Many of us were raised to deny our feelings; that is, we might have been allowed to describe them politely, but we were not allowed to express feelings on the spot by wailing, jumping for joy, or dancing.

This is often considered rude.

In a proper home, we often hear, if people have feelings, they have them quietly.

But many of us have suffered living this way. 

We need a full and thorough expression of a feeling in order to know it, experience it, and move beyond it.

This is the way we let go of sadness, for instance. 

Feelings come and go.

If we are not afraid to let them have their moment, we will not be afraid to express them.

In old days, fools and jesters held an important place in the royal courts.

Today we have clowns who make us laugh. 

If we look closely at a clown's face, we will often notice a bit of sadness around the eyes.

 Clowns are able to move easily from sad expressions to ones full of delight very easily.

For all of us, laughter and tears come from the same deep well inside.

 And often, after a good cry, we find ourselves ready to laugh, easily and joyfully. 

Laughter is a gift waiting for us on the other side of our sadness. 

And perhaps laughter begins with a smile?