humanity
For better or for worse, relationships reveal the core of the human condition.
The Kindness of Bill
I hope this does not come across as me being self absorbed, but I've done many generous, selfless things in most of my thirty one year adult life. When I can, I give to my community with my time. I've donated money to charities of all kinds and I've even secretly paid for someones lunch or coffee in a drive thru. But out of all of the things that I have done to help someone, this one, is one I will remember for a lifetime.
By Marie Edward5 years ago in Humans
Small Acts of Kindness
I deeply enjoy the small acts of kindness, and the ways that they can change your entire outlook on life. For me, these don't only change my outlook on life, they change my entire mood on an already bad day. I had a sweet woman show me the biggest act of kindness I have ever received in a Walmart parking lot. She had been sick, which made her body hurt. We were in the middle of the pandemic, and she asked me a simple favor to put her cart up for her. I didn't mind, I was standing right near her and the place to put it up was right by me. She seemed tired, so I did it for her. Besides, I enjoy helping others, so it wasn't a big deal to me at all. After that, she called me over to her car, as I was just about to leave.
By Michelle White5 years ago in Humans
Acts of Kindness
Good deeds, like so much in this world, are born and not made. Any one particular good deed, at its inception, is little more than an idea. A stray thought in the back of someone’s mind, waiting to escape. Like an acorn, waiting to germinate in the warmth of Springtime.
By Xan Indigo5 years ago in Humans
Digital Footprints
Throughout my teaching career I often had to buy, create or procure supplies for my students in math or computer classes in disadvantages areas. There were even times when I had to create my own work books using the ditto machine to make copies one page at a time for a whole semester worth of problems. This was something that I did in city schools of Newark and in country settings like Tunbridge, Vermont. The latter was a school so old it had out houses for bathrooms and a pot bellied stove for classroom heat. One of the first things I did when I arrived to school each morning was stoke the fire and add some wood. But one of the situations I am most proud of being involved in happened when I was in charge of the computer lab at Randolph Mason College in Virginia.
By Darryl Diggs5 years ago in Humans
Falling into the bucket
Walking down the street, she kicked at the fall leaves. This usually sparked at least a tiny amount of joy. The smell of autumn, the crunch of the leaves, the change of the season after a hot, sticky summer. Even going back to school was usually at least a little exciting; it meant seeing friends every day and, of course, new school supplies. But this year just didn’t feel the same. Walking along with her mask pressed against her face, occasionally fogging up her glasses, she didn’t feel the same excitement. The weather was changing but school wasn’t going to be the same. She wasn’t going to see half of her friends because they would be in person on different days. And even those she would see, would be from a distance. No lunches together. No free periods together. No activities after school. No waiting together for the bus. It just wouldn’t be the same. What’s the point? Might as well keep hanging out through their online games – at least then they could talk and joke around live and in the moment. She just felt….blah.
By Cathy Hofherr5 years ago in Humans
Conversations From The Heart
The smell of provolone cheese fills my nostrils as I stare aimlessly at the selection of deli meats. I try to decide which sandwiches to order for my lunch date with my grandma, but the longer I stare at the assortment of cold cuts, the more my mind wanders. The doubt and stress that normally stay locked in the back of my thoughts has caught up to me. I question my current job situation, my purpose, and the trajectory of my life.
By Juliana Marino5 years ago in Humans
Taking Time To Be Kind
It was a busy day in the farm market. Summer was coming to an end and there were many people coming to our orchard to pick the last of the peaches. In the farm market, we sold tickets for orchard admission and bags to carry the peaches you picked. The market also had a small bakery and lots of local produce.
By Tanner Larson5 years ago in Humans
The Nighttime Samaritan
The streets of downtown bustled with music, laughter, and yelling. The clubs were still alive and my friends and I were in the heat of it. Body to body dancing in the clubs of San Diego for our girls night. When I had had enough, I called my partner to come collect me. My friends, not wanting the debauchery to end, opted to stay but walked me outside at the very least. They hugged me in a swaying “I’ve had one too many drinks sort of way” and I nuzzled against them. Telling them drunken lies of how I could make it home on my own and didn’t need them to wait with me. I didn’t want to be an inconvenience to them.
By ShanTheScribe5 years ago in Humans
The Special Place
Clara had become accustomed to being alone. As a young woman, living in a large city by herself seemed like an impossible task at first but she had come a long way. City living had never been her dream, she always wanted to travel the world, but she did it for a boy that she loved. Even though he was no longer around, she still felt inclined to stay. However, lately, she started to wonder if there was more to life than simply existing on her own.
By Destinee Romero5 years ago in Humans
The F Word
I was 19 years-old the first time I ever said the F-word. I remember it distinctly. I was sitting on the bleachers at the ball park not far from my home thinking about a boy who had kissed me, on that very spot a week earlier. I was writing in my journal when two guys, a bit younger than I, started harassing me. “Nice tits,” the slighty chubby one yelled. “Yeah,” his side-kick mimicked, “Nice tits.” I was and remain to this day a very modest person. I don’t enjoy being somewhat well endowed. I wanted to be flat chested my entire life drawing absolutely no attention to any part of my body whatsoever. My dream was always that people would like me for my sizable brain and witty banter. My breasts were the last thing I cared about. In fact, they betrayed me. Women with breasts were naturally thought of as stupid, whereas flat chested women were smart. But I had just graduated from high school with a 92% average. It had to be because I hid my breasts constantly behind sweaters, jumpers, blazers.
By Lezlie Wade5 years ago in Humans
A Slice Of Humble (Pizza) Pie
Anyone who’s ever worked in any type of customer service job knows that some customers are just the worst. I’ve had several different customer service jobs (I’ve done waitressing, fast food, and retail), and I’ve had my fair share of encounters with some major Kens and Karens.
By Jaye Ruggiero-Cash5 years ago in Humans
