It's Okay to Cry

Good morning and welcome to Saturday Sharing. All month, we’re focusing on teens and the trials they face as they move toward being adults. Today, it’s all about school violence and exactly what everyone can do to curtail school violence.
The worst has just happened. Your school has just joined the ranks of schools that have experienced violence. You’re shaking harder than a leaf in a huge wind, fearful for your life, and uncertain what to do. The urge to cry is huge but you don’t want to appear to be a baby. You keep telling yourself that you have to be brave and strong so you can’t cry…
Hang on right there. Cry… but quietly if you’re still in a situation where you have to be unnoticed.
It’s okay to cry. Nobody is going to call you a baby or tell you to stop because you look stupid. Crying is a healthy emotion. It means your brain and body have reached a point where they’re so overwhelmed by your immediate situation that they can’t handle the pressure.
Release those tears. Release the terror with those tears. Give your body a chance to assimilate the information and your brain a chance to work out what you’ll do to survive.
I can hear the protests now… but I’m a guy. Guys don’t cry.
Well, maybe they should. There’s no weakness in crying. Even the strongest people cry; we just don’t do it in front of the world. I’ve always thought that was a bad thing but it was impressed on too many generations for too long that you didn’t cry in public unless it was for the loss of a loved one. Maybe if we’d learned to cry in public when things are too harsh to handle, the world would be a more forgiving place.
Once you’ve let loose of the fear through your tears, lean on your inner strength to think of a way out of the situation. Think like a winner, a person who can work out their problems. Be strong for yourself but also allow those with you their moment to release their own fears.
Now that you’ve taken a deep breath, now that your tears are slowing down, ask yourself how you feel. Are you still scared? Probably. Can you do anything about what’s happening? More than likely not. What should you do next?
The last question is more difficult to answer. If you’re in a school violence situation and close to the center of the problem, your best bet is to get somewhere that you can hide until law enforcement shows up. They’re the experts, not you. They will come for you. It might seem like it’s taking forever but they’re pretty busy stopping the problem, so they can get all the kids out of the school. Give them some time. They will be there.
Obviously, you can’t be on social media or having your phone pinging. Yeah, there are some kids who might be trying to get video to post on those social media sites. That’s not really smart. And you’re smart. Right? So, you’re going to take deep breaths, release a few more tears, and wait patiently, because that’s what your parents and teachers have taught you.
Scary times we live make for moments when we need to remain strong, but that doesn’t mean we can’t cry.


About K.C. Sprayberry
Living a dream she’s had since she first discovered the magic of books. K.C. Sprayberry traveled the U.S. and Europe before finally settling in the mountains of Northwest Georgia. She’s been married to her soulmate for nearly a quarter of a century and they enjoy spoiling their grandchildren along with many other activities.
A multi-genre author, K.C. Sprayberry is always on the hunt for new stories. Inspiration strikes at the weirdest times and drives her to grab notebook and pen to jot down her ideas. Those close to her swear nothing or no one is safe if she’s smiling gently in a corner and watching those in the same room interact. Her observations have often given her ideas for her next story, set not only in the South but wherever the characters demand they settle.

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