WHY ARE YOU CRYING? A QUESTION FOR YOU, NOT THE KIDDOS

Miss 5 was snuggled by my side as we watched a montage of video messages. She looked up smiling and joyful as she had several times before, then her face softened. 'Are you crying?' she asked.

'Yes. Happy tears.'

And they were happy tears. Tears of gratitude and appreciation for the messages people in my life had taken time to share as we celebrated 10 years of Developing Dreams.

I wasn't the only one who shed tears that night. At times I heard women ask - half to them self in bewilderment at their overcoming of emotion - 'I don't even know why I'm crying?!' Love and connection can do, can't it? It wedges its way into our heart and there it comfortably sits until a reminder pulls it forward. A reminder of support, or happiness or good times.

Why else do we cry?

We cry when we grieve. Not just people, but ways of being, places, moments in time and dreams that can't come true. These are sad tears. Tears we shed for ourselves and many we shed for others.

Do you ever shed 'overwhelm tears'? You know the ones: you're not sad, you're not deliriously happy nor are you full of connection. It's like your body is a can of shaken fizzy drink, with a zillion different emotions bubbling inside you until one thing is said or done and, whooshka, the tears start to flow. I see this as a release, a letting go because there wasn't enough room inside you anymore.

And then there's the 'tired tears'? I'm sure we've all soothed a crying child with a statement something along the lines of 'nawww, you're so tired, aren't you?' 'No. I'm noooot' is often their tear-laden response, minutes before they've dozed off :-) 

My theory is we don't grow out of tired tears. I've had many a conversation with mums who shed a tear, followed by a quick-to-excuse-them statement of 'I'm just tired'. Yes, you are very tired ... and it's ok to shed a tear or two.

Let them out, I say. Allow the salt water to release your cares from your insides, freshening you up for the next day ahead. Or the next hour ahead! Those tears serve a purpose and are a beautiful part of this human life you're playing.

Let your safe people witness them, be it giggles of laughter tears, tears of achievement or tears of fear. They're all as important as the other. 

And you're important too.

I'd love to hear what other Tears you think of. Share with me by emailing [email protected]