Stories of Kindness from Around the World

The following inspiration is an excerpt from chapter on healing found in my book Walk Your Path with Love and Courage. Picture taken and written by T.C..

Tears
We all shed tears from time to time - tears of joy, love, laughter, pain, and sorrow. In some cultures, tears are an acceptable form of expression for all, not just for women and children. In other cultures, tears are looked upon as a sign of weakness and are cause for shame. When we cry others may become uncomfortable not knowing how to help us and our tears trigger their emotions as well. Do we need help, or do we need the release that our tears bring? Maybe all we need is a hand to hold, or arms to enfold us in an embrace, or a shoulder to lean on for moral support while we cry. Tears are a beautiful release, a way to cleanse and another form of expression when words simply will not do.
Tears have never been easy for me to shed. Growing up we were taught that crying was not something we did without a good reason. And that reason wasn’t because we just felt the need to release our pent-up emotions. As I have become more comfortable within myself and gained confidence in knowing what I need, tears have come more easily for me. I still feel embarrassed sometimes, but I know that there is nothing for me to be ashamed of. Just like laughter, tears are part of being human.