Throughout my story, “It’s Brave to Cry”, my main character, Clay, has conversations with some of the bravest people he can think of about if they cry and if so, why. Clay eventually discovers that it is important to express yourself, that it is okay to reach out for help when you need to, and that everyone cries for many different reasons.
Because of recent events around the world, it is more important now than ever to encourage young children to not only release their emotions – but that it is brave to do so! However, to prove to the younger generation that it is brave to cry, it is important for adults, educators, and role models alike to practice what we preach. Therefore, I challenge you all to think about the questions below:
When was the last time you cried? What makes you cry? Have you ever wanted to cry but thought you shouldn’t?
If thinking about these questions makes you uneasy, that’s okay! But it is important to be comfortable being uncomfortable, especially when it comes to feeling our feelings. If you are still feeling intimidated to answer the questions above, hopefully me putting myself out there will encourage you to do the same:
When was the last time you cried?
Yesterday
What makes you cry?
Many things make me cry. A sad movie or song makes me cry. Or when a loved one is upset or when I feel like I have let someone down. I cry when I feel overwhelmed or anxious and often when I watch the news. The other day I cried when I spent all day working on a project and deleted it accidentally. Oh and those army reunion videos ALWAYS get me. These are just the first things that came to mind- if I had another ten minutes to brainstorm, I could write an essay.
Have you ever wanted to cry but thought you shouldn’t?
I think hold in my emotions because I am trying to be mindful of other people’s emotions. Oftentimes I get nervous that my tears could make someone else unhappy or uncomfortable. But the longer I held in my emotions, the more upset I became. No one wins in this scenario.
Understanding our own emotions will make it easier to help our little ones process theirs. So, now it’s your turn! What makes YOU cry? Be sure to use the hashtag #WhyICry in your responses! If you send them to me via the Contact Us page, there is a chance you can be featured on the site!
My Self-Publishing Journey
