Boys Don’t Cry

This blog title pays homage to a classic THE CURE song about the emotional struggles of boys, found here for those needing a refresher: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8CDERzun4k
In this song the protagonist is really sad over losing his girlfriend but he has to hide his tears because “boys don’t cry.” To be more specific what this song should say is that “the socialization of boys in American society includes the oft spoken rule that ‘boys don’t cry.’ So if a little boy falls and hurts himself he is supposed to suck it up “like a man” and hide his tears. Of course this is baloney because males are emotional creatures too and crying is one of the most cathartic things you can do. Nonetheless I have been to funerals where men stand around trying to hold back tears while the women cry freely. Why must we hold back? Fortunately I inherited fast tears from my grandfather and father, both of whom can tear up simply by recalling a sad or emotional memory or moment, not to mention a present moment of such magnitude (a great skill that actors use all the time). This is important because when you hurt yourself like I did, when you are in such pain and confusion, tears come easily and it is best to let them fall. The drugs I am taking also cause stronger emotional swings. During the first four weeks back from the hospital I think I cried at least once every other day. Sometimes the tears would come over something like excruciating pain, other times they would come when I tried to do something and realized that I could no longer do it by myself, and finally the tears might just come out of nowhere, gushing randomly over no apparent spark. The bottom line is that the tears helped me release pain or stress and made me feel better. So to all the boyz out there, yes you can cry! It is normal, natural, and good for you.