humanity
For better or for worse, relationships reveal the core of the human condition.
Regretless Choices
There was absolutely no mistaking it. The man in the topcoat that got into the limo DEFINITELY dropped it. What “it” was though, he had no idea. Martin Stackhouse had been on the streets long enough to recognize something while not giving away that he had seen something, and then found a way to capitalize on it. Living on the streets, that kind of skill was necessary to survive. Fortunately, this was the time of day when there weren’t many pedestrians or other traffic that might come by to scoop up what was about to be his. Martin stayed sitting against the wall he called “home” and waited a good minute after the well-dressed man’s vehicle passed to make sure he was gone before getting up and casually walking over to the gutter where the item was dropped before crouching down to fiddle with his shoes and pick up the item and casually stroll around the block before returning home. Being homeless had its advantages in cases like this, because who wants to get close to someone who looks and dresses (and smells) like him. People generally gave him as wide a berth as possible, which was perfectly fine as he had experienced that kind of treatment all his life. As he rounded the corner, he heard a plane fly over from the nearby airport, and it made him remember what he had, and what he had lost.
By Todd Lucas5 years ago in Humans
Beyond Death
It's been nearly a year since the Pandemic started. Some countries have gotten it under control like Australia and New Zealand. Some are having a second wave that's worse than the first like the US, where I so happen to live. When I'm not writing on Vocal, I'm an "essential worker." No, not a glamorous healthcare provider, I work at DashMart, one of many convenience stores popping up across the country that are owned by DoorDash and therefore can only be shopped through the app. As the need to grocery delivery and food delivery increases due to attempts to social distance, more and more people find themselves working to one degree or another with similar mechanisms in their professional life.
By Cici Woods5 years ago in Humans
Mindful Apple Seeds
There were no other living creatures in sight or sound, no dangerous creepy crawlers, no slithering serpents or buzzing wasps and flies, not even a pestering mosquito. Here, an ordinarily wonted man found himself roving all alone in the silently bare and wide reaching desert on a never ending day. Not certain of how he got there, dragging his restless soul and frayed shoe laces through the pampered honey and cider burnt sand dunes which he aimlessly scaled along with the blazing sun while drowning in the torrid heat waves.
By Paige Shears5 years ago in Humans
My bed.
Am I the only one that feels this way? During the day, we have lots of things to do, and during the day, we try to complete the entire task at hand, but when it is time to go to bed, we tend to think of all the things that we were supposed to do before hitting the pillows. I do love this part to some degree because my brain tends to go on a road trip. The hard part is when I am trying to go to sleep, and I can't seem to quiet my mind. I know that I am not the only one who feels this way, but knowing this information doesn't really help me because I find myself getting frustrated. I need answers like I need water and air, and sometimes the things that I think I want are not what I need, and this is where it gets tricky.
By Theresa Evans5 years ago in Humans
Trisha.
I don’t know much about black culture, nor do I have any particular interest in black creators or innovators above any other race. I’m the kind of person who thought that one or more of the characters from “Friends” was black, until I looked up the show on Wikipedia just now. Call me lazy, not bigoted.
By Arthur Targe5 years ago in Humans
Everyone Has Their Own Story
Why, as a human race, do we constantly judge others? Why do we make assumptions about people based on appearance, or demographics, or their actions, or even rumors? Just because someone looks a certain way, dresses a certain way, executes different actions to us, acts a certain way, and lives their life differently to us, doesn't mean that we have the right to unfairly categorize them. Just because someone has tattoos doesn't make them an axe murderer, a member of a bikie gang, or a thug. Just because someone is living homeless on the street doesn't make them a drug addict, an alcoholic, or a lazy bum who is too pathetic to get a job. Just because someone doesn't mingle with the crowd, have many friends, or speak very much, doesn't mean they are unsociable. Just because a woman dresses in skimpy clothing and short dresses, doesn't make her a prostitute. Just because a guy maintains a clean and tidy house, and listens to pop music, doesn't make him gay. Just because a girl acts like a tomboy and has short hair, doesn't mean she is a lesbian. We just seem to love stereotyping people, automatically categorizing them as being a certain type of person, and we do so because society has twisted our mind to believe so. Perhaps there have been individuals in the past, who have proven to be in a certain category, made evident by their previous actions, but it certainly doesn't mean that any other people with the same, or similar, characteristics and appearance, are in that category also. Sure, sometimes people are, but many people also are not, so we should never judge or make assumptions about others. The saddest part to all of this is that many people even express their opinions verbally, ridiculing and mocking those who they label in certain categories. It's these type of verbal attacks, be it face to face or on social media, that can easily destroy someone mentally. This is nothing more than pure bullying and harassment, and no one deserves to be treated in such a way.
By David Stidston5 years ago in Humans
Why can't people be kind?
I'm watching Superbowl 55 today and a commercial struck a chord with a poignant question - "Why can't we be kind?" I was stunned for a moment, then responded with some bitterness. Why? Oh, I have the perfect example of why we can't be kind.
By Shanon Angermeyer Norman5 years ago in Humans
"Thank you, Mr. Crowley"
The alarm sounded again at 7:00 am with a constant buzz that rang loud in Jack's ears. It took all his strength to lift his arm out from beneath the pillow to hit the snooze button once more. He had stayed up half the night painting and was just exhausted. The peaceful silence quickly returned and Jack was just about to doze off again when it hit him; his best friend Chris would soon arrive to help him remodel his newly inherited home that was left to him by his recently deceased aunt.
By David Ford5 years ago in Humans
Adulting’s Bullshit.
So, my 21st birthday is almost a month away and as I sit and reflect on my twenty years of life, I am filled with a feeling. A feeling, one can only describe as “pissed”. Pissed at the bullshit adults have tricked and trapped me in. Adults have been tasked with the job of caring for and raising their young. Not a simple or easy job by far, but not impossible. I do not believe it was in their job description to build a world, a society based on bullshit, designed to destroy us, not empower us.
By Savannah Diggins5 years ago in Humans
