost crush or failure in school or work, those things that truly make us feel that way are valid. And that, sometimes, calls for a good cry.

Those cries are the times we need to acknowledge that life is pain (quote: Princess Bride), facing the truth and coming to terms with reality. This, as much as it hurts, is a good thing. It offers a chance for growth in the future. It also means that we are being real human beings instead of denying ourselves the experience of all parts of life.

I believe there is a difference between stewing in pain and heartache and allowing yourself to feel pain when it comes. Sometimes we can't get out of that rut of sadness, and that is true depression. When we keep ourselves there for the romantic drama of sadness, that is unhealthy. It is a lie, and no better than denying yourself real pain and the chance for that good cry.

One of the worst things we can do is beat ourselves up for feeling that way. There are plenty of things we will do in life that warrant that sort of reaction, and even then we have to learn to forgive ourselves eventually. Those times of valid sadness should be, for lack of a better term, indulged.

After we've allowed ourselves time to cry, and after that pain has subsided (for the time being), things will seem brighter. Even if we have to feel bad(ly?) for a long time afterward, eventually life will lighten up. 97% of life sucks, but that other 3% sure does make it all worth it.