I have watched "Inside Out" twice. And I have shed a tear during "Inside Out" twice. Not shocking, seeing as I cry at most movies (including the documentary "March of the Penguins"). How can you keep your eyes dry when this girl is trying her hardest to hold up her happiness when she is not happy with her situation? She wants to stay strong for her parents and keep up this ideal image of stable emotions, but she cannot hold herself up. She needs to be sad, too. Not just happy.

I cried because I feel like I am that girl. People know me as happy, and that's the shining trait they consistently compliment. I began to feel as if that was the only emotion I could emit. Other emotions were fine at times, as long as they receded. As long as they weren't all that was on my mind. I could be mad, I could be grumpy, but I could never be it for a long time. No one explicitly told me this, and no one meant it that way. But in my brain, it translated into this box of emotions that I could not step out of. Grumpiness, sadness, happiness... Most were ephemeral, one enduring.

Let's all admit: it is exhausting to be happy at times. There are days when you do not smile. There are days when you would rather cry than go to youth group. And that's okay. It isn't said often enough, but it's okay. You can cry if you want, you can be sad, miserable, depressed. And you can be those things around people. I don't feel like I am faking my smile in social situations, but sometimes I wish I could think about my sadness instead of thinking about my happiness. I have always loved being the happy one. I like when people compliment my laugh, my smile, my easiness. But I want people to appreciate my vulnerability, and my honesty, and my authenticity. I don't want to just be happy. I want to be Meg. I hope you want to be you, too. Emotions are okay. There are walls that we all put up, barriers that move our tears to the bathroom instead of the table. We don't find it acceptable to be sad. We can be stressed, we can be overwhelmed, but we cannot be sad. That is not something you talk to people about. But you should talk to people about it. You should tell people when you are sad. I should tell people when I am sad.

I understand being happy. I understand that it is an attractive trait and that life is easier when I am happy. I do not want an easy life, I want a real life. I want to receive my emotions with open arms. I want to rip wet tissues with my fidgeting hands. I want someone to hold me when I am unstable. I want to feel.

Do not throw a pity party for yourself, do not evoke sadness for attention, do not fake emotion.

But do accept your emotions.

Do tell people how you feel.

Do let others take care of you.

Do take care of yourself.

There is good in happiness. There is good in sadness.

It is okay to be happy. It is okay to not be.

Just be what you feel.