humanity
For better or for worse, relationships reveal the core of the human condition.
Avenues: Ch. 7
All eyes turned towards me when Marissa opened her door and let me into her apartment. While the music lowered, she took my jacket, and I avoided eye contact with everyone in the room except for Susie, who shared her sympathies from the kitchen as she poured herself a drink. From the looks of it, she’d had a few while I had that talk with my father. She can’t say I didn’t warn her. I distinctly remember telling her how awful they had treated my mother when they had found out she was pregnant with me. Being disowned for being a teen mother was the stigma my mother carried within my family until the day she died.
By Sharlene Alba6 years ago in Humans
Counseling
I had always been told that I could try counseling but knowing that my mom was skeptical it was something that was put on the back burner. She’s expressed to me that she was afraid to have us speak to someone at a young age unsure of how we might come away from it; possibly growing up and playing the victim, having pity or feeling sorry for ourselves especially when it came to the difficulties of the relationship we had with our father. She also worried about the possible suggestions of taking medications to help cope with any issues we had. Looking back on it now, I do get the worries that she had with her being a single parent raising three girls. But the older I got, I struggled even more.
By Naya Lovell6 years ago in Humans
Introverts are Hidden Gems
What do Warren Buffett, Eleanor Roosevelt and Gandhi all have in common? Apart from their immensely influential legacies, they identify themselves with the frequently misinterpreted characteristic — introversion. In fact, the term introvert is so misunderstood that it is occasionally synonymous with words such as narcissist, egotist and other demeaning names. Yet, contrary to popular belief, introversion and shyness are not interchangeable. Introverts prefer being on their own, whereas those who are shy may not particularly crave isolation, but instead are intimidated by social interaction. Similarly, introversion and misanthropy are significantly unalike — while introverts enjoy being lone wolves, they are not contemptuous against humankind. Many introverts build deep connections with individuals personally or in small groups.
By Estrella Lo6 years ago in Humans
Your True Love Is Something You Will Never Actually Get
From early age romanticism to each first date held today- love breaks through every narrative of history and seems to hide deep within us. Though, is it held closer to the heart or insecurity? A completion to the soul or just self identity? The magnitude of our magnanimity, or simply put, a byproduct of our biology? It’s clear that as humans love is our magnetic force. The question is, what do we enjoy being drawn to?
By Rachel Sabourin6 years ago in Humans
The Decision
It was a day like any other…OK, that’s not accurate… It started ordinary but the day changed rather quickly. I was visiting with my mother, it wasn’t necessarily anything special, just a regular lunch date. Out of nowhere my mom started to feel a strange pain. She couldn’t really explain. I try not to exaggerate but this woman birthed five babies with no meds and has she the pain tolerance of a beast. She also has learned how to deal with carpal tunnel and other forms of chronic pain on a daily basis, so to see her in so extreme discomfort was quite rare, and it was enough of a warning bell to get her to a hospital.
By Dear Mischka6 years ago in Humans
Surviving Loss
I was rich and I didn't know it. I was rich when I was a child, and I was rich when I was married. I didn't know it. I didn't know how much I had. It is completely true when Joan sings "you don't know what you've got til it's gone". I lost it all. I've lost many times in my life. The older you get, you'd think it would be easier, but it's the opposite. The older you get, the more the losses hurt. I don't care if this is a story or an essay or just a word collage of my memories. I feel like talking about all the "things" I lost. I feel like paying some respect to the tears I cried, the pain I felt, and how I still long for some of those things.
By Shanon Angermeyer Norman6 years ago in Humans
Unpopular Opinion: "Can't make her drink."
"You Can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink." It was an imperishable summer night in Bushwick, an ideal night to have a gathering of artists, smoke a shit load of weed, guzzle down as many IPA’s as you can and make plans that would never amount to much. I was there to meet two new friends I had met on a social media group, “NYC Filmmakers.”Turning the knob as if I were entering the complete unknown leaving everything I knew behind I was teleported to a hippie haven, something straight out of a Netflix mini-series. Weed and Nag Champa, cocaine being broken up and being snorted on the dining room table, people hugging each other, it was a total Brooklyn art vibe. Everything was flowing seamlessly.
By Luca$ Hamm 6 years ago in Humans
Seven Eleven
She's often there when I'm walking home. Perched on top of the hill, leaning against the white bricks of the 7-eleven building. She sits on a concrete garden, usually with a sleeping bag crumbled up in a heap next to her. The lights from the store bathing her in an artificial glow, but she seems to be in shades of black and grey making her look more like a shadow. Her face is dark, some days I think it's her addictions that have etched themselves on her, like a permanent reminder that she will always be captive to them.
By Tina Brunet6 years ago in Humans
What is a snitch?
What is a snitch? There are several answers depending on where you from. I was taught that a snitch, is one that volunteer information to get from under their current situation. Of course, this can be interpreted in a lot of ways. For the most part is about mining your own business. To be honest, most perspective of it is very watered-down. Even though, I am from the streets ; I see it from several ways. Just different experiences in life allow you to see things uniquely.
By Amonte Takumba6 years ago in Humans
Quarantined and Polyamorous
As you sit with your partner, idly watching the umpteenth episode of the current series in your binge watching, your phone rings. Your other partner, with whom you do not nest with, is calling you for some unscheduled quality time. The partner with whom you are with, rolls their eyes and huffs. "Can you take that another time? You'll see them tomorrow." Wanting to avoid the drama, you reply with a text to your caller, letting them know you will call them back later, even though you want to talk now.
By Quint Essence6 years ago in Humans
