Tearjerkers. Why can't we get enough of them?

Some stories are deliberately designed to well up the emotions and create powerful connections within the audience. Rightly called "tearjerkers" they are sometimes romances, or tragedies, and many times are true life tales. These days, we see Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest posts with heart-warming tales of people helping each other, or lost pets being found, This is one I found not long ago, and I cried: A gift over the radio. I'm grateful we have these stories, I really am. These things reinforce the kindness and caring we have for each other. They inspire us to be better and more than what we normally are.

Other stories that make us cry work in much the same way. As an audience, we experience deep emotion whenever characters feel pain, or overcome heavy burdens, or help the unfortunate. No matter how old we are, with a bit of care an author can pluck those heartstrings like a symphony and have us weeping a river of tears. Perhaps its a love story, or a silly weekend outing that brings a family together, and maybe a crazy story of lost pets finding their way back home. Whatever the story, we respond to them. I doubt anyone who has seen Old Yeller will forget how thunderstruck we were at the finale. Congratulations, the story mattered to you!

I believe we will want fresh stories that make us cry until the dawn of time. We won't ever have too many. So, keep on making them, sharing them, and shouting out for more!

- M