Being both an empath and someone who is sentimental, I cry easily and often. Not the sobby, boo-hoo-hoo type of crying, but more the kind where my eyes fill up and then tears roll down my face. I can cry at seeing puppies and kittens being rescued on a reels video or a movie where someone gets hurt or is wounded emotionally. Then there are the songs that inspire me causing me to tear up, especially in church or on holidays where I hear beloved traditional music. I think of the lyrics of a Hootie and the Blowfish song, “I Only Wanna Be with You” when he says that the dolphins make him cry or the song “Tears In Heaven” by Eric Clapton he wrote after his son’s tragic death:
“Would you know my name if I saw you in heaven?
Would it be the same if I saw you in heaven?
I must be strong and carry on
‘Cause I know I don’t belong here in heaven
Would you hold my hand if I saw you in heaven?
Would you help me stand if I saw you in heaven?
I’ll find my way through night and day
‘Cause I know I just can’t stay here in heaven”
Often, I know tears are near when I get the chills such as when Celan Dion sings “My Heart Goes On” or Judy Garland sings “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”
Of course, there are tears that happen when I sneeze or have a cold. There are tears when someone I love is sick or dies.
I thought my readers might find it interesting to learn some things about tears. The following is information from the article titled “What Are Tears Made Of? 17 Facts About Tears That May Surprise You”. Here are some excerpts (note that I did not include all 17 facts. If you want these please go to the website):
“You’ve probably tasted your own tears and figured they have salt in them. What you might not realize is that tears contain a lot more than just that — and that they serve some very diverse purposes!
1. Your tears are mostly composed of water
Your tears have a similar structure to saliva. They’re mostly made of water, but also contain salt, fatty oils, and over 1,500 different proteins.
Electrolytes in tears include: sodium, which gives tears their characteristic salty taste, bicarbonate, chloride, potassium. Tears also contain lower levels of magnesium and calcium.
Together, these things make up three distinct layers in your tears: the mucous layer keeps the tear attached to the eye, the aqueous layer — the thickest layer — hydrates your eye, keeps bacteria away, and protects your cornea and the oily layer prevents the other layers from evaporating and also keeps the tear’s surface smooth so that you can see through it.
You have three different types of tears: basal tears that are always in your eyes to protect from debris and keep them lubricated and nourished, reflex tears that form when your eyes are exposed to irritants, such as smoke and onion fumes, and emotional tears that are produced when you’re sad, happy, or feeling other intense emotions.
According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) you make 15 to 30 gallons of tears every year.
6. An irritating gas is the reason onions make you cry
Syn-propanetriol-S-oxide is the gas that causes you to tear up when you chop onions. The chemical process that creates the gas is a bit complicated, but also really interesting.
9. Emotional tears may actually help you
The purpose of emotional tears is still being researched, but is believed to be influenced by biological, social, and psychological factors.
Some researchers believe that crying is a social signal to get help from others when you’re in pain, sad, or feeling any type of distress or extreme emotion. Often, when you cry, it prompts others to offer support, which makes you feel better.
There is evidence that emotional tears contain additional proteins and hormones that aren’t found in the two other types of tears. These may have relaxing or pain-relieving effects that help regulate the body and help it return to its normal state.
10. Your tears contain messages that can be picked up by others
Crying sends some visual signals. When you see someone cry, it’s a sign that they’re feeling sad or distressed. A 2011 study found that the tears we cry also send signals that others can smell even though tears are actually odorless.
11. Crocodile tears are real if you’re a crocodile
The term “crocodile tears” is used to describe someone who is pretending to cry. It came from the myth that crocodiles cry when eating humans, which was coined from the book “The Voyage and Travel of Sir John Mandeville,” published in 1400.
12. Newborns don’t produce tears when they cry
Newborns don’t produce tears when they cry because their lacrimal glands aren’t fully developed. They may cry without tears for the first month or so of life.
Though it happens more often in babies and children, people of all ages can cry in their sleep.
15. Women cry more than men do
No one knows exactly why women may cry more than men. It may have something to do with men having smaller tear ducts and emotional tears containing prolactin, which is a hormone that promotes breast milk production. Women have 60 % more prolactin than men.
Your tears work hard to protect your eyes, clear out irritants, soothe emotions, and even send messages to those around you.
While there are many reasons why we cry, tears are a sign of health and in some ways — at least in terms of emotional tears — uniquely human.”
Now you know a bit about your tears and why we should celebrate them!
Invitation for Reflection
- Are you someone who cries easily? What often makes you cry?
- What resonates with you in the information I shared from the article?
- What surprised you in the information?
- How does this information help you better understand your tears?
Diane Wagenhals
Director Emeritus, Lakeside Global Institute