Teach Me(n) How To Cry

"I've seen like kids express themselves and they just want to cry, and someone will say 'use your words'. But what if they want to cry because we were given that form of expression." - Kanye West


    Appearing as the first guest in Alo Yoga's Mind Full podcast, Kanye spoke on the importance of emotional expression. Not everything needs to be expressed through words. Whether pent up emotions be ephemeral or inescapable, we all as humans possess them; yearning to release long carried emotions is only human.   

    "Be a man" or "You're a man" or any other variation of this masculine propaganda is something most males grew up with hearing. I remember the pressure to conform to this more traditional identity in hopes of protecting and caring for my two sisters. Unfortunately, as heroic as it may sound, following it is society's ruin of male expression. As a result, I've seen so many men who simply cannot comprehend and explain their emotions to themselves, let alone their loved ones. 

    Gretel Ehrlich wrote that it's not that men are simply evasive with women, but more specifically they "lack the vocabulary to express the complexity of what they feel". The truth is that this result is not really anybody's fault. I've realized that if men want to express themselves to a peer, trust needs to exist on both sides of the equation. 

    The man must be willing to acknowledge that expressing feelings merely through presence is just as impactful as it is verbally (maybe even more impactful). Likewise, the receiver must be willing to be there and understand more than what's just said. Because expressing one's emotions is not a solo act, but rather the connection of two caring human beings. 

    So, teach them. Despite emotions becoming such a hidden feeling for some people as they live, just putting them into consideration can make all the difference. Teach the ones who need it, because the first time you might see someone break a sweat is at their funeral. 

    


    

Comments

  1. Katherine ParkFebruary 22, 2026 at 1:18 PM

    Linton I actually really like and resonate with your blog. I'm always learning again and again that communication is so vital for human relationships no matter how difficult it is. Your line "the receiver must be willing to be there and understand more than what's just said. Because expressing one's emotions is not a solo act, but rather the connection of two caring human beings." I think you formed these into words really nicely. And although this is the stereotype of many men, this can extend to everybody putting into perspective how simple-minded this labels are.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Nicole LiFebruary 22, 2026 at 3:57 PM

    I always like how you end your blogs, your last words feel like a nice bow on top of a present. The idea you have here is also so real. Good work!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Jessica DengFebruary 22, 2026 at 5:32 PM

    Thought you said something deep for a sec then realized it was just Kanye 😔

    ReplyDelete
  4. Noah KwokFebruary 22, 2026 at 6:00 PM

    If I'm going to be honest, Linton, I only glanced over your blog this week, it was too many words. But from what I could tell, you made many good points throughout the blog, and I find it truly inspiring!

    ReplyDelete

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