humanity
For better or for worse, relationships reveal the core of the human condition.
Trust and Truth Go Hand in Hand
As children, many of us are taught the importance of honesty and trust, always. I learned from a very young age the importance of trust and how easily it can be lost. And, even as a child, it was obviously clear that once trust is lost, getting it back can be impossible. Trust and honesty are two traits that go hand in hand for me and many others. Without one, there can’t be the other, at least where I stand. As children, we grow up trusting that the adults in the family will take care of us and protect us from harm.
By Nathonia Smith6 years ago in Humans
The True Purpose of Relationships
What do you believe is the purpose of a relationship? Be it a friendship or romantic endeavor, what do you believe is the real reason for all our personal relationships? Let’s start by talking about what they’re not. How many people believe that they just need to meet the right person and all their troubles will go away? It’s not about the right person, it’s not about escaping loneliness, not about someone else healing you or showing you your own personal value; they’re not there for you to exploit or manipulate and exert power or control over another. The true purpose of a relationship is to help you learn and grow; to give you a mirror and a feedback system that allows you to see yourself in ways you wouldn’t alone.
By Michael C. Lafferty-Shockency6 years ago in Humans
Things I Don't "Get"
I try to keep up… I try to stay current… I try to be cool… But the list of things I simply don’t “get” becomes longer every year. I’m not the “Hey, get off my lawn” guy… I swear. I love and appreciate being a member of a society where people can (more or less) do and wear and say whatever TF they want. Yet, there’s still no denying the societal changes and evolutions of our society that I simply don’t get.
By Bruce Catania6 years ago in Humans
Under the Monster’s Guise
“Trevor! Come and eat!” The rambunctious eight-year-old came tearing around the side of the house. Almost clipping his mother, Trevor ran under Imelda Brook’s arm and straight for the dinner table. Before the screen door wholly shut, Trevor seated ready to dig in.
By Don Feazelle6 years ago in Humans
Sonder, Sontag, and the Simultaneity of Everything
When I am blocked creatively, I often search Google, Pinterest, or Instagram for inspiration and insight into the world around me. This always helps me to get "unstuck" and seems to better inform my writing. Several years ago I stumbled upon the Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows. Created by John Koenig, the site is dedicated to inventing words (neologisms) to describe the emotions that we all feel but don't have a word in the English language that defines them. Each original word and its definition aims to fill a gap in the English language and although the words are made-up, they are carefully crafted using proper etymology. A self-proclaimed lexophile, I have found DOS to be word porn at its best.
By Kristina Martin6 years ago in Humans
The Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing
She always tried to tell him it was his soul she fell in love with, yet it was his presence she craved. Empty moments filled with nothing was what she became accustomed to. She tried to love him like she thought he wanted, yet in the end, she saw she should have loved him the way he needed. He never believed she really loved his soul, as he told her he didn’t have one and instead, he preyed on her generous nature and kind ways; he manipulated time and space daily, to push her to her limits. He was the wolf in sheep’s clothing. She saw in his pearly white smile the truth of how hard he could really bite, but she knew that part of loving him was loving his demons, too. But, in the end she let his demons feed on her. She took on the role of the victim; she forgot who she was. She was the fire in her emotions, stronger than any woman, for she felt the pain, every inch of it, and still got up every day with love in her heart and a smile on her face. She fell into the role she played, but never really felt like herself. Outsiders looked on like she was weak for staying oh so many times. People would tell her to learn to love herself. Yet she did. The small piece of the puzzle that no one ever saw was she loved herself, in the true meaning of the word. She honoured a karmic bond made before this body, and she knew, in balance, they would teach each other lessons about who and what they really are. Because, thats the beauty of love: It never really dies. It’s just harder for a blackened soul to feel. So they parted, perhaps this time for good. She saw him, into him, through him, and all of him—yet the wolf never removed the sheep’s clothing until the aftermath came upon her.
By Wonders In Words6 years ago in Humans
Guilt: A Useful or Toxic Emotion?
Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about guilt and how it can be both a positive and negative emotion. That guilty feeling we get in the pit of our stomachs is there to let us know when our actions are not aligned with what we perceive to be right.
By Janine Agombar6 years ago in Humans
5 Accessories to Give to Your Best Guy
Men can be very difficult to buy presents for. Either he's the guy who has everything, or he's the guy who doesn't want anything, or he wants some incredibly obscure thing that you're going to need to budget for. When it comes to off-the-cuff presents, there just aren't the same go-to gifts that are generally acceptable for women. Of course you can buy him flowers or jewelry, but there's no guarantee that it'll be anything other than a quirky joke. Here's a list of five easy presents that your guy friend probably either hasn't bought for himself yet, or he could stand to have more.
By Mikkie Mills6 years ago in Humans
Harrington Jacket
So here I am driving down the highway in Brisbane, Australia; it’s a clear hot day in my hometown that I like to refer to as a big country town because it’s not big enough to ever not run into people. I’d just come from dropping off a young musician I was managing at the airport. I’m fairly knackered and looking forward to getting home and hanging out with my love. I’m quite happy with myself as I’m wearing this new Harrington jacket I’d just got. I was working in an office with a couple of record labels and one of the older sort of leaders of the group had set up for myself, him and couple of others to buy these jackets off a bloke who had imported only a few of them from the UK for select people. I felt really cool owning one, like I was part of the gang/club; these were all people I had a lot of respect for and looked up to.
By Jai Sparks6 years ago in Humans
