lightness of tearsGo with your emotion. Lightness of tears

Have you ever been struck by a strong emotion which has caught you completely  unawares? On Friday of last week I was happily packing , cleaning and preparing for our imminent departure from France back to Ireland when, all of a sudden as I glanced at my son playing with his toy cars (something he now rarely does) in his small bedroom, I was  overwhelmed with tears.

France really is a second home to me; eight years ago when my son, Luca was just six months old we bought a small village house that needed total renovation.  We have evolved as a family, spending all our holidays over the years in this house and each nook and cranny contains a little bit of our hearts.

Luca’s room is tiny and an adult can’t stand up straight in it. Until this year it has suited him fine but he is now getting so big that will soon bang his head off the beams.  It struck me like lightening as I was cleaning that he wouldn’t play in that room again and that we were reaching the end of an era.  A sudden wave of nostalgia and sadness came over me.

This week and every week, when you have a strong emotion, no matter what the circumstances please let yourself feel it and go through it rather than trying to suppress it. The cathartic feeling of letting yourself cry is not a weakness but a strength.

After my cry I realised it was not sadness but a form of muted joy and gratitude in disguise for all we have. The ability to allow ourselves the passing of life’s phases ironically  allows us to be fully  present in the moment. The tears allowed me to show appreciation of all the wonderful memories that we have and all the wonderful ones that are yet to come.

Please also take a moment this week (if you haven’t already) to send love and compassion to all the victims of the Italian earthquake.

If you have enjoyed this Positive Pause you might appreciate my online, self-help programme, The Positive Habit which is gaining five star ratings from those who have completed the course. Lightness of tears