humanity

Humanity begins at home.

The Smile Rebellion
In the sterile city of Virell, silence reigned supreme. No laughter. No crying. No joy, sorrow, or fear. Emotion was declared the root of chaos, the spark of war, the downfall of civilization. And so, nearly a century ago, the World Concord issued Decree Zero: all emotional expression is illegal. Emotional suppression implants were fitted at birth. Schools taught neutrality. Families lived like quiet machines.
By Rizwan 8 months ago in Families
i die everyday without you
i like to doubt my love for you because it makes me feel bad about myself, and when i feel bad about myself i can focus on me and not you and the fact that you’re gone, and i can torture myself with fixating on all my own mistakes and regrets and my shameful actions and my lies and maybe for a few moments i can escape you and your memory that haunts me like a ghost that i can’t quite see, because maybe i don’t deserve to see you, and if i don’t deserve you maybe that’s why you’re not here, and if you were here maybe you wouldn’t love me if you knew me, and if you didn’t love me and i loved you maybe it would hurt and ache like fucking hell but it would also make sense, but maybe it’s not possible that your love would have ever died if you hadn’t, and what’s possible now is even scarier, and it’s that you are nothing and nowhere to feel anything about me or anyone else you loved, and in believing you are nothing and nowhere and gone, wiped away like an afterthought from this earth, then i fucking hate this earth and everything on it, and the rage within me boils at the world for taking you from me, and from my mother, and from my thoughts without these tears forming every time without fail, because i can’t think about you even now without crying, even now i am not free to think of you in any happy light in a meaningful and true and genuine way because even though we had so much happiness with you, we lost it all when we lost you, and i lost everything you taught me, it all fell out of my brain like mush, and i started to forget myself, and my kindness, and my grace and my patience, and my love, and how to love, and how to act and respect myself and respect others and be myself, be genuine, embrace the pain, i just couldn’t do any of it because none of it mattered like it used to, because you’re gone now, and i love you, and even if i never deserved your love, i always had it and i always will, and i know it, and you will always have my love for you and my heart too, and i don’t even have to say that because i know it’s true and if you’re not nothing and nowhere, i know you know it’s true too, and it isn’t even worth saying at this point because of how very true it is, and sometimes i feel crazy and alight with the force of missing you and loving you, and sometimes i feel like it never goes away, the pain and the hurt, and i can’t quite shake the feeling of emptiness thinking of the chairs you sat in, the beds you slept in, sleeping next to you on vacation listening to you snoring, thinking of the last time i ever laid by your side, the last time i got to hug you, the last time i saw you, and i want to slap myself senseless for not holding you for just a moment longer, just a little closer, but strangely i remember that last hug we had and i remember the love i put into it, and i remember that something felt somewhat strange and off and i couldn’t put my finger on exactly why, maybe i hadn’t seen you in a while before that, which means probably only a few weeks because i saw you all the time, or maybe i knew somehow or some way that i should hug you with extra love that day, and i am glad i did, and i miss you so much that i can hardly stand it, and i don’t know what to do or where to turn or how to unpack how i feel and have always felt, and when people ask if i was close with any of my grandparents, i say yes, i was close to my grandma, my mom’s mom, when really i want to say, i don’t want to talk about it, or, my grandma was everything to me, and she’s gone now, and shut the fuck up about her because i sure do, because i can’t say two goddamn words about her without crying my eyes out at 23 even though you passed when i was 12, more than half my age now, and it’s scary that i don’t know where you are or if you’re still out there somewhere, because of course i want to believe that, and i think you believed that, but i don’t know what i believe, i just know what i want to be true, and that scares me because what i want is rarely real and tangible and good enough to be true, and i just feel sad right now thinking about you and what could have been, and about the life you deserved, and about the years stolen from you, and i want to know what you would tell me to do, i want to hear from you, i want a sign, or a symbol or a word, and i know it’s greedy but i want you to tell me it’s all okay and that you love me and that you’re proud of who i’ve become, and i want to know it’s okay to miss you and mourn you, and that it’s okay when i’m not missing you and mourning you too, that it’s okay to try to move on the best i can without you here, even though it’s hard, even though it makes me think about how i’m ever going to deal with the other tragedies at hand in this life, and i don’t think i’m equipped to handle them well at all, but i will handle them, i think, as i handled saying goodbye to you, in the only way i can.
By angela hepworth8 months ago in Families
A Century of Hope
At first glance, what might you think of someone who drops out of school at 16? Could there really be hope for them? That person is Bob Hope. He was a comedian who appeared in over 50 movies and lived to over 100 years old.
By LaMarion Ziegler8 months ago in Families
Restless Waves: A Journey Through the Tides of Grief.
Authors Note: I wrote this piece in response to two questions I was asked about grief—specifically the kind that comes in waves, unexpected and overwhelming. This is my honest attempt to put those feelings into words and to offer something meaningful to anyone who's navigating their own ocean of loss. If you're grieving, I hope this meets you where you are.
By April Kirby.8 months ago in Families
Integrated Care and Weight Loss at Maverick Medical
At Maverick Medical, we believe that healthcare should be comprehensive, proactive, and deeply personalized. We provide family medicine, primary care services, urgent care, telehealth, and advanced therapies like medical weight loss and hormone replacement therapy to help you achieve lasting health.
By Frank j Monroe8 months ago in Families
Brothers in Greed
A Tale of Friendship, Betrayal, and the Cost of Wanting More In the quiet village of Darwan, nestled between rolling hills and whispering trees, lived three childhood friends—Arif, Babar, and Sajid. Their friendship was the kind that legends are built on. From chasing kites to building treehouses, they were inseparable. But as they grew older, something began to shift: their love for each other was slowly overtaken by a thirst for more—more wealth, more recognition, and more power.
By Awais Ali8 months ago in Families
The Unshakeable Union
Forget fairy tales and Hollywood endings. The secret to a truly strong, lasting marriage isn't found in grand gestures or perpetual bliss. It’s forged in the quiet, consistent choices, the deep-rooted respect, and the resilient commitment two people make every single day. It’s architecture, not magic. After decades of research (think giants like John Gottman) and countless real-life stories, we know what separates fleeting unions from those that stand the test of time. These are the 7 non-negotiable elements that build an unshakeable marriage:
By TaleSpot8 months ago in Families
The Chest of Patience
When a simple wooden chest becomes the silent witness of a lifelong love, grief, and quiet strength, a story unfolds — one of patience, resilience, and memory. Inspired by true events, this is a tribute to the quiet heroes of everyday life.
By Constandinos Olymbios8 months ago in Families
What is D-Chiro Inositol? Uses, Benefits, and Risks
D-Chiro Inositol In recent years, interest in natural supplements for hormonal balance, fertility, and metabolic health has grown significantly. Among the most promising of these natural compounds is D-Chiro Inositol, a member of the inositol family known for its powerful role in insulin signaling and reproductive health. This guide provides a detailed and user-friendly breakdown of what D-Chiro Inositol is, how it works, who it may benefit, and potential risks to consider.
By Chiral Balance8 months ago in Families
Chalkboards at the Kitchen Table: Our Unexpected Journey into Homeschooling
I never thought I would be the kind of mom who homeschooled her kids. Before 2020, the word "homeschool" belonged to a different world—a world of Pinterest-perfect schedules, educational co-ops, and science experiments erupting in someone else's kitchen. My world was carpools, packed lunches, and cramming spelling tests on the way to school.
By Fazal Hadi8 months ago in Families
Why Do We Miss Someone Who Hurt Us Deeply — and Whom We Now Despise?
When Missing Someone Doesn’t Make Sense It’s one of the most painful emotional contradictions: missing someone you know hurt you. Someone who broke you, disrespected you, maybe even shattered your sense of self. You’ve grown to despise them, lost all respect — yet… you still miss them.
By Manal shwqy8 months ago in Families
Why Do People Who Love Deeply Always End Up Hurt?
The Cost of Loving with Your Whole Heart Love is one of the most profound and transformative experiences a person can have. It touches the soul, connects hearts, and gives life new meaning. But those who love deeply often find themselves facing the heaviest heartbreaks. It's a pattern that repeats across stories, cultures, and personal lives. Why does it seem like those who give the most, feel the most pain?
By Manal shwqy8 months ago in Families