humanity
For better or for worse, relationships reveal the core of the human condition.
The Cry Of The Night Owl
Moonlight illuminates my cold, still room. Softly peering in from my bedroom window as if it were trying not to wake me. Despite its gentle attempt, I was already awake. The sad reality was that I had never been blessed with the gift of sleep, or even a good night's rest for that matter. No; I was blessed with the burden of wandering thoughts, destined to travel wherever the mind was too scared to go during the day.
By Tyler Sills5 years ago in Humans
To Die at 99
"TO DIE AT 99" Today is the following morning of Albert's 99th birthday, Its 9 am, the room is bright, the walls are white and the noise of heart monitors of other patients in the room sound their many bleeps. Albert is laying on his hospital bed with the headrest up, he looks at the small wooden topped hospital trolley at the end of his bed with a look of disgust, his eyebrows are semi--frowned, and the gaze is strongly directed at this blue iced cupcake with a single birthday candle placed right in its center, he thinks to himself "if I could move id hurl that stupid thing across the room". Albert never really liked birthdays but, then again, Albert never really liked anything. Albert hasn't had a great life, both his parents died in a car accident when he was 6 years old. At 10 years old he was abused by his uncle, physically and sexually. when Albert confronted some bullies in the park after school once when he was 15, they pinned him to the ground and made him watch a random dog being strangled by one of the bullies at school. In his late teens and earlier 20's instead of partying and chasing girls around the place, Albert focused on his maths and accounting studies in which he spent a very unsocial 4 years gathering a degree. He didn't even attend his graduation, instead, he heated a microwavable meal while watching daytime television programs for hours while his degree was posted to him. At 26 years old Albert worked in an accounting firm. He found comfort in the job processing all the numbers/accounts but hated and resented the presence of his fellow work colleagues in the office almost every day, keeping his distance from them always. At 50 years he made a scene on the street calling a lady a "good for nothing whore" cause she slightly bumped into him and he went to kick her dog too in outrage. Retiring at 71 years old he spent his retirement money on a brand new fancy apartment, (that he didn't look after well) in which he installed surround sound that was directly linked to his TV, an expensive leather armchair (the only chair in the living room) a few years worth of cigars made from all over the globe and a very expensive chess set that was his most valuable possession . He spent the next 27/28 years smoking, drinking (moderate amounts every day) alone in his big apartment. And on His 99th birthday no family, no friends, nobody came to visit him except for the nurse that found out his birthday from his medical sheet, thus giving him the cupcake.
By Sean Cantwell5 years ago in Humans
Unsettled Relationships
To escape the howlings of the night, she meandered her way across the grassy knolls to the barnyard, where she could find solace. She knew they wouldn't miss her much. She came here often. To her unfortunate surprise, when she met the entry the mouth of the barn she heard a familiar sound. Her fingers wound around the cold metal handle as she grunted to pull open the door. The night was frostbitten yet not snowed over. She slammed the door behind herself, warming her hands at the thought of setting a small bonfire on the second floor of the barn. Her nook.
By Audra M.D., LMT5 years ago in Humans
The Village
I have often heard it said that it takes a village to raise a child. I find that in my case, it took a village to form a man. Like many others, this village consisted of my parents, grandparents, siblings, extended family, teachers, and neighbors. However, unlike most villages, it also included adversaries, backstabbers, police officers, social workers and rival gang members.
By Sebastian Hill5 years ago in Humans
I Have A Dream, And Now I Have Hope
Allow me to set the scene: The steps of the Lincoln Memorial, Washington DC, on an unseasonably warm February night. Not just any night, but two nights before my wedding. Jennifer and I decided to kill time on the mall after we arrived at Reagan National Airport to pick up her college best friend, only to discover the flight was running a couple hours late. It was 1999 and cell phones were not the ubiquitous appendages they are now so no heads up about the delay. We evidently didn’t call the airline for a flight status check, which led to my favorite pre-wedding memory.
By Ogun Holder5 years ago in Humans
A Letter To The Man Who Stole My Phone
Dear thief. I apologize, I do not know your name and so I refer to you by occupation. You might not remember me, a few years ago I was sitting on the Paris metro train, right next to the door, doing what one does on a long train ride from central Paris to one of the city's suburbs - Playing Candy Crush.
By Elad Simchayoff5 years ago in Humans
The Beast
The earth was cold and damp against my face. I opened my eyes, giving them a moment to adjust to the low light. I was still in the same large room, the broken stained glass windows letting in just enough moonlight to see by. Foliage had grown around the walls, bringing insects, though most of them let me be. This building had once been so beautiful, but what may have been a sanctuary in the past was now my prison.
By Courtney Pettersson5 years ago in Humans
Taking Inventory
So I make sure at least once a year I retreat to my mothers house. Its just her and my elderly grandmother there. Its where I go to take inventory. I go there and think about what's going in my life and relationships. Her house is a good place because I am a reflection of them. The millennial version I like to think lol. As our generations progress we are what are what our parents knew plus what they think needed improvement from their experience. So when I am there I think about my life, my relationship with my husband, my relationship with my daughter, my career and professional goals relative the generations before me. Separately as my own person too, of course, but the comparison to them is important. I believe each generation is supposed to get better. I also enjoy observing them together, our conversations, and helping in anyway I can. This is also important. It contributes to maintaining humbleness. Family keeps you grounded. They interject those wise nuggets in conversation, that if you aren't listening and present, you wont catch. For me, its also a refueling. I come from strong women. Women who have endured alot. Overcame alot. Going home isn't draining for me, cause we are all lights. We encourage, we hold accountable, we remind each other that we gotta keep going. That a way can be found. We do this everywhere we go, with everyone we interact with. This is a blessing and a curse, but that's another blog. I live in a different state. Married, with a teenage daughter. While at my mothers this time I thought about the way I've changed in the last year. The years happenings. Things I was doing at the beginning of the year versus what I am doing now. There has been alot of changes. I definitely allowed circumstances to create distance between myself and people I have associated with closely. Being a person who as I described earlier in this blog, I have the tendency to be the person maintaining my relationships. I made a conscious effort to still show up, be respectful and reciprocal but not over extend or over explain. To be available for conversation and support but not interject myself. To say no when I need to. This has made a difference. For my stress level, for my social level. This is a positive. These behaviors have been an ongoing process for me. Its easy to regress if you aren't paying attention. If your not cognizant of your emotions. My husband and I are the oldest millennials. In our decade of marriage, we've had millennial problems, but overall its been good. Unfortunately millennials, by the design of our society today are pretty selfish people. Marriage teaches you ways you are selfish that you didn't even realize. Its a totally different level of relationship and intimacy. The highs, the lows, the compromises, the family emergencies and issues you support each other through. The recognizing of your own families dysfunctions you demonstrate that you didn't realize was toxic until the mirror of marriage was placed in front of you. It's a journey. We have truly grown together. Grown through it. We are actually happy. Typing this, I am laughing cause this shit has been hilarious. He's awesome though. And then, there is my daughter. Yes, I started the sentence with "and" cause that girl has been just a delight. This girl God gave me when I was 21 years old, don't get me started on her. but she is 19 now and doing great. Its been an experience being a parent. Navigating the decisions of life with her...because of her. Look how my tone changed on her. But seriously, parenting a young adult, give her room to learn, make her own decisions, still coach a little from the side line, sure to speak confidence and love into her still. My mom was the "you 18, you grown" type. Or at least that's how I interpreted her statements and behaviors at that age. I am not doing that. I'm definitely closer to, and more available to, and more present to my daughter than my mom was when I was 19. I definitely encouraged her to not move out and just go live on campus during the school year. I made some pretty sketchy decisions at her age while in college and in my own apartment, hence her existence lol. Parenting a mini adult is new, but I think I'm killin' it. We do check ins. Alot of processing together. She's very smart, and I'm not just saying that cause I'm her mom. I'm enjoying watching her grow into the woman she is going to be. All this during a pandemic and shutdown. We did pretty good.
By Constant Favored 5 years ago in Humans
