Family
Slow to Anger
One argument. One Slap. One phone call. A multitude of consequences. Back then, I had developed a habit of drinking everyday--definitely not good for my health, in so many ways. Alcohol and mental health issues DO NOT MIX. If you were to ask me why I had started drinking, I would not have had an answer for you. All I know is that drinking helped me escape the existence of my mundane, void-filled life. I was alone. Men related to me on strictly a physical level. They didn't stay and I thought it was because something was wrong with me. I had no job--I was on a fixed income, and although we had everything we needed, the funds to do the things we wanted to do were few and far between. I was a single mother. My son, who had always been close to me, was now a young man about to graduate high school and go to college. He would be leaving me and that saddened and terrified me. Being a mother was my greatest accomplishment; for the last 17 years, I had been nothing else. Looking back, I was not merely unhappy; I was ungrateful. Maybe that was why karma would have its way with me--in order to teach me to appreciate everything and to take nothing or no one for granted.
By Tara Branche3 years ago in Confessions
Betrayed Trust: A Cautionary Tale of Resilience and Justice
At the tender age of 12, when most children are navigating the complexities of adolescence, I found myself facing a tragedy that would shape my life in unimaginable ways. My father, a pillar of my small community, succumbed to kidney failure, leaving behind a grieving family struggling to cope with the sudden loss.
By Payal3 years ago in Confessions
Fear of Covid
Covid…..the mere utterance of it still sends shivers down my spine. Is it just a flu? Or is it really a deadly virus? Being a contagious virus that is believed to have originated from an animal, managing to spread throughout all quarters the world. No country has escaped the devastating effects of this mutating virus with a new strain emerging every few months.
By Ashwinni S3 years ago in Confessions
Birth and rebirth
It is said that if you want to hear a joke, tell God what your plans are. Life is what happens when you are making other plans. We all think that we need to have a major shift, a major change for things to really change. But sometimes it's something small, and sometimes it sneaks up on you.
By Talara Nolan3 years ago in Confessions
The Little Boy
I had always been a pretty average kid growing up. I didn't have any particularly noteworthy talents, I wasn't good at sports and I was an 'okay' student. I went through each day in a daze, just going through the motions and trying to figure out what I was going to do as an adult.
By Emilie Turner3 years ago in Confessions
Modern Stories of Atlas
As I enter the living room, I hear the familiar blare of the T.V.. A Suns vs Spurs game is on. My mom is working in the Livingroom and watching the game. Occasionally, I hear her say something to the T.V. in frustration or joy. Barefoot, I'm dancing around the upper Livingroom, as I did back then, and jumping on a chair that could fully spin around. For some reason, that day, I sit on the long-step down to our Livingroom and watch. I saw the players on the court and the seats full of fans. It was all so fast-paced and exciting. After 5 minutes my mom is explaining little bits of what is going on in the game. After about 20 minutes I'm rooting for the Suns. 30 mintues I tell her "I don't like that guy", a player who had just fouled a Suns player, and possibly also because he was out working my team. If my memory is correct, it was David Robinson I said that about. The next time I would say that, it would be about Patrick Ewing. That guy always bothered me when he was on the court. My mom laughed and smiled. Now, when I think back to that memory I recognize amusement in her expression when I say that. She responded "Who?". She started saying numbers on the jerseys. I got up and pointed him out on the T.V. and repeated the number after I decided I knew what number it was. I was young. After pointing out the culprit her smile widened and she said, "Really. Why? Yeah, he's good". We both smiled and continued watching. The first time I saw him play is stuck in my memory along with the feeling of frustration for my team. It took a lot back then to sit and be still for an entire game, but I watched the whole game that one day way back when. That's the day I became a fan of the NBA. It's also the first time I realized my mom, a woman, could be as informed and hold her own in a conversation with any man or woman, on sports. She is a fan with a pure love for sports and more specifically basketball. This moment, so small, would have an immense effect on me. I'd reflect on it when my mom was stuck in a hospital due to cancer. Days I needed a distraction from reality. She could still make me smile when I heard her asking nurses if they were laker fans. If they weren't, and they cheered for the team against them, especially in key games, she'd ask them to leave. Most thought she was kidding, I knew she wasn't. Cancer was frustrating enough! If they were fans, she'd have them stay and watch a bit with her. This reassured me she was still in it. She had strength in her still. I hadn't lost her. On days when I had a great day, and my teams won, it seemed that much better. As if god was reassuring me that everything was meant to be fine. The Suns, the Nuggets, and the Lakers all bring back memories of my mom, as well as the places we moved to. Always followed by a feeling of normalcy in a new strange place. A part of home. A possibility of hope. A hope that could be achieved, unlike so many other forms.
By simplicity3 years ago in Confessions
I'm Sick of It
The picture that I used basically sums up how I feel. * * * I'm sick of it. The emotional pain. The physical pain. My head always hurts. I get hurt every few weeks during seizures. On Easter, I ended up scraping my knee when I fell. Today, it ended up being a (likely) sprained ankle. The RICE method doesn't help anymore since my body is too used to it. For those of you who are unaware, the RICE method is rest, ice, compression, and elevation.
By Rene Peters3 years ago in Confessions
Love's Masterpiece
Once upon a time, in a quaint little town nestled in the countryside, there lived a young man named Oliver. Oliver was a talented artist who spent most of his days in his small studio, painting and creating beautiful works of art. He was known for his intricate brushstrokes and his ability to capture emotions on canvas. Despite his artistic success, Oliver felt a longing in his heart for something more, something he couldn't quite put into words.
By Hamza Ali 3 years ago in Confessions
The Burden of Regret
Regret is an emotional burden that many individuals carry throughout their lives. It arises from a sense of loss, missed opportunities, and the belief that one's present situation could have been better if only they had made different choices in the past. Regret can be a painful and debilitating emotion, but it also has the potential to be transformative and ultimately lead to personal growth. This essay will explore the burden of regret from various perspectives, examining its nature, causes, and effects on the individual and society as a whole. We will also discuss strategies for coping with regret and ways to create a more positive outlook on life, free from the shackles of past mistakes.
By Unknown3 years ago in Confessions
