Sad Elephant, and Why Catharsis Cry is Good for Me

Have you ever seen the story about the elephant who lives on a little reserve and became BFF’s with a dog that wandered on the property? Seriously check this out:

 

Elephant and Dog are Friends – CBS

That’s some gods-damned loyalty. That’s love. That’s family, dammit.

Then, there’s the followup. Be prepared – you’re gonna cry. Or you have no soul, and that should make you a bit sad, too.
 

Tarra and Bella Update – CBS

So why is weeping over this elephant’s grief a cathartic good cry?

For me, grief is rough, but it’s also inextricably tied to trying really hard and coming up short. I can only imagine and empathize with poor loving elephant as she tried to bring her friend home to where she’d gotten well before. I can only imagine being within view of the building where she’d kept vigil before, and been reunited with her best friend – only to realize that wouldn’t happen this time. I can only imagine what the other elephants think or feel as they try to console her and offer her their own food and favorite things. Grief is hard when you never forget.

Yes, I know that “Elephants might totally forget, we don’t know!” It’s a blessing to know that I do forget. It takes a lot of time and it brings its own smaller waves of guilt and grief, but forgetting makes it easier as time goes on to… well, go on.

Maya Angelou is quoted as saying, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” The other end of grief’s tunnel is the fading of the pain of passing, and the memories of feeling love, support, and friendship.

So this poor elephant’s story is a good cry, for personal perspective, catharsis, and resolution to be a loyal friend who never forgets the way real friendship feels.

Have you ever wept for a stranger so hard you had to admit you were weeping for yourself?