Laughing & Crying...Life's Got Both

If you know me, you know I am always down for a good time.

One of the most popular comments/compliments I receive are about my laugh. You may be reading this thinking “oh she’s so full of herself,” but I’m really not...

My laugh is obnoxious, easily given, and forget it if I get the giggles. I enjoy making people laugh (which in turn makes me laugh) and be that life of the party. I love to be happy and lighthearted.

That being said I’m human, life isn’t perfect, and sometimes I don’t feel happy. That also leaves me feeling guilty… almost as if something isn't right, like it’s not normal.

There must be something wrong if I don’t want to be laughing at every moment.

Today I’m hear to tell you that sometimes it’s okay to be sad. It looks different for everyone...

• For some it's about "the life" that you thought you would be living.

• Other times it's sad experiences you wish were never included in your chapters of life.

• Or it might be the relationships you thought would blossom that got cut short and the friendships you lost along the way.

It’s normal to feel sad somtimes! It is a normal human emotion that should be felt and not hidden. Of course we can’t sulk in it, but I think we can have a lot of self-development and growth in our relationship with Christ amongst the sting of sadness. So here’s to feeling all those feelings.

Here are some tips and tricks I turn to when I’m feeling down & how I push through back to my happy laughing self!

• Get together with friends. Reach outside of yourself and suddenly you don’t feel as sad & alone when you surround yourself with community.

• Journal! Write out all those emotions and let them spill out all on that page. I promise you’ll feel better even if the pages are tear stained.

• Cry. Yeah that sounds counter-intuitive but crying can be so healing. If you are Catholic even in the Hail Holy Queen the phrase in the prayer said “To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears”. Life is tough, and its okay to cry it out.

I’ll leave you with a quote from one of my favorite saints Pope John Paul II :

“It’s better to cry than be angry. Because anger hurts others while tears flow silently through and cleanses the heart.”

If you relate to this blog I truly hope you break out of the sadness you find in your life and strive for the light.