Sometimes I try very hard to be strong. I am strong. We are all strong. But, does strength mean we cannot cry? I do not think so. I believe crying can be a great release and a strength in itself.
After my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer this year, I did cry intially. Out of shock. Of fear. Of uncertainty. Of confusion for why such a thing would happen to a beautiful, loving person.
For those who have experienced receiving the news that a loved one has cancer or that you, yourself have cancer. I feel that you understand those words above. The mix of emotions that happen so quickly and vanish just as fast because you try to compose yourself as society tells us to.
My mother and I cut our hair together at a salon on 1.3.14. The idea was that our hair would be used to create a wig that should could wear during her chemo treatments. It was an emotional day, but I only shed a few tears the whole day.
"Doing good, Bri, " I thought to myself, "You are keeping your composure."
But, why did I do this? Why did I feel the need to "keep my composure"? I wanted to be strong for my mother just as she wanted to be strong for me.
Last night I started to look in the mirror while getting ready for bed. I looked at my hair and a realization came over me. My mom will have my hair soon. We just mailed it to the wig company. Immediately, my eyes started to tear up and I couldn't contain myself.
That's when I came to an additional realization...
Crying is not a weakness. Crying is a strength. It helps us release all those emotions that if kept guarded or hidden or buried inside will cause worse repercussions later on down the road.
Crying takes confidence and security in oneself to know it's okay let go and be human. To feel, to hurt, to release.
A photo of me crying during that release. Crying can be beautiful. I feel beautiful in this photo. You should feel beautiful when you cry. Embrace it.
-Bri Luginbill is a regional photographer for A Beautiful Body Project based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA. To learn more about Bri, click:www.thepeoplepicturecompany.com/
You can directly help support this ad-free platform by pre-ordering The Bodies Of Mothers, Jade's upcoming book by clicking the tab in the upper left corner of this page!
_1390672519.jpg)
