Cry It Out

It’s okay to cry. 

I promise it really is.  I hate the standard story about how crying is weak and shows the whole world that you’re not okay.  You know why?  Nobody is always okay, that is just a fact.  Anybody who never shows emotion is a robot, and you cannot convince me otherwise.  Especially in college, where I know everybody cries.  This place can seem impossible and isolating.  You can be surrounded by thousands yet still feel totally alone.  You can finish all your work and still feel completely overwhelmed.  College is a lot of work that comes with a lot of emotions, so I do not feel the need to hold them in or be ashamed of them due to the negative connotations that others may have put on said emotions.     

Anybody who knows me knows that I am a crier.  I cry at almost anything you can imagine.  I cry when I am stressed, overwhelmed, sad, mad, happy, or hell sometimes I even cry out of sheer boredom.  I still feel ashamed when others see me crying, but I have tried to stop that.  There is something really liberating about being able to express your emotions without fear of judgement.  Sure, some people may give you looks, but I dare them to look you in the eye and say they have never been so lost that they shed a tear.   

So, I say, have your bad night.  Have the night where you play sad songs, cry, and wallow in self-pity.  Allow yourself to dive into the sadness and find the root of it.  The longer you ignore your emotions, the more they build up, and the harder the impact hits.  The more comfortable you get with expressing yourself, and feeling your emotions, the easier life gets when those sad nights hit.  They WILL hit, whether it is often, or once in a blue moon. Let your friends help you, do not be scared to open up to them, because those who stay are worth-while.  Those friends that do not get scared are the ones you need to keep close by.  Let your family comfort you, no matter how far away they are, no matter if they are actually blood related.  But most importantly, rely on yourself.  Know that it will be okay.  Sad nights are okay.  Frustratingly stressful days are inevitable.  But allow yourself to not be okay for just a day.  Focus on yourself and your health and understand that not being okay IS okay.  Nobody is always okay. And that? That is okay.