I stumbled across the notion of ‘crying rooms’ recently and was utterly captivated. At first, it seemed a bit ridiculous, but within moments, I recognized how beneficial such a space could have been during various challenging times in my life.
The Mitsui Garden Yotsuya hotel in Tokyo has launched 12 designated crying rooms exclusively for women. While I find this restrictive and a questionable business decision, the amenities are incredibly inviting: soft sheets, tissues that feel like cashmere, warm eye masks, make-up remover, and a curated selection of emotional films that are meant to elicit tears. I’m all in!
A few years ago, my mother faced a fierce battle with endometrial cancer. Over the course of nine months, her health deteriorated, and soon she was gone. Living across the country made visits difficult, but I attempted to juggle my family, job, and regular phone calls to her and my siblings as we all dealt with this heartbreaking situation. It was an excruciating year, and the pain only deepened after her passing.
During this period, I lacked a private space to grieve. I often found myself stealing moments to cry, always on edge about being interrupted. Whether in my office with the door shut, on the train staring out of the window, or in the shower where my sobs wouldn’t be heard, I had no sanctuary.
As a mother of young kids, I wanted to shield them from the depths of my sorrow, which they were too young to understand. My partner did his best to support me, but we all know that men often aren’t equipped to handle the full spectrum of emotions that women can experience.
What I longed for was a serene environment where I could fully release my sadness. A crying room with cozy sheets, plush tissues, and heart-wrenching movies would have been the perfect escape. My partner would gladly take care of the kids for a night if I had such an option. While Tokyo might be a bit far to travel for this experience, if there were a local offering for around $85, I’d definitely give it a try. In fact, I could still benefit from such a retreat now! The only requirement? I’d want to choose the films myself—and I can guarantee that Forrest Gump wouldn’t make the list.
Here are a few alternatives I’d consider:
- Terms of Endearment
- Longtime Companion
- Ordinary People
- E.T.
- Life Is Beautiful
- 12 Years a Slave
- And practically the entire series of Parenthood
So yes, I would absolutely love to experience a crying room. It sounds incredibly therapeutic.
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In summary, the concept of crying rooms is peculiar yet appealing. It highlights the need for safe spaces to process grief and emotions, something we could all use from time to time.
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