Adventures of the Traveling Grief Case

There are benefits of crying.

This past Sunday morning, shortly after posting my last blog, my mom called. Answering the phone, I didn’t greet her with a hello.

“Did I make you cry again?” I asked.

“Yes!” she replied.

“Well sorry. But get used to it. It’s probably going to happen every week.” I told her, laughing.

Now, I just want to reiterate that I’m not here to make people cry. However, crying isn’t a bad thing! In fact, here are several reasons why crying is GOOD FOR YOU!

I was amazed to read the last one:

Being unafraid to cry makes you strong.

84380d9014babde599c42079c721654b.jpg (605×605) (myhealthonly.net)

My sisters have always called me a crybaby! I’m at the point in my life where I own it. I know I’m a crier. Now that I’ve owned it, it doesn’t bother me anymore. I don’t try to fight it. Why? Because I know that crying is healthy. In fact, it helps me self-regulate my nervous system.

Besides, now I know I’m not a crybaby because it makes me strong.

I’m a warrior!

Regulating our nervous system is key for feeling good. When we are stressed and overwhelmed our systems can get out of wack. This article shows some great ways to regulate your nervous system when you need to feel calm.

10 Ways to Regulate Your Nervous System – Katerina Baratta, MS, LAc

Like I said, my goal isn’t to make you cry every week. But if you need a good cry, just know there are benefits.

One of my goals is to offer some helpful resources or maybe just a listening ear.

This week, a friend of mine told me that he recently listened to Leslie Jone‘s book, Leslie F*cking Jones – A Memoir. I have yet to read it but wanted to share a little of our conversation.

Now listen, I felt this exact way after my dad died. I just want you to know, if you haven’t gone through it, you’re not going to know. I don’t think it’s that we lack empathy so much as experience. We can have empathy and compassion for people no matter what difficulties they are going through. The difference is that once we experience it, we have a deeper understanding. A connection.

We relate to one another through experiences.

This is why when we read a stranger’s story, we can feel like we know them. It’s not just the person but that one moment or experience we can relate to that truly makes us feel connected.

This is why I am sharing my story.

Grief can be such a lonely journey. In fact, even love can be lonely when you have no one to share it with. This is why we share pieces of ourselves and build connections. This is how we heal. Sometimes crying is part of that healing. This is why I am sharing my story. So, sorry (not sorry) if I make you cry.

Now, before I go, I have one request. If you have written your own letter to a deceased loved one or even just a story about them, would you consider sharing it with me? I would love to share some of your stories as well. To be honest, get creative with it. Send me a song or a recipe, something special.

P.S. make sure you have your tissues handy for Sunday.