My instinctual emotional release is crying. It used to be laughing, but that was really awkward because my laughter got near to hysteric levels in order to avoid crying. So I gave into crying. And I feel free. But people who easily give into tears are often (not always) deemed strange and weak and a whole host of other not so cool things.

image via clipartreview.com

But really, I’ll leave it up to you. I mean, I will continue to cry so it’s not like your judgement will stop me.

I cry when:

• other people cry. I am a sympathetic crier, and this always triggers my tears.
• something is SO cute, I feel like my heart might explode, but then my lachrymal glands do instead. Like puppies.

• 

  image via puppydogweb.com

• I see injustice. Movies, the news, anything. I get really sad for the world.
• good characters die in movies and books. Rue’s death puts me in the fetal position. I was sobbing in the movie theater and couldn’t stop.
• I laugh really hard. Most people get this.
• someone is trying to give me a pep talk. Why are you so emphatic about what I need to do? Why do I need a pep talk to accomplish it? Why do I feel tears? Am I inspired? Am I scared? Am I shamed? Is it all of these things? Probably.
• I am embarrassed.
• I am frustrated.
• I am startled. I don’t like when things jump out at me.
• movie problems are too close to real-life problems. And I don’t mean my real-life problems that are happening. But real-life problems that might happen.

• 

  image via collider.com

• my work day is bad.
• my friends are going through hard times.
• I see friends I haven’t seen in a long time.
• I graduate from college. I only did this once, but my tears were prompted by mom’s prideful tears. I’m sure you can now understand from whom I have inherited this blessing.
• I read.
• I am tickled.
• I am feeling so in love.
• any wedding video begins to play
• the fireworks go off at Disneyland. And when World of Color happens at Disneyland. And when the Queen of Hearts traumatizes me at Disneyland.
• balloons hit me in the face. Surprisingly, this has only occurred once at Disneyland. Several times in other places.
• I feel panic.
• I miss my family.
• I experience other people’s love.
• it’s not expected, in moments before it is expected. Like the recording session before the last concert. Or the rehearsal dinner instead of the wedding.
• I feel proud of myself.
• Grey’s Anatomy is on. Actually, Grey’s is my designated 42 minutes of crying per week accompanied by particularly moving episodes of The Biggest Loser.
• I think things are exceptionally beautiful.

This list probably doesn’t even cover all of it, but it’s a lot of times to cry in a life. I know it’s weird, but I feel relieved that I know exactly what will make me feel better sometimes. A good cry has healing powers. Sometimes, it’s a couple of tears. And sometimes, I just let it all out. Unfortunately, crying is kind of frowned upon, and needs its own private time. I am not a whiny b&*^%. I just feel lots of things and I would rather feel them than not. So I cry a lot. Whatever.

Do you cry a lot too? Or is it just me and my crazy family?