--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I still cry on waking. I'm not sure why…" description: "\"I still cry on waking. I'm not sure why. I feel nothing. Nothing I can name, anyway. It's like breathing - something that happens over which I have no ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aca/mary-e-pearson-2812_breathing_i-still-cry-on-waking-i-m-not-sure-why-i_2631949.png" --- # I still cry on waking. I'm not sure why. I feel nothing… ![“I still cry on waking. I'm not sure why. I feel nothing. Nothing I can name, anyway. It's like breathing - something that happens over which I have no control. (6)” quote by Mary E. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aca/mary-e-pearson-2812_breathing_i-still-cry-on-waking-i-m-not-sure-why-i_2631949.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aca/mary-e-pearson-2812_breathing_i-still-cry-on-waking-i-m-not-sure-why-i_2631949.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aca/mary-e-pearson-2812_breathing_i-still-cry-on-waking-i-m-not-sure-why-i_2631949.png) > “I still cry on waking. I'm not sure why. I feel nothing. Nothing I can name, anyway. It's like breathing - something that happens over which I have no control. (6)” [Mary E. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-e-pearson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Unexplained emptiness can feel like involuntary breathing, indicating deeper emotional numbness. **In simple terms:** Feeling empty without reason; like breathing. Key Takeaway Explore underlying emotions, seek connection. Themes emptiness emotional numbness self‑discovery mental health Mood somber introspective Type reflective emotional When to use this quote - grief - depression - identity crisis - spiritual searching Key Concepts psychology existentialism Questions to Reflect On - What triggers your emptiness? - How can you reconnect with feeling? A Different Perspective Might be a symptom of depression needing professional help. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Breathing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breathing/) [Breathing Happens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breathing-happens-2197610/) [Cry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cry/) [Feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel/) [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [Like Breathing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-breathing/) [Names](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/names/) [Not sure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/not-sure/) [Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stills/) [Sure Feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sure-feel-395764/) [Waking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waking/) ## Related quotes > [Art for me is like breathing. When I stop breathing, what happens?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoko-ono/art-for-me-is-like-breathing-when-i-stop-breathing-what-happens/) [Yoko Ono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoko-ono/) > [Music to me is just like breathing. I have to have it. It's part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-charles/music-to-me-is-just-like-breathing-i-have-to-have-it-it-s-part-of-me/) [Ray Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-charles/) > [Your true passion should feel like breathing; it’s that natural.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/your-true-passion-should-feel-like-breathing-it-s-that-natural/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [Working safely is like breathing - if you don't, you die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-smith/working-safely-is-like-breathing-if-you-don-t-you-die/) [Jerry Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-smith/) > [Responsibility is something you take as a matter of fact, like breathing air; living without it is impossible, but do not think about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-gelt-dekker/responsibility-is-something-you-take-as-a-matter-of-fact-like/) [Jacob Gelt Dekker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-gelt-dekker/) > [Traveling isn't something you're good at. It's something you do. Like breathing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gayle-forman/traveling-isn-t-something-you-re-good-at-it-s-something-you-do-like/) [Gayle Forman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gayle-forman/) > [Writing is like breathing, it's possible to learn to do it well, but the point is to do it no matter what.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-cameron/writing-is-like-breathing-it-s-possible-to-learn-to-do-it-well-but/) [Julia Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-cameron/) > [For me writing is like breathing. I could not live without breathing and I could not live without writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-neruda/for-me-writing-is-like-breathing-i-could-not-live-without-breathing/) [Pablo Neruda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-neruda/) > [The point is to get a good rhythm, to make it mindless, almost as a daydream. To walk like breathing. To make it what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sontag/the-point-is-to-get-a-good-rhythm-to-make-it-mindless-almost-as-a/) [Susan Sontag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sontag/) > [A lot of people can't stand touring but to me it's like breathing. I do it because I'm driven to do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/a-lot-of-people-can-t-stand-touring-but-to-me-it-s-like-breathing-i/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [“Anyone else feel like that? Like your life's a big act. Like you're trying to be a man when you're just a scared kid,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-flinn/anyone-else-feel-like-that-like-your-life-s-a-big-act-like-you-re/) [Alex Flinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-flinn/) > [Eating and sleeping are not like loving and breathing. Washing is not like eating and sleeping. Believing is like breathing and loving. Religion can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/eating-and-sleeping-are-not-like-loving-and-breathing-washing-is-not/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [“There was nothing dreadfully wrong with me, I was just upsetting myself with my irrational thinking. I just couldn't admit it until I knew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/there-was-nothing-dreadfully-wrong-with-me-i-was-just-upsetting/) [David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/) > [Our love is like the wind, I cant see it but I sure can feel it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/our-love-is-like-the-wind-i-cant-see-it-but-i-sure-can-feel-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You have to learn that if you start making sure you feel good, everything will be okay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-studdard/you-have-to-learn-that-if-you-start-making-sure-you-feel-good/) [Ruben Studdard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-studdard/) ## More by Mary E. Pearson > [“Once upon a time, there was a man as great as the gods… But even the great can tremble with fear. Even the great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-e-pearson/once-upon-a-time-there-was-a-man-as-great-as-the-gods-but-even-the/) [Mary E. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-e-pearson/) > [“abuelita speaks no english. she doesn't need to, zoe thinks. her smile fills and communicates so much more than the empty, half-said words of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-e-pearson/abuelita-speaks-no-english-she-doesn-t-need-to-zoe-thinks-her-smile/) [Mary E. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-e-pearson/) > [... Change doesn't happen overnight-it's molded by people who don't give up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-e-pearson/change-doesn-t-happen-overnight-it-s-molded-by-people-who-don-t-give/) [Mary E. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-e-pearson/) > [There are all kinds of friends you make in life... But there's something different about someone who spreads their wings with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-e-pearson/there-are-all-kinds-of-friends-you-make-in-life-but-there-s-something/) [Mary E. 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My brothers.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-e-pearson/somewhere-beyond-all-that-on-an-unseeable-horizon-was-morrighan-and/) [Mary E. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-e-pearson/) > [“I play the if game too, Tavish. It´s practically a hobby of mine, but I´ve found it´s a game of endless possibilities with no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-e-pearson/i-play-the-if-game-too-tavish-it-s-practically-a-hobby-of-mine-but-i/) [Mary E. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-e-pearson/) > [“He leaned back, the misery in his eyes cutting through me. "But they're only wishes Lia, because you've made promises and so have I.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-e-pearson/he-leaned-back-the-misery-in-his-eyes-cutting-through-me-but-they-re/) [Mary E. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-e-pearson/) > [Father says it will come in time. “Time heals,” he says. I don’t tell him that I don’t know what time is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-e-pearson/father-says-it-will-come-in-time-time-heals-he-says-i-don-t-tell-him/) [Mary E. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-e-pearson/) > [There is something about her eyes. Eyes don't breathe. I know that much. But hers look breathless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-e-pearson/there-is-something-about-her-eyes-eyes-don-t-breathe-i-know-that-much/) [Mary E. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-e-pearson/) > [But remember, child, we may all have our own story and destiny, and sometimes our seemingly bad fortune, but we're all part of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-e-pearson/but-remember-child-we-may-all-have-our-own-story-and-destiny-and/) [Mary E. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-e-pearson/) > [But I am more than a name. More than they tell me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-e-pearson/but-i-am-more-than-a-name-more-than-they-tell-me/) [Mary E. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-e-pearson/) > [“I looked at her, unsure how to answer. Even after everything Mikael had done, every day I had to let go again. He was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-e-pearson/i-looked-at-her-unsure-how-to-answer-even-after-everything-mikael-had/) [Mary E. Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-e-pearson/) [Explore all 148 Mary E. Pearson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-e-pearson/) ## More Breathing quotes > [A thing of beauty is a joy for ever;It's loveliness increase;it will never pass into nothingness;but still will keep a bower quiet for us,and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/a-thing-of-beauty-is-a-joy-for-ever-it-s-loveliness-increase-it-will/) [John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/) > [“As long as we’re breathing, we have a chance to start over and build a stable future.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-ha-campbell/as-long-as-we-re-breathing-we-have-a-chance-to-start-over-and-build-a/) [Kim Ha Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-ha-campbell/) > [People don't think much about breathing. Of all the things we take for granted, breathing has to be number one - even though it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laird-hamilton/people-don-t-think-much-about-breathing-of-all-the-things-we-take-for/) [Laird Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laird-hamilton/) > [Aging is like enlightenment at gunpoint. Before I had cancer, I lived my life for my art. After I had cancer, I lived my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-halprin/aging-is-like-enlightenment-at-gunpoint-before-i-had-cancer-i-lived/) [Anna Halprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-halprin/) > [I wish," Jared began, and stopped, breathing in. "Do you remember how you used to believe I wasn't real? Sometimes I wish that was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/i-wish-jared-began-and-stopped-breathing-in-do-you-remember-how-you/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) > [The still affection of the heart Became an outward breathing type, That into stillness past again, And left a want unknown before; Although the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/the-still-affection-of-the-heart-became-an-outward-breathing-type/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [Breathing is give(carbon dioxide) and take(oxygen), such is life, find balance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-williams/breathing-is-give-carbon-dioxide-and-take-oxygen-such-is-life-find/) [Marcel Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-williams/) > [I'll probably be writing as long as I'm breathing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-kristofferson/i-ll-probably-be-writing-as-long-as-i-m-breathing/) [Kris Kristofferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-kristofferson/) > [For me writing is like breathing. I could not live without breathing and I could not live without writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-neruda/for-me-writing-is-like-breathing-i-could-not-live-without-breathing/) [Pablo Neruda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-neruda/) > [I’m in, Cat. I’d never leave you. Especially when you’ve got death breathing down your neck.” “Very funny,” I retorted, since Bones was inches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeaniene-frost/i-m-in-cat-i-d-never-leave-you-especially-when-you-ve-got-death/) [Jeaniene Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeaniene-frost/) > [Splutter, splutter. Yes - we're off - we're rising. But why start off with an engine like that? But it smooths out now, like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-morrow-lindbergh/splutter-splutter-yes-we-re-off-we-re-rising-but-why-start-off-with/) [Anne Morrow Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-morrow-lindbergh/) > [He’d moved toward me again. 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It would have been effortless for us — comfortable, easy as breathing. I was the natural path your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephenie-meyer/i-m-exactly-right-for-you-bella-it-would-have-been-effortless-for-us/) [Stephenie Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephenie-meyer/) [Browse all 1,666 Breathing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breathing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I still cry on waking. I'm not sure why. I feel nothing. Nothing I can name, anyway. It's like breathing - something that happens over which I have no control. (6)", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mary E. 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