Men are often assumed to be bad at expressing their emotions...
But Redditor u/CanWhip gave men a chance to talk about the last time they got so emotional that they cried. Men responded with stories of moments when they couldn't stop themselves from shedding tears of joy, sadness, relief, or just because they needed a good cry.
10. Saying goodbye to his kids was tough
Giphy"My marriage was on the verge of collapse when my ex-wife got a job offer in another state. She had been unemployed for some time so she had to take the job. We decided I should stay behind since I had a steady job and divorce was inevitable. My wife moved out and the kids stayed with me until she got a home in her new city. Taking my kids to the airport and putting them on a plane to move away from me was soul crushing. I held it together until they boarded. Once they got on the plane I lost it.
My kids only lasted a few months with mom before packing up and moving back to live with me."
9. This very supportive son
"Sunday. Wife has sudden onset of insomnia and anxiety since christmas which has started to trigger panic attacks. She had one while i was at work and called me. When I was free to call back my son answered the phone. I was sobbing listening to my 6 year old talk her through the breathing exercises we had practised. That kid gets ice cream for life, no questions asked. And I might go cry again."
8. A terrible end to an engagement
"My ex fiance left me after I spent 9 days in the hospital battling duel pnuemonia and almost dying."
7. I almost lost it reading this
"I was tucking in my 7 year old daughter a couple of months ago, and she told me that she was worried about me dying before her (i'm only 42 and healthy). So I had a conversation about how old I am likely to live and that she will be an adult when I die. Then she said 'but when you do die will you help me, because I need you so much.' and I lost it"
6. A heartbreaking wake up
"Woke up at 4am after dreaming my dad told me he has days to live. Then realised he is actually dead."
5. When your friends each milestones
"A few weeks ago, when one of my best friends told me he's going to be a dad.
I can go for months and months without shedding a single tear, but these news got me really emotional, in the best sense of the word.
This has been an eye-opening experience for me, as I had no idea I was capable of feeling such things."
4. Self-improvement is necessary
"Month ago.
Was yelling at my kids because they were misbehaving and I put them to bed early.
Broke down afterwards and cried on the stairs. Knew I didn't have to yell as much and said some unnecessary things.
Wife talked with me on the stairs and it turned into a turning point in my life and I'm doing much better with the discipline."
3. A first time parent
Giphy"My daughter was born the start of last year. Think I must have cried for a solid hour."
2. The best possible outcome
"About 5 minutes ago.
One of my nephews is currently in surgery for something his Drs have never seen in a kid his age before. I just got news from my sister that best case scenario has happened, and they were able to take care of things - he should be out of the OR in half the time as was expected.
So, yeah. Crying in relief at my desk at work. Going up to see him in a couple days. It's hard to explain what it means to have kids like him in your life."
1. Sometimes, we need a moment to cry
"Took a small getaway trip, about 8 hour drive few weeks back due to stress. I played all of the songs I shouldnt play on the drive up and let myself unwind in the car and get all of that stuff out, job stress, feelings toward my ex, the whole gammit.
Did me well."
Redditor h-gotfred wanted to hear from the over 50 crowd, so they asked:
"To you Redditors aged 50+, what's something you genuinely believe young people haven't realized yet, but could enrich their lives or positively impact their outlook on life?"
There is so much to know about life.
And we have to age to learn it.
So let's chat...
Be Happy
just married love GIFGiphy"Marriage/relationships should be fun, and happy. Life is hard, things get tough. Find someone that makes the tough times easier, not harder."
Inevitable-Mine6466
"Piggybacking off this and saying, even the happiest marriages get into arguments. It's not a reason to leave."
J3sush8sm3
Battles...
"Not everything that you disagree with deserves an argument. Pick your battles and let trivial things slide."
hail2theKingbabee
"To echo this: Not everyone you disagree with is 'wrong.' They are simply operating with different information. You can disagree with someone on an issue and still value the person. Don't let one issue define your entire relationship with another person."
A_Socratic_Argument
The End
"If you die, your employer will have your job posted before you are buried. Remember that when making work/life choices."
Justin9314
"I started my career at corporate headquarters for a large insurance company. I was doing GREAT, but I just didn’t like the industry. I applied for a job at a major university and someone took a chance on me and gave me the position (transitioning from for-profit to non-profit is notoriously hard)."
"I made less money over the course of my career certainly but I wasn’t on poverty wages by any means. But I remember about 5 years in, one of my old VPs was in town and we got together. His comment was 'We miss you, but you look so much happier, the psychic income is showing.' Insightful guy."
Reynyan
The Truth
"2 things I will be eternally grateful to my grandfather for instilling in me..."
"Failure is not an end state unless it is where you choose to stop. He loved to quote that line by Churchill whenever something didn't work out for me, Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm."
"Honesty is the most powerful tool you can use to define yourself. Admit your mistake, frankly and honestly. The truth always comes out in the end no matter how big or small and it doesn't get better with age. You can give back something you steal, and you can help those you hurt but once they brand you a liar, it's all you will ever be."
iskandar-
Be Quiet
Golden Girls Rose GIF by TV LandGiphy"Unless you don't mind hearing EEEEEEEEEEEE like all the time day and night, use hearing protection in loud situations. Tinnitus is a bi*ch."
revnhoj
Take care of your ears.
One of life's greatest lessons!!!
Live by the Moon
bart simpson maggie GIFGiphy"Wear sunscreen."
nilecrane
"I just had a quick look at my 50-year-old upper chest, frequently exposed to the sun in my youth, and compared it to my 50-year-old belly, which has always been clothed and covered (I have never liked two-piece swimsuits). What a difference!"
HootieRocker59
Passions
"Take a genuine interest in what other people have to say, ask them follow-up questions about their passions in life. Don’t just talk about yourself, or wait for your turn to talk. That’s how you have a conversation, and build a relationship."
MayIServeYouWell
"Sometimes you gotta be careful with that. Pay attention if the other person is doing that too, it's important for you to share about your life. It can be kind of lonely when you know so much about your friends, but they don't know about you."
jacarelunar
Practice makes Perfect
"Every skill takes determined practice to master. I see my young friends/relatives try and give up on so many things because 'they weren't very good at it.' If you keep doing that, you'll never be very good at anything."
EarhornJonesI
"I love cooking - and find it easy and relaxing. I have hit a point where I can make several dishes that I can honestly say are far superior to what I could get at a restaurant. I love delighting my family and friends with what I cook."
"But the truth is - I've prepared thousands of dishes. I've practiced for 40+ years. I have f**ked up every single type of food there is at least once. I've burnt things. I've undercooked chicken. I failed to emulsify things that should have been emulsified. I forgot to set the timer. I've added too much salt. I chopped when I should have torn. I did all of the wrong things at some point. And because of all of these things, I can walk into any kitchen and make something delicious."
NewSummerOrange
63
"I’d say invest in your health by regularly exercising. My wife got me into running when we were in our twenties, and it has been a big part of our lives ever since (I’m 63). Nothing crazy, no marathons, we don’t time ourselves or follow a strict training plan, we just pick a route, go at our own pace, and have fun. We still go 3-4 miles, 3-4x per week."
"I also started working out at the gym 3x a week with free weights in my 30s, and have been doing it ever since. I’m no Schwarzenegger, believe me, but I can still work around the house, move furniture, shovel snow and have fun tossing a ball around with the kids without injuring or exhausting myself. Between aerobic fitness and weights, I’ve been able to stay remarkably healthy my entire adult life, knock on wood. It’s also been great for my mental health and managing stress."
"You don’t have to go nuts and set unreasonably strict requirements for exercise goals or diet that a normal person can’t possibly maintain - just do the best you can, make exercising a few times per week a habit, eat a reasonable diet (avoid fried stuff, eat fruit and veggies, lay off the sweets), and 40 years later you’ll really thank yourself, believe me!"
lanky_planky
Plan Ahead
Make It Rain Money GIF by yvngswagGiphy"Debt can really ruin your life. If you want to take on a lot of it, make sure you have a good plan and run it by a lot of smart people first."
vanityklaw
Debt. Everyone should learn about avoiding debt as early as possible.
This whole list should be taught in Universities.
