humanity
For better or for worse, relationships reveal the core of the human condition.
One Last Hope
The last three years of his life had been difficult, to say the least, but Nelson made the best of each day. His current place of residence was underneath a large maple tree at the intersection of Richmond Street and Power street in the city of Toronto.
By Greg Gillis5 years ago in Humans
A Failure Of Imagination
I once had a life coach tell me to write myself a cheque for a million dollars. “Pin it to your vision board!” she said with a grin untouched by cynical disillusionment. “Imagine what it would feel like, what your life would look like, if you had a million dollars in your hand, right now.”
By Sarah Wilkinson5 years ago in Humans
Stripes
When I was young and stupid, I posed nude. It was for ART you see. I posed for life drawing classes at the C*****n School of Art. I loved the environment; the smell of paint and turpentine and charcoal, all the students with paint on their hands, the high windows that let in perfect light. The school was in a beautiful old building in Washington, D.C. on the Ellipse. I felt so fulfilled walking into work there, into the creative world of a select few, so far from my small dairy-farming town.
By Jane VanCantfort5 years ago in Humans
Childhood Magic
Memories from childhood are some of the most precious ones that I have. Before life overwhelmed me with angst and very real challenges, I always felt like I lived in my imagination more than anywhere else, where life was nothing but one magical experience after another. I grew up in the middle of nowhere, with few neighbors, so I had a lot of land to explore to make up grand adventures for myself. The barn served well for building hay bale fortresses as a Queen in a castle, but the cornfields in the summer served better for my dangerous escape from a criminal who wanted nothing more than to rob me of my witch powers. I loved creating vivid pictures and stories in my head and acting them out however I felt like doing (often with partially reluctant participation from my cats and dogs.)
By Dani Banani5 years ago in Humans
Finding Family
Adela Montgomery made it her business to mind her own business. She learned young that the only way to survive in this world is to keep your head down and take care of yourself. In high school, she ignored the cliques and gossip and became valedictorian. When her first job merged with a bigger company, she stayed away from the in-fighting and did her work as usual. She earned her promotion. In college, she finished her first two years in eighteen months by ignoring the parties and focusing only on her studies. Before she earned her degree, her mom developed dementia. She moved back to her childhood home, hired a sitter for the elderly, picked up a second and then a third job and continued doing whatever it took to survive. Her mother's doctor gave her colorful brochures for assistance; financial, emotional. medical. She thanked him and threw them away. No one helps for free.
By A Michelle Mills5 years ago in Humans
The Power of Soup
The hours between 3:00 AM & 5:00 AM, are the lonely hours for a waitress on the graveyard shift in a downtown diner. The club kids had headed home to pass out, with a belly full of food and enough coffee to keep any sober person awake for hours, and the early risers were still snug in their beds.
By Anita Reff5 years ago in Humans
Little black book
Her back hurt as she bent over the table to wipe up the few crumbs left from her last customer. Charlotte had been working a double shift and was dead on her feet, it didn't help that she had on new shoes. She was thinking about her last customer of the evening, he was an older distinguished looking man who had left a nice tip by his coffee cup, but he seemed so sad and lonely. Charlotte shook her head a little as she slipped the money into her apron pocket. After he left she pulled out his vacant chair as the restaurant owner expected each waitress to clean their allotted area so she retrieved the broom and dustpan to sweep under her tables. As she swept out flew a small black book! "Oh my!" she thought, this could be important and if she stuck it into the lost and found it could be tossed out because they emptied it weekly. Her back and feet forgotten she went over the days tabs looking for clues for the man's name she had waited on, then remembered the gentleman paid with cash, what to do? She looked into the book but it was a plain old address book even if it did seen exquisitely made. Even if she called some of the numbers they wouldn't know which friend lost it. Charlotte took it home with her and made a plan to post an advertisement in the local paper the next day. Up early and with book in hand Charlotte marched off to the News office. Just as she opened the door she ran smack into the very man she had waited on the evening before. As they stood there apologizing to each other Charlotte pulled out the little black book and asked him if it was his. Tears came to the old man's eye and he said, "I just now posted a reward for my book, you see it was the last gift my dear late wife" Lois" gave me, here let me give you that reward." The man said. "Not at all" Charlotte said, "I won't hear of it, I'm just glad I was able to return it to you." Charlotte hurried away to get ready for her shift, she was going to pull another double so this time she made sure to wear her old comfy shoes. About half way into her shift that very gentleman came in and sat in her section and ordered coffee. She smiled and said hello as he sat in her designated area. He said, "Hello, I didn't get to ask you your name before you left this morning. Mine is Doctor Edward Markis." "I'm sorry" Charlotte said. "I'm Charlotte McConner, nice to meet you. Can I get you a menu?" "Charlotte McConner, what a nice name. No thank you I just want a cup of coffee please. I can't tell you how much it means to me to have my book back." Charlotte could tell that he needed to talk so she went to get his coffee and brought one for herself. "May I join you? I would love to hear all about the story of the little black book" Edward's eyes lit up like a child's on Christmas morning. "Please do" he said. For the next half hour Edward Markis proceeded to talk about a woman who was loved and cherished. He told Charlotte that when he met his wife, "Lois" she teased him all the time that he was so handsome, that he must have been a "player." Now Edward was not at all unattractive but he was quite average in looks. Laughing he told Charlotte that it was their little joke and she teased him all the times that she was so lucky she caught him. Then he became solemn as he explained that he was a doctor of some renown, not in a bragging way but just stating a fact. Tears welled up in his eyes as he said" I made it my life's work to help people but I couldn't save my wife, the love of my life from the damn cancer." Shaking his head like he could shake off a bad dream, he became quiet for a moment. "My wife had a friend pick up this little black book for her, as we were not blessed with children she was afraid I would be too lonely. She put all our friends and extended family's numbers in it, so not only could I reach out to them when I was in need but I would be able to see her loving handwriting." All Charlotte could think was what a wonderful woman his Lois was! As she stood up Charlotte reached out and patted the back of his hand. "I have to get back to work Doctor Markis but you stop in anytime you want a cup of coffee and a willing ear" She told him. Charlotte had a bit of a lunch rush after that so she didn't see the doctor leave but as she went to clean up his table there was an envelope by his coffee cup with her name on it. In the envelope was a thank you note and a check for $20,000.00 made out to her! The owner had to call an ambulance as poor Charlotte fainted dead away. When she woke up who should be standing over her but Doctor Markis. "What happen?" She asked. "Well, it seems you fainted" Doctor Markis said. "I remember now!, you left me a card with a check for $20,000.00!" she said. "Yes I did, and I want you to keep it, I had posted a reward for that amount in that advertisement that I canceled when you bumped into me. I can afford it easily and trust me when I say its worth every penny to have my book back." Charlotte looked him in the eyes and said "I will take it as long as you promise to let me buy all your coffee from now on. I had better see you weekly Doctor Markis!" "Please call me Edward" He said.
By Ruth Bosic5 years ago in Humans
Love changes Everything
I am a great believer that love changes everything. It is the greatest quality there is.Patience and Trust right behind it. If a person or an animal has never experienced Love, they most likely will not trust you,and in most cases be aggressive. When love is not there walls are built up. I have seen this time and time again. Some people may accept this with people but not with animals. Animals have emotions too. For us to have a society that works there are certain things that are needed. If we apply them to our lives I can guarantee we will see a difference,not only in the world but in ourselves. I want you to write them down. Meditate on them, apply them and prove me wrong. Now here are the ingredients that if you apply them they will change your life forever. Love Patience Trust Forgiveness Empathy and Listening. There is something important you have to understand for this too work. Most people do not understand forgiveness, a lot of people have the wrong idea about forgiveness,and find it hard to do, because !they have the wrong idea. Once you know how it really works it is much easier too do.
By Kathleen Merry5 years ago in Humans
