2001: A Space Odyssey: "I am putting myself to the fullest possible use, which is all I think that any conscious entity can ever hope to do.": (Day 30)

Hi there,

   It's ok to cry.

    I know that this pain is really scary, and that your head really hurts, but it's ok to cry. Nobody's going to see you here, and even if they do, crying doesn't mean that you're a fraidy-cat or a baby.

   I'm not saying that you should cry all the time. That doesn't do any good. But when something like this happens, when it feels like gnomes are jumping up and down in your brain on pointy pogo sticks, or you're wearing a hat that's too tight and you're scared, it's OK to cry.

   Crying is something that shows.  People don't know anything is wrong unless you tell them. They can't see your headache. Sometimes you can talk to them and tell them your head hurts, but sometimes, I know, your head hurts so much, talking doesn't make sense. It's OK to cry then. Crying is a form of talking when you can't talk with words.  It's your body talking.

  You don't have to pretend your head doesn't hurt.  That pain is real.  It is.  Real things matter.

  I know that in the book  "The Twelfth Easter Bunny", the child who never cried got the most beautiful egg.  But you want people to get to know YOU.  You're not some kid in a story book.  This is real.  This isn't make believe.  It's OK to play make believe with your friends when you don't hurt, but then you put away the dress-ups and the toys and you are you again.  And right now, you hurt.

  And right now, it's OK to cry.

Love,  
Gretchen, Who's Been There