Lessons of History Include Crying

The sorrow which has no vent in tears may make other organs weep. 

                                                                                          ~ Henry Maudsley

 

Such a lot people go through from time to time.  Just yesterday someone half my age said that 'everyone has a story -- everyone has done amazing things, come through amazingly hard things from time to time'.  It was good to see someone so young be so wise.  

I'm certain that Ellen has quite the advantage by having Yenta as her friend and companion.  I understand that Ellen's mother enjoyed Yenta very much as well, and it's truly my honor to have provided a platform through Lumigrate for her to enjoy the talents of Yenta's amazing writing.  

Glad you're back from your travels, Yenta.  I took a photograph of something that I think might be nice for Ellen.  I don't know if you have Bed Bath and Beyond where you are there in Ubiquitous, Florida, but I saw this and got out your Peace Fleece and had the store manager take my photograph.  We did some hands on, in person education about fibromyalgia right there in the store.

It turns out one of the workers has a family member who is very young who she was concerned about doing things to her body, mind, spirit that might be showing up as being on the path to chronic illness.  We essentially had a wellness intervention!

My regular 'therapy' is to watch the sun set, enjoy the quiet of the evening, reflect upon what has gone on in the day and be grateful for being able to BREATHE.  Tonight it was with the lovely summer evening's air with the breeze and let it wash the cares of my day away.  There are fewer cares on my mind hearing from you that Ellen's doing well, it feels like we're family so I was concerned.  

I was stoic in the past, raised in a family where crying was maybe tolerated but not really 'acceptable'.  There is such a thing I learned of in the history of occupational therapy called 'the crying closet,' named by the originator of occupational therapy as a coping strategy for all she had to deal with working in the US Army around the time of World War I .  The soldiers were packed into barracks to recover and they had physical therapy which was not so 'inspiriting' -- many were depressed, giving up hope.  And she figured out how to suggest activities which would 'engage the mind and the body will follow'.    

I have been able to fully breathe, and to cry, due to the help of an amazing healer and wise woman who I encountered quite 'serendipitously' at a concert in Western Colorado; in one session it released the closedness I had around my heart which had developed there as self protection in my formative years when I didn't have the tools to deal with the situations presenting themselves to my young self. People are like onions, we really are. Eventually, if you keep looking hard enough you'll get to the center/core.  

Thank you for the history lesson -- my mother taught me that by learning history it gives you an advantage for knowing how to proceed from where we are NOW, and I have to admit -- she was right!   ~~ Mardy

Mardy dawlink,

A wiser woman I don't think there is, bubeleh.  Just so you know, and there aren't too many people that equate this due to the after effect, but with crying comes physical cleansing as well as emotional.  The sinus' get cleared out, the lungs get exercised as does the diaphragm, and for people like me, a zaftig (well rounded) woman, it's an all-over shake, rattle and roll stimulation!  Of course, we look awful before, during and after a good cry but we don't look so wonderful giving birth either and there's an amazing result at the end of that too.

If you want to know more about that specific history (which I don't push but do encourage) there is a documentary I recommend called A Film Unfinished.  It's rather graphic, liebling, so be prepared.  Also a book I just finished called The Lucky Child, by Thomas Buergenthal - very interesting man.

Your picture with the table is "fabulous" as Ellen would say.  Thrift, my dawlink, is where you can find it so if it happens to be in a regular retail store (never pay retail if you can help it) then khapn (grab) while you can.  Ellen is very specific which thrift stores she goes to; Humane Society, Safespace, Hospice, Martin Memorial Hospital, and the one that supports Habitat for Humanity... she's very pro-active that way.  I will say, however, we both really like the table you're next to and will schlepp our cookies to BB&B to see if they have it here.

Now, onto other things, bubeleh.  I'm very happy to hear you have such good people surrounding you.  I often worry you're working too hard, don't have enough support, are you eating, getting enough rest, taking care of yourself as you should?  I worry about all my kindeleh this way.  This is what a Bubbe does.

My dawlinks, I don't write these things just to write.  I write them so perhaps you might learn a little something, get a little story, a piece of history, perhaps some knowledge (albeit your Yenta's version) but it's a start.  For you, my lieblings, are my kindeleh (children), my eynikl (grandchildren), khevre (gang of friends), my shvester (sister), and bruder (brother) and so much more. 

Now, go live your life today and enjoy it to the fullest.  Take your breaks as you need them of course but remember what your Yenta has told you... we are all part of one another; learn, laugh, love and enjoy!  It couldn't hurt!

Your

Yenta

Thanks, Bubbie/Yenta -- I appreciate your concern and I'm 'fine'; I'm the first to admit I'm tired, but it's been three years of non-stop getting Lumigrate to where it is and I believe at a spiritual level that it is 'my life's work'.  

I don't believe in 'being called', as I believe in 'having volunteered' and perhaps been involved in coordinating this in the past and picked the situations, the people, and the experiences that I've had since my soul began this life. 

Therefore, I trust that I'll have the experiences today and tomorrow that are what I need to have at the time in order to do what is right for the people Lumigrate serves.  Having had a setback in the last year or so, which is turning around now, I'm happy to say, was really very helpful to my 'seeing the bigger picture'. It humbles me, and reminds me to be grateful to have had the uphills towards wellness in my years dealing with this and the hope that comes from having NEW and more specialized providers be part of things, some of whom make it to be shared with the class (grins) at Lumigrate.com.  

~~ Mardy

Hi Everyone -

In reading Yenta's story it brought up some interesting information I have also experienced regarding tears. Tears release chemicals that allow the body to heal. If you were brought up being told it is not ok to cry, especially males, it is time to let go.

I have experienced grown men giving themselves permission to cry. Men who have held their pain inside for years. It was life changing; addictions were gone and their bodies could heal. The pain we humans experience if not expressed along with a good cry remains in the body as poison.

Ask yourself how much poison are you storing in your body. Is it time to let go.

Have a great weekend.

Judi Larson

 Judi, you wrote this response the day before Father's Day so I'm going to stick to the Tool analogy I had, above; you're not only a tool for people, I think you're a whole tool kit! I'm so very appreciative of your coming to grace the pages of Lumigrate's forums and offer your advise for ALL to read and I have peace of mind knowing you're a resource for people from 'all over' to access via your coaching and counseling website.  It's a pleasure -- Thank you!

Mardy