Tears come easily to me. So easy at times, it's a trait I wished I could change. I saw it as a weakness, a babyish, immature, insecure fault. When I am really nervous, tears well up in my eyes. If I see any hint of true emotion in someone else while they relate a story of their life to me, the tears begin to flow. Movies and commercials, yes, those too make me cry at the drop of a hat. Don't get me wrong, I can control it and keep it in check when necessary, but at some point, later on, I'll have to let it out. It reminds me of my children sometimes. When they were younger and even still some to this day, they will have a bad day or get their feelings hurt on the playground at recess and hold in their tears until they walk into my classroom at the end of the school day. It may start out as lashing out in anger at me or each other for some unknown reason, but then the tears begin to flow at the smallest pinch during a brotherly wrestling match or tease about something silly the other said or did, and when asked what's going on, the true story comes out. They can't cry in front of their friends or teacher, so they hold it in until they are back at home or in a comfortable spot with family, and they always feel better after they have talked and cried it out.
Today, a co-worker and friend popped into my office like she often does to chat, and I knew instantly that something wasn't right in her world. She was not her usual smiling, up-beat self. As she explained to me about her dad going into the hospital in Hawaii last night and her brother calling to relay the message that her dad was asking for her, she couldn't stop the tears any longer. Part of my new job is to be there for the teachers I train to discuss frustrations or stress they experience at work, so we can try and help reduce that together, and in this position, it becomes very easy to also become friends and share tears and personal struggle together. Today, I was serving as her friend. All I could do was cry with her, listen, and let her know I would be praying for her dad and be there for her in any way that would help, but just having that moment to hug and allow her to let out those pent-up emotions felt right and good for her.
That's why I no longer consider my trait of wearing my heart on my sleeve as a fault. I believe because I don't hesitate to allow the emotions to flow, it helps create a bond and a feeling of comfort for my family, friends, and co-workers to come to me when they need some tear therapy themselves. I'll allowed my vulnerabilities to show with them, and so they can open up in that same way with me. And I'm happy to be able to be there for them, to be allowed to encourage them and pray for them and know their hearts. In the end, life is about the quality of relationships you build and maintain, not about your career or how much money you make or how many things you have, but about love, faith, and joy. I am so blessed to have a job where I get to do what I love, which is teach, but I also get to be a friend and help others find joy in their work and be there for them when times are tough. So, if you are having a difficult day today, hang in there, my friends! And don't hesitate to let the tears flow because sometimes we all need a little tear therapy.
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