Gray Area

I keep leaving and coming back to this challenge because it's been difficult to manifest my feelings into a coherent statement. I think though, that is the mark of an excellent question. So, thank you for that.

There is no black and white answer to this. Some things that would have made me cry in the past, like a broken toy or the cliche of spilled milk, don't affect me as much now. I know that life goes on and these aren't things that will affect my life in the long run. I view that as a sign of growth and strength. The mature mind relinquishes control over that which will not serve it in significant ways.

But other things- like death, the loss of a relationship, and so on...to not cry or at the very least grieve over them is in my mind, a sign of a tired heart. For those who live with death or are in a constant string of tumultous relationships, the cycle is all too common and one becomes weary of constant grief. Sometimes it is preferable to feel nothing. But a rigid heart is not a strong heart, for things that are too rigid often break under immense pressure. I speak from experience. Try as we might, humans cannot run from their emotions and so eventually the dam will break, and tears will come flooding and drown us in their fervor.

Strength does not come from denial of who you are, how you feel or what you need. And you do not cease to be less traumatized by things just because you do not cry over them. I am of the opinion that to not allow yourself to cry over that which is worth crying for is to do yourself a disservice. The heart and mind grow stronger through experience. So, to fully experience even the sad things can only help us to develop more wholly in the long run.

I hope that made sense. And again, excellent question.