I am not normally a cryer. In my adult decades I have cried maybe a dozen times, and most would have been at films. I have often thought of this. I’ve had a partner who thought of me as emotionally stilted as part of some pure protestant preference (spoiler: I’m not).
But things are changing, sometimes in very unexpected ways. Last night, the ballroom scene at the film version of ”Wicked” had both my daughter and I sniffling hard. This morning, a podcast dissecting the poetry of Bruce Springsteen’s “Born to Run” had me gulping for breath. I’ve heard the song a thousand times, and it hits me now?? Admittedly, the podcast (‘Strong Songs”) covered the beautiful lyrics brilliantly, but even then, I was also crying at the way the beautiful bridge section was constructed! What’s going on???
There’s an element of my own state in there, which today, is underslept (due to a sick child). It does remove some social barriers to be sure. But I think I’m also developing a higher sensitivity to beautiful things. My life is simpler this year, with one big toxic element removed, replaced by a lovely & caring partner. That gives me bandwidth to widen my vision of the world, to see and appreciate and feel it more deeply.

I’m writing this on my covered balcony, as the rain falls around me, and it is very special.