I try to cry daily.

Sometimes it’s as simple as thinking of Sam. Other times, I need a little more: Jack realizing he’s dead along with his father at the end of Lost (oh yeah, spoiler), or Harold and Maude saying their last goodbyes. Or maybe it’s a song from my “Break My Heart” playlist, which is 29 hours of music and growing.

I think crying regularly is important—at least as often and as hard as I laugh.

That part’s easy, though. You’ve got The Simpsons on demand for instant laughs.

But here’s the real point: don’t be afraid of feeling shitty. In the bland, smiley Alphaverse, I know that’s frowned upon, but maybe that’s why they’re so fucked up.

We’ve built a world that treats sadness like a flaw. If the Alphaverse crew had their way, they’d probably patch it out of the human condition in the next software update.

But those tears? They aren’t bugs in the system—they’re proof it’s working.

Each time I press play on that 29-hour playlist, I’m making the choice to feel it all. Every song unlocks a different memory, a new room in the heart. I visit all regularly. A memory opens each door, a memory shuts it the same way.

You can’t selectively numb emotions. Try to block out sadness, and joy has a harder time getting through. Shut down the tears, and you’ll eventually forget how to laugh from your gut.

There’s also science behind this. Crying isn’t just about emotional release—it’s a physical process that benefits your body. When you cry emotional tears, your body releases stress hormones like cortisol. Studies have shown that crying can lower heart rate, blood pressure, and even promote better sleep .

Emotional tears are chemically different from the ones you shed cutting onions; they contain more protein, which helps remove toxins from your system . It’s like a mini detox, triggered by your emotions.

Crying can stimulate the release of endorphins—your body’s natural painkillers. That’s why you often feel calmer, even relieved, after a good cry.

So yeah, bring on the tearjerkers. Give me the playlist that cuts deep. Let me think about Sam until the tears come. Because in a world that’s afraid to feel anything too deeply, maybe crying daily isn’t just therapeutic—it’s resigned rebellion.

When Harold says goodbye to Maude, when Jack’s face crumples with realization, when the perfect song hits just right—that’s when I know I’m still human. Still feeling. And that’s the point of all art.