A Good Story about Sadness

Just wanted to report some progress for me. In the past fifteen years my dad, mom, brother and sister have died. I worry sometimes that I have not grieved enough.

Last night I watched a show called Call the Midwife (which I highly recommend) and there was a storyline where a young man whose mother died unexpectedly. I started crying and then really got into sobbing and the sadness just poured out of me.

The thing is, it felt good to let the sadness out. I miss my mom and I still grieve for her and it was one of those crying spells where you feel good afterward.

So this is progress for me!

Rich, I like the show too. I also like the saying "What we can feel, we can heal." So progress, indeed.

I've been told that I don't cry at the 'appropriate time' or for 'appropriate reasons'. Something as 'silly' as a Hallmark greeting card commercial can open the floodgates though.

Most of the time, when I realize I 'should have cried', repeatedly, but haven't, I will take a solo trip to the cemetary where my parents are and have a 'sob fest'.

Very cathartic.

For me, I think, since I 'have to be tough and keep it together' so much of the time, crying is a sign of vulnerability. The only place I find where I can go ahead is where people 'expect' tears and tend to leave me alone out of respect.

There is no time limit on grief, no right way or wrong way. I'm glad you found a bit of release.