humanity

For better or for worse, relationships reveal the core of the human condition.

Listen to Your Gut
Since the onset of COVID-19 in the United States, I'm sure everyone can agree with me that life as we knew it would never be the same. Gatherings seem to be a thing of the past. Physical touch feels forbidden. And if I have to partake in another Zoom or Microsoft Team virtual meeting, I probably will scream or just quit my job. The absolute worst part? No matter how much you pack or how far you travel, you're still not prepared unless you have on a mask. However, ARKs (acts of random kindness) appear to be at an all-time high. I love to see celebrities, city officials, and businesses donate to those in need. It’s an infectious, indescribable feeling to me.
By Ebony Palmer5 years ago in Humans
I write good...
A writer friend once told me that I write good. This was when we were unconventional penpals; he was a music writer and record store owner in his late 50s and I was a 20 something singer-songwriter on my overseas adventure, dragging my 76 note weighted keyboard from bar to bar on the London Underground, cursing that I never learnt to play the guitar. He was a friend of my parents back in the 70s when they were in bands, but this was the 90s and email was a new thing, so I’d sit in the Easyjet café in Victoria eating a curried egg baguette and for £2 an hour I’d type away my woe to my old friend back home. We grew this kind of therapy between us, bonding over the most cringeworthy moments of our respective lives, dripping with sarcasm and embellishment to humour each other and lighten our respective loads. He would keep me up to date on all the gossip about people I didn’t know but knew of, in a way that made me feel like a trusted confidante, like part of a scene I wasn’t. From the outside looking in, my nose pressed against the glass, I imagined he might one day write to others of me. He believed in me in a way that my family couldn’t, my lyrical content too close to the bone, my lack of self-belief inherited, passed down from generations of people who didn’t feel good enough at the thing they were good at. He taught me I guess that to write gave angst reason. He told me I write good and I believed him. I was a little bit gothic, excessively empathic and full of feelings I couldn’t quite express in my songs. He got me, saw me. He drew those thoughts out of me and onto the screen. He liked my music even when it was a bit shit. He gave good feedback, honest critique that wasn’t too offensive and which I appreciated because of his expertise. He was well respected in my country for his writing and commentary. When I returned home I’d go over for dinner at his beautiful house with his wonderful wife and their famous friends, and sometimes I would bang out a new tune on the piano in the pool room. I always felt honoured to play for him and I miss those days, even when we were sometimes socially awkward in real time and liked each other better from inside our computers. He’d come out to see my band and the next day would email me his insights, often less about the music and more observations on the punters around him in the bar, or the interpersonal dynamics of the band which anyone who has been in a band will know is 95% of being in a band, the other 5% being actual music. I still have some of those emails printed out and I treasure them now that he is gone.
By Sun Moon5 years ago in Humans
The Noise
Taking some time to hit pause. I’m currently in a season of evolving and along the way, I’m realizing how little I show on any platform the fullness of who I truly am – even the things I create. All at the same time, my social media platform intake influences me every day, every awkward silence, bored or even envious moments.
By Melannie Loria5 years ago in Humans
Looking Back at Lost Things
On December 21, 2020, approximately forty-five minutes after sunset, for the first time in nearly 4,000 years, Jupiter and Saturn aligned in the southwest corner of the sky to create what has been referred to as the Christmas star, the Star of Bethlehem, the star that led the three wisemen to the Christ child.
By D. Gabrielle Jensen5 years ago in Humans
Little-Big Acts of Kindness
Recently I started a new job. Whilst this doesn’t particularly sound like a great feat, after being made redundant at the start of lockdown then spending eight months feeling isolated and scraping by as I searched for work in a world that had shut down… starting in this new role has thrown me a lifeline I was beginning to think I would never get and has given me a reason to get up in the morning; albeit, very early!
By Outrageous Optimism 5 years ago in Humans
My Person is Out There
A breath into the purple candle, pouring into the mirrored sand. Utter silence as the cold lay hovering over his back. Whiskey touching his lips, staring out his window watching rain descend.
By Kyle Garon5 years ago in Humans
Warriors battle. Green eyed angel.
Alive again in this darkness in this sad little mattress on the floor that lays in this apartment of mine. Bathing in my sorrows. Soaking in my disappointments, failures and sadness. As i open my eyes today I wish I didn’t. Staring at the ceiling I need to go do something before I do something stupid and end it all. End the pain and everything. a lot of people don’t understand that physical pain is the same as internal pain, it can physically disable you. Now I owe some Guy money, he keeps bugging me, texting me over and over. Well that one thing is probably what will save my life at least for now. As I put my clothes on put my shoes I begin to realize that that dark numbness is slowly creeping in. Now this darkness is something that just comes and you have no control over your body you have no control over anything you just black out and it just takes over your body.it. And in from time to time especially during trying moments in life. anything can happen, in a split second you have no control one moment I could be watching tv next moment I could be downing a bottle of pills. I gotta get out of here. Just putting off the inevitable. As I wait for the bus to go meet this dude, so I can pay him his money and he can stop bugging. To my surprise the bus actually didn’t take forever to come pick me up I get on, I walk to the back right by the exit door. Some man comes up to me trying to hit on me, talking about who knows what I just heard mumbles and jumbles. Kind of like on peanuts how all the adults talk, that’s what it sounded like. He finally realizes that he was just mumbles and jumbles and finally went away. As I continued on the bus I notice this woman. (She was on the entire ride With me and on the complete opposite side of the bus.) wow she’s really beautiful . I hear a ding I turn, and it was her I did not hear any ding the whole way but hers kind of snapped me out of my daze. As the bus stops she grabs her things walks over to the back of the bus about to step off the step and just stops, as though something startled her so she back tracks, just enough to look at me as I looked into her beautiful green eyes and at her beautiful dark skin face she tells me “don’t forget who you are, warrior, and just proceeded to get off bus nothing more.
By aysha valenzuela5 years ago in Humans
Holiday Guts
Wow. 2020. Am I right? At least we’ve made it this far?? Nobody, not our scientists, not our president, not our astrologists or the crystal lady at the bookstore down the street could have predicted any of the unique madness we endured this year. So how could we possibly send out a holiday card that captures all of the ups and downs (okay, mostly downs) this year gave us, while still trying to seem cheery and somewhat hopeful for the next year???
By Ashley Andersen5 years ago in Humans
Merry Christmas From Your Girl Bethany
To my beloved friends and family, From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for bringing me joy and happiness for the last couple of months despite the heartache that I went through this year. Each and every single one of you has given me so much that cannot thank you enough for just always being there and making me cry of laughter when I needed to. I know most of you have already asked what presents I want for Christmas. But to be honest, all of you have already given me my Christmas present, by just always being there by my side and putting the biggest smile on my face. So this year I ask for nothing in return. I just want each of you to continue to support me in the decisions that I make and for us to keep on making so many memories together that can never be forgotten. I hope you enjoy this small virtual gift and don't be offended if I caught you out. Haha!
By Bethany Gordon5 years ago in Humans
This Covid-19 Year has Sucked; But What a Great Time to Start Giving Again
I think the general consensus about the year 2020 for which most will agree is this; It’s been a “sucky” sort of year. The fact they’re only a few days left in this year weirdly offers a shared sense of anticipated relief. Most people are ready to chalk this year up as one for the history books. Eager to move swiftly into better days ahead.
By Carla Dee5 years ago in Humans
7 Presents COVID-19 Gave To Us
2020 has definitely been a tough year for everyone all over the world. However, we must know that staying negative about the situation will only make us stay in the now. 2021 will soon arrive and we must go on. Thinking positively will definitely help us stay hopeful for the future. So, here are a few benefits COVID-19 gave to us.
By eunise5 years ago in Humans
Just Joshin' You 2
I used to think I had a good sense of character. That when I met someone I could truly tell if they were a good person, I guess most people think they can, but this man showed me how wrong I was. It's still so hard to believe that someone can be so sweet, seem so genuine, actually help out when you need it, and then also be a complete psychopath with tunnel vision and no sense of reality.
By Elizabeth Nolen5 years ago in Humans