Abstract Art Layers: Beautiful Mess

Why Do We Hide What Renews Us? 

There is something pure about a summer rainstorm. After a long day of heat and humidity, the sky opens up to cleanse itself. I always feel the same way after a heavy cry. All the negativity, sadness, anger, disappointment and shame are released through my tears. I walk away feeling renewed, my strength returns. 

So why is a process so grounded in healing terrifying to share with others?

I can count on one hand the number of people that have seen me cry.  

What makes the process of releasing emotions feel so vulnerable?

Are we worried that the raw emotion will be too much for others to see?

Or is it because it is an exposed path to our hearts and open for attack? 

Infants cry to be heard. It is their only method of communication and we run to them.

As they get older, we witness toddlers having meltdowns and comfort their overwhelm.

Once they go to school, they learn to slowly mask their sadness with anger so they are not teased.

We connect with their anger. We understand the feelings of injustice.

Then, as they experience their first rejection, we are there to listen to the unfairness of it all because we hurt for them and feel helpless that we cannot fix it.

In the teen years, they direct their anger towards us because we are the safe space they have left. They know they will leave it soon.

It would be too much to cry about growing up. We might ask them to stay. 

We all enter a cycle that slowly makes way for independence.

And with each step, we slowly learn to hide the sadness and cover it with anger because it somehow feels protective.

But the anger and sadness are all a part of the big beautiful mess that connects us and deserves to be heard and accepted.