Corner of Thought: The Human Experience

From the very first moment we enter this world, we cry.

That first breath, accompanied by a wail, is not seen as weakness—it’s celebrated as life. Doctors and parents wait anxiously to hear that cry because it means we’re here. We’re breathing. We’re alive.

So why, as we grow older, do we learn to associate crying with weakness?

The truth is, crying doesn’t mean you’re fragile. It means you feel deeply. It means you’re human. It’s your body and soul expressing something words sometimes cannot. Whether it’s the ache of loss, the weight of stress, or the overwhelming power of joy, tears carry messages our minds alone can’t always process.

We live in a world that too often tells us to toughen up, to bottle our emotions, to “man up” or “pull it together.” But suppressing emotion doesn’t build strength—it builds walls. Real strength is being brave enough to feel. And crying? That’s one of the most honest, courageous things we can do.

Crying is not the opposite of strength—it’s part of it. It is vulnerability, and vulnerability is the doorway to healing, growth, and connection. When we cry, we’re not broken. We’re not weak. We are releasing. We are processing. We are living.

So the next time you feel tears forming, don’t apologize. Don’t hide. Let them fall if they need to. Remember that crying has never been a sign of weakness—it’s always been a sign of life.

And that is something to be proud of.