I'm not crying, that's just rain on my face!

While ironically funny, the above expression shows how some people deal with the body's biological reflex to an intense emotion. By definition, 'cry is from the Latin quiritare, to make a public outcry', which could relate to many different emotions, eg. sadness, frustration, anger. We often cry because we are trying to deal with a complex emotion and our brains react to this by releasing moisture from the eyes. It is a completely natural and biological action, therefore why are so many of us afraid of it?

Of course there is the stereotypical view that crying is a woman's game, as they are the most emotional sex and therefore men do not cry. Ever. However, some people consider the act of crying to be a weakness or an embarrassment. Granted not all tears are the same, sometimes uncontrollable sobbing can be quite dramatic and and so we may wish to cry in private, however the act can also be therapeutic. Directly linked to the grieving process, crying can help us to deal with our feelings of loss or bitterness as bottling up our tears can often lead to more sorrow and confusion.

Often tears can be created from the emotions and experience of others. For example, when we watch a sad film, or listen to a moving piece of music. This is of course different for each person and is subjective. While one might find a film heartbreaking another might not. In a debate with friends, some said that they can only follow a story emotionally if they can personally connect with the events that unfold. Only then may they feel emotional enough to cry. As a person who has no reservations about crying and often feels better after a small sob, during sad films my tears flow freely. Therefore a decent acting performance and a compelling storyline can send me sobbing, whether I can directly relate to the characters or not. Sometimes however if we expect a film to be really sad, it often doesn't live up to our expectations and we are left wondering why. Again it's just subjective!

I think it all comes down to control. Are we in control of our emotions? Even though crying is a biological reaction, some would say that we are in control of cour minds and bodies so we can control how we feel. I think some people are obviously better at this than others. I believe that if something is trying to escape than why fight it? Why be afraid or ashamed of it? Why justify it? Finally, do not be afraid of your tears. As Ryan Seacrest says, 'It's okay to cry, It's because you care.'

What goes around and comes around?

Karma.

In the last few months I have suddenly become aware of the fragility of human life. It is a known fact that immortality cannot be achieved and we will all eventually die. Yet when young people die before their time we are overcome with sadness. Furthermore when a young person dies as a result of the thoughtless, reckless decisions made by others; we are sad and then angry as we start to realise how short, unfair and unpredictable life really is.

A hit and run accident on New Years Day killed two girls under the age of 21, a boy is still critically ill and one was injured. I happen to know these people so the event is raw and real for me, but this happens to people every day. The rash actions, futile acts of stupidity, and complete and utter misuse of free will condoned by some human beings changes thousands of lives forever. The immediate response to this change is of course devastation, grief and bitterness. However, there are some people who use the idea of Karma to deal with these incidents. karma is defined as, 'the force generated by a person's actions held in Hinduism and Buddhism to perpetuate transmigration and in its ethical consequences to determine the nature of the person's next existence' Even though the theory contradictions western religions who say that we succumb to the will of God rather than our own, the same idea is echoed in the Christian phrase, 'reap what you sow' Galatians 6:7.

Some describe Karma as a safety mechanism. It is a way for humans to hope and wish that one day those who commit evil and do wrong, will be punished and receive their comeuppance. When sudden situations, like young deaths occur, I think the idea of Karma and destiny can play an important part in the grieving process. For those who have faith, their grief is aided by God, as they believe he has taken their loved one for a reason and has better things in store for them. However, for those who do not believe, like myself, a discovery is needed to make sense out of shocking disasters, unexplained accidents and events that make no logical sense. This explanation can echo the idea of Karma in that the people responsible for these occurrences will eventually receive their payback. Or by looking at the bigger picture there is an unknown reason for the outcome present now, however the effect of the situation may have set into motion important events to come.

There are many different places where Karma can be noticed, considered or simply wished for. It can be the smallest incident or the greatest disaster. In life it is often said that bad people always seem to get happy endings, but for how long? Wealthy people gamble and win more money while millions starve, will they be rich forever? Just the idea that one day justice may be found can create a little peace for the few people who choose to see it.

Unexplained events surround us every day all over the world. Some just accept these and are content to assume that life on earth is simply that and there is no necessary reason for us to be here. They say we must enjoy our existence and there is not a reason for everything in life. I can see some truth in this idea as there is much about the world we cannot control or understand. Yet what is the harm in trying? I deeply believe that there is a reason for humans to exist, there is a reason we are the superior life form and there is a reason we have a soul, for it to live on after death. Therefore if we need to speculate about life's reasons, wish for justice and create possible rational solutions in our minds in order to feel better, what is the harm? Whether we exist for a reason or not, we all have in us an innate desire for justice and fairness. Therefore when this is not achieved we can but naturally imagine a time when it will be.

Karma is there - should you see a reason for it to exist.