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SUN & RAIN

San Juan Island weather has always been capricious, but recently we've experienced more intermittent sun and rain than usual. Some sunny mornings have led to blustery rain showers in the afternoons. On other days, morning rain clouds have given way to blue skies and colorful sunsets. Watching this fluctuation between sun and rain has reminded me of two quotations.

The first is attributed to Joseph Addison. He wrote, "What sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity." The second is from John Vance Cheney who stated, "The soul would have no rainbow had the eyes no tears."

Clearly, these men recognized the importance of smiles and tears to human beings. Today, scientific researchers believe that crying and laughing come from the same part of the brain, and produce similar health benefits. Just as laughter can lower blood pressure and boost the immune system, repressing emotions and tears can lead to high blood pressure, heart problems, and cancer.

In addition to improving our health, crying has other benefits. Tears signal those around us that we need help, which generally cause them to become more willing to offer support and comfort. In addition, unexpected tears can actually help us recognize that we're upset when we haven't realized it otherwise.

Laughing and crying are both natural, healthy, emotional responses. Each performs necessary functions within us, and neither is better than the other. There are times when tears of loss, anger, and other strong emotions are appropriate. At other times, smiles of hope, gratitude, and joy are exactly what we need.

Just as we require both sun and rain for survival, we have been genetically programmed to laugh and cry. Rather than falling prey to emotional droughts and floods, perhaps we should become as capricious with our smiles and tears as the weather on San Juan Island.

• Do you force smiles when you feel like crying?
  
  
• Have you ever watched children laugh and cry intermittently?
  
  
• What would happen if you allowed your body to laugh or cry as much as it wanted to?
  
  
• Are you willing to let yourself do that?

© 2003 David Bentley

David Bentley, M.Ed. & Personal Coach, coaches clients through the game of life, helping them find balance, clarity of direction, and purpose in an ever-changing world.

You may contact him at 360.378.8436

by e-mail at david@coachbentley.com

or visit his Web site: www.coachbentley.com

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