"Il ne faut jamais avoir honte de nos larmes"

Tears aren’t something that should embarrass us. That’s the core of it. It’s a simple idea, but it carries a lot of weight. Our tears are a natural expression of our emotions—whether we’re feeling joy, sorrow, frustration, or relief. They’re as much a part of being human as laughing or smiling. When we cry, we're physically manifesting our feelings, and there’s nothing wrong with that.

Historically, there’s been a stigma, especially for men, around crying. Society often views it as a sign of weakness. This pressure to hold back tears can lead to bottling up emotions, which isn’t healthy. Imagine a world where everyone felt free to cry openly. Wouldn't it be less stressful? It was Charles Dickens, in "Great Expectations," who originally penned this idea. He recognized that tears, rather than being a source of shame, are a testament to our humanity.

Consider a real-life scenario. Picture an athlete at the Olympics. They’ve trained for years, sacrificed so much, and finally, they win a gold medal. As they stand on the podium, the national anthem playing, they break down in tears. Are those tears a sign of weakness? Absolutely not. They’re the culmination of hard work, perseverance, and passion. The world watches, and in that moment, we all understand and share a piece of that emotion. Those tears connect us to the athlete’s journey.

So, how do you apply this wisdom in your own life? Start by giving yourself permission to feel. If you’re sad, allow yourself to cry. If you’re overwhelmed with happiness, let those tears flow. Don’t hold back, thinking it’s inappropriate. Next time a friend or family member cries, offer them your support without judgment. You might say, “It’s okay to cry. I’m here for you.” This small act can make a big difference in how they process their emotions.

Now, let’s bring it closer to home with a story we can all relate to. Imagine you had a tough week at work. Nothing seemed to go right, and the stress is piling up. You finally get home, and the moment you walk through the door, your partner asks how your day was. You try to respond, but instead, you burst into tears. Your partner embraces you, validates your feelings, and just lets you cry it out. Afterward, you feel a weight lifted off your shoulders. Sure, you’ve got problems to solve, but somehow, just expressing those bottled-up emotions makes everything seem a bit more manageable.

So, next time you feel the tears coming, don’t push them away. Embrace them. Recognize that crying is a natural, healthy way of dealing with our emotions. It’s a sign of strength, not weakness, to show how we truly feel. And in doing so, we connect more deeply with ourselves and with those around us. We're all in this together, after all. So let’s be gentle with ourselves and each other, and never be ashamed of our tears.