Random thoughts about life

The importance of tears

I was told in junior classes that ' smile costs nothing' and it spreads happiness all around. So I used to smile at everyone; beggars, shopkeepers, ice cream vendor, my parents and at the world.

I smiled. Partly because the teacher who told me this was my favourite teacher and partly because I wasnt allowed to cry. I was told to not cry because they said tears were a sign of weakness and I was supposes to be strong. And that it was pointless anyways.

So I used to cry secretly. I would go to the front balcony of our apartment and cry amongst the potted plants. It gave me peace and solace like no other thing in the world could. The potted plants seemed to understand me and though they never said anything, they were able to console me. At that moment, they were more dear to me than Any thing else in the whole wide world. My tears often placed themselves on their leaves or their soil, but they never used to mind. That moment was important. It was the interaction between two souls; the Earth and me.

After a while, as I grew, I stopped crying. Because even I thought that crying was for the weak and I had to be strong to face the challenges life throws at me.

But now, I'm fifteen and have realised the importance of tears. They are important in the bereavement process, in the process of letting go.

Most importantly, tears nourish the soul of the Earth. Every tear dropped on the Earth is felt by the Earth. And the owner is forever blessed by the Earth to have shared the most intimate part of their soul with. The Earth is happy and it smiles like a mother, and that is more righteous/ virtuous than smiling yourself.