humanity

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

An Open Letter from Generation Z
There are a lot of opinions on who generation z is, what generation z stands for, and how generation z lives in today’s society. I’m not saying those opinions are wrong because everybody is entitled to their opinion, but I suggest actually talking to someone who is from generation z. Not belittling them or telling them what you were doing when you were their age, actually talking to understand why their head is where it is and why they view the world with such disappointment, anger, and realism. We didn’t grow up hearing that we were going to go to college, have a great job and own a house by the time we were 23 and everything was going to be fine from there. We grew up hearing that it was going to be difficult, we were going to struggle a lot, and college was going to be insanely difficult to pay for. On top of that, we see how much the millennials are struggling with their dreams that came burning to the ground like the Notre Dame. Which isn’t their fault, they’re trying their best with the shitty cards that were dealt by some shitty people.
By B6 years ago in Humans
The Struggle of Staying Kind
This is the kind of thing you never want to think about. You never want to take that good, hard look at yourself and ask if you’re becoming an unkind person.
By Leigh Victoria Phan, MS, MFA6 years ago in Humans
Accepting Myself as Mixed Blood
As a woman with skin that is too weird to be white, but too pale to be considered truly Native American, I’ve faced a lot of pressure from my people and from white people to basically “pick a side.” To change myself in a way that will make it clearer what I am, make it easier to be put into a category. To be quantified and found wanting, like blood is used by the USA government.
By Jessica Riffle6 years ago in Humans
It's All in the Details
Whenever I hear someone say, “I’ll send you details later.” Those simple words evoke one of my many painful bittersweet childhood coming of age moments. We all have them.
By PAT CHANEY6 years ago in Humans
Me and Black Sambo
My first grade teacher was beautiful and looked a lot like a younger version of the movie star Sofia Loren. Fresh out of the Peace Corps, she, like so many others of her generation, was out to save the world and definitely made a difference. I can still picture her in her tight pencil skirt and beautiful black hair like my mama’s.
By PAT CHANEY6 years ago in Humans
The Illusion of Our Separateness
It’s hard to be a human. It really is. It’s easy to be a homo sapien, but it’s hard to be a human. Being a human requires so much more than—sadly—we are often able to give. Being human requires remembering our birth. We probably can’t claim to remember our actual birth... a crying little baby coming into the air of this world and out of the warm womb of our mother longing to be held next to the warmth of the same body in which our human form was created. We can take a moment and use our imaginations to remember our birth...
By Billy Potocnik6 years ago in Humans
New York, Higher Consciousness, and a Slice as Big as Your Head. Top Story - August 2019.
She lowers her copy of 'The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks' and sees I am daunted, lost, nervous, and facing the spiky shrew that is my own pride. She smiles at me. It is the direct look-you-in-the-eyes sort of smile, which, in a single moment says; I see you. I know you.
By Melanie Maure6 years ago in Humans
Superwomen Syndrome
Have you ever felt like if it wasn’t for you, a lot of things would go wrong? How about feeling you have to do it because nobody else would do it? Or maybe you’re the universal psychologists, does everybody come to you for advice but never ask you how you’re feeling? Well I’m here to say me too.
By Nia J6 years ago in Humans
Why Can't We Just Accept Compliments?
One of the reasons why people don't like their jobs, their relationships, or their lives in general is that they don't feel like they are appreciated. Today's a pretty fast-paced world. We often forget to show our appreciation for people around us. When we do decide to show our appreciation, there can be a bit of awkwardness. Sometimes we don't know how to show our appreciation for others, and then there are times when the receiver of the appreciation doesn't know how to react.
By Brian Anonymous6 years ago in Humans
The Fallacy of Power
We were all standing around in a circle holding hands about to close out our self help meeting and suddenly I saw the pillar in the center of the room in a new light. I thought about how we all gather around this wood pillar as if it is symbolic. I thought about the guy who does karate chops and kicks on it. I realized how supportive that pillar is and how it allows the upstairs people to live in their apartments and keep us below safe from them falling on top of it. I realized I wanted to have the strength of that pillar.
By Marc Sander6 years ago in Humans
Where Is True Compassion in a Crazy World?
Anyone with even an ounce of integrity would know a thing or two about the challenges that the world faces today. In the so-called Anthropocene age where human activity is a forceful influence on climate and the environment, we are witness to a massive and ballooning global population, rapid and unprecedented global climate change, obscene levels of consumption, production, and waste, the sixth great mass extinction and staggering losses to biodiversity, widescale eradication of cultures and languages and their wisdoms, and the constant threat of warfare between nations, violence within communities, a widening gap between rich and poor wherever you look, and diseases that resist our best efforts.
By Mark Durieux6 years ago in Humans
A Little Big Thing
Do you ever meet someone who makes you feel both small and big at the same time? Small because whenever you're with them, you feel protected. You feel safe and sheltered. You feel cared for, and secure in their company. There's comfort in knowing that they're around because as long as they're there, you have someone to look out for you. You have someone who has your back, who wants to protect you and see you succeed. You have endless support, like strong hands lifting you high up when things are hard to see. You have a strong shield against all the negativities that try to surround you, never letting their harm even come close. You have the peace of mind that should you face any danger, you have someone who will stand up in front of you and keep you from getting hurt. You feel, in simplest terms, safe. It's like you're in a never-ending hug, arms strong and holding you together while the terrors and dangers of life try and shake you to your knees. Or like you're being lifted up, high up in the clouds. From there, you just look down at all the negativities that try to reach you, knowing that there's fortitude in the arms that hold you up. It's like nothing can touch you. Nothing can get past the love, nurture, and care that surrounds you, encapsulating you completely.
By Alice ♡6 years ago in Humans