Many people think that crying in public is actually a sign of weakness, but it’s actually healthy for you.  Crying allows a person to release their feelings instead of keeping them pent up inside.  A recent person in the news who was crying in the open was current Speaker of the House, John Boehner.

Many people in society think that men should not display their emotions openly, that crying is just reserved for women, but this is totally nuts.  Grown men who cry are not weak, they are just in tune to their human emotions.  I remember the famous line spewed out by Tom Hanks in “A League of Their Own” when he shouted, “There’s no crying in Baseball!” 

People have the right to feel upset or sad and should share their feelings with their closest friends and family members instead of keeping their turmoil to themselves.  Crying is therapeutic and cathartic; people actually feel better when they are able to release their emotions. 

I am very emotional and not afraid to cry in front of others; I used to hide my sadness or anger because growing up it was considered a sign of weakness to let others know about these emotions.  I just wish I was able to be more expressive in the past, but I can only focus on the present.

Society has dictated for many years about how people should act in public, especially when it comes to their emotions, but we are breaking down the walls of resistance and allowing people the opportunity to really express themselves.  People are finally saying, Wow, sharing my personal stories with others has really helped me to overcome some major challenges in my life. 

I suppose that emotions are more suppressed in different cultures and that it’s considered rude or even taboo to be expressive.  Some people wish that they can be themselves, but find that it’s very challenging to do that.

Many people who have served in wars are experiencing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and they have nobody to talk to about their horrific ordeals, so they keep their emotions to themselves.  This is harmful because the person can be feeling depressed or even suicidal.  There should be outlets in which these people can talk to others about the stresses and get help in how to deal with these feelings.

What are your thoughts about people crying in public? Do you feel that this is a sign of weakness?  Do you feel that more people should be expressive?