Tears on the Page
Sharing Something Personal: “Tears on the Page”
One of the fascinating things about being human is how differently we all cope with life’s challenges. Some people run. Some bike. Some cry. Others sing.
For me, it’s always been writing.
My dad was a good man in many ways. But like all parents, he brought his own struggles into fatherhood. Growing up in the rural countryside east of Ocho Rios, Jamaica, he was taught that crying was not something boys—or men—were allowed to do. That belief followed him into his parenting.
So when I was punished physically as a child, the one thing I wasn’t allowed to do was cry. I had to learn how to cry differently. And writing became my outlet—my way to let the emotion out without breaking the rules that shaped my father’s world.
Over the years, writing became more than just release—it became healing. Especially now, when there’s so much pain in the world and in my own life. As a Black man with over 35 years of corporate leadership experience, I still face moments where my worth is questioned—not because of my skills, but because of the color of my skin. That weight can be unbearable some days.
So I write. And lately, I’ve begun turning some of that writing into music—using AI tools to craft melodies and voices that give sound to what I feel. I’ve even started a playlist that I’ll keep adding to over time.
I’m sharing this because I know there are others who’ve been taught not to cry—who’ve had to find different ways to let the pain out. This playlist is for anyone who understands what it means to carry silent grief, and still find ways to express it.
I call it “Tears on the Page.”
May it help you cry, sing, write, or simply breathe.
Playlist: Tears on the Page
Link: https://suno.com/playlist/0d54a52e-7f1e-4bb7-b553-b053bfe016dc