humanity

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

Emotionally Abandoned
Abandoned! Stranded! Lonesome! Isolated! Alone! Left for dead! Yeah! These words define right now what I am going through right this moment. It is not easy. It is the toughest situation in the world. It can start anywhere, at any time, and for any reason. It can even overlap the other times. But, no matter when it happens, that will be the time when you find out who your true friends are.
By Maurice Bernier7 years ago in Humans
Transmutation of a Stranger
I see her just about every morning as I walk to work. I go towards the train, as she is walking out of it. I go to work at her city, and she comes to mine. At first, it wasn’t her who drew my attention, but rather the older, diminutive, dark-skinned lady in front of her, who always carries a life-sized cutout of someone, walking towards some unknown destination—both to her and I. She also has a predictable routine, and maybe, a much more intricate background. But it’s the girl I always look at. She has baby blue eyes, and walks as if she’s lost in the woods. We have gazed at each other in passing a few times, and now, we’re both acutely aware of each other’s existence, amongst the chaos of a morning rush. At this point, we both know that the other exists, and nothing more, and that’s OK.
By Ish H7 years ago in Humans
Differences Between Blondes and Brunettes
Diversity is one of the most wonderful things today’s world and today’s life offers to us. Women come in a great variety of shapes, colors, and mindsets. But is there any actual scientific differences between us? Or maybe it’s all down to tastes and stats? Maybe the difference is that brunettes generally like cooking three bean salad.
By Alyssa Day7 years ago in Humans
Escaping My Past... Part One
I want you to picture a small young child around the age of eight with her toy (use your imagination) in one hand, and her blanket in the other. I want you to imagine her walking through the dark hallway that connects both her parent's room, and her's down the hallway. It's dark. Nearly four o'clock in the morning. She's pale, and her headaches from being sick the previous evening. Dazed from the early morning, she sees both her parents standing in the kitchen hugging and giving their goodbyes, as well as her two small dogs, that are clearly confused as to what is going on. After giving her father a goodbye, he picks up his suitcase and enters his car. She proceeds to run to the front door where she can watch his car leave the neighborhood. Suddenly, it hits her. It hits her hard. She realizes her father is leaving for a while. Tightly clenching her blanket with her tiny hands, anger spreads through her, because she doesn't understand why he is leaving. Why now? Why? She sees the car slowly backing out. 5:12 AM. More Pain. All the emotions rise to the surface. She can't help, but sit there, and let her tears take over, as she watches her father leave. As the car begins to disappear the girl runs throughout the house to his room, bursting the door open, and opening all the drawers. Inside the top drawer is a fancy luggage tag. It small and round, but reminds her of him for she realizes the empty room will continue to remain dark and empty. She proceeds to walk to her bed, places it carefully in her drawer, and goes to sleep. Safe and sound. For now at least...
By Angel 🌹🌹🌹7 years ago in Humans
One Bad Deed Doesn’t Define a Person
Have you ever been in a situation where you were looked down on or judged because of something you did in the past? Well it isn’t a pleasant feeling. Or, have you ever looked down on someone and thought someone was the scum of the earth because of something they did? I have been on both sides of this coin and I didn’t like either. As humans, we are not perfect in any shape or form. No matter how good a person can be, we tend to make decisions or do things that may not be so good. At the moment of that decision, sometimes we don’t think about the effects and the long run consequences of the action—we tend to only think about the temporary gain. But that’s just what it is—we do bad things sometimes. The bad things we have done don’t make us bad people. Yes, over time the attitude you show people, your personality, and some of the things you do all combine to show people what kind of person you are. It does not mean that the one bad thing you did at some point automatically cancels out the other good things you have done. Personally, I wonder why some people tend to see only the bad in people. I'm not innocent of this either. I had a friend that I grew to like as a person. Even before that, I was told that this person was a no-good person especially when it came to relationships. I chose not to believe it at first, because I didn’t know this person all too well yet. That’s another thing, people: don’t take what people say about others as gospel before you even get to know them.
By Chimdi Chime7 years ago in Humans
The Things We Say
Something profound happened to me recently. It happened shortly after getting my second paycheck from my new job this past Christmas. I passed a stranger in a grocery store. He looked at me, nodded his head, and spoke three rather innocuous words; “How’s it goin’?” It was one of those questions we all ask, never really expecting a reply. It’s one of those weird things we do in society to show that we acknowledge the presence of another human being right before passing through their ‘personal space’ He was just being polite, I’m sure. Normally, I would just nod back, and answer with something like, ”Hey, what’s up?” or something equally benign and noncommittal.
By KL Hankins7 years ago in Humans
Why Do We Ignore the Homeless?
The poet Shane Koyczan once said "tragedy is a switch, we're never more than one flick away from it, that can happen to any one at anytime." Knowing that homelessness is one bad mistake, or an untimely misfortune away from being our realities. I've spoken to many people that are currently homeless, and I have also had the burden of homelessness on my shoulders at times. One thing that I have learned from these experiences is that when you are homeless you are looked at like you did something wrong. Like you are a drug addict, like you are a criminal. But what I want to know is why.
By Brandon Partridge7 years ago in Humans
Labor Day, 2018
When you wake me up with a kiss on my forehead, you tell me, Take a shower, we’re going out to breakfast this morning. I drive down to the strip district in my favorite baby blue romper, and you sing "Africa" by Toto to the cars as they pass by. We speed down the strip, not noticing the brightly colored eight-by-eleven posters on each door stand telling us Closed–Labor Day. My favorite diner, Pamela’s, closed, and every other sit-down restaurant, closed. Except for one or two, whose lines stretch down the street. The people fuss in the late summer heat, moving this way, and that, but not going anywhere, just trying to create the ghost of a breeze.
By Carsyn Smith7 years ago in Humans
Why I Can't Be Loved
So I bet you clicked on this thinking, well, damn another sob story about the lack of love in someone's life. I am betting it is something you have experienced yourself, or at the very least you know someone who has. Maybe my story is a tad different from most, but it's still oddly common, I'm sure.
By Caroline Bailey7 years ago in Humans
10 Things Not to Say to a Person with a Disability
I’ve been disabled my entire life, but only in a wheelchair for 11 out of my 23 years on this Earth. And in those 23 years, I’ve had my fair share of insulting, back-handed statements and questions come my way. Although a lot of these statements and questions are said and asked with good intentions, the effect they have on those with a disability is usually negative. So, I compiled what you shouldn’t say into a list to educate those who need some enlightening on what not to say to a person with a disability.
By Kylie Jamieson7 years ago in Humans
Broken Promises
I know there are a lot of people complaining about how we live our lives today with social media, how we're quickly offended by the smallest things or how we take things for granted.
By Brian Anonymous7 years ago in Humans
People Watching
Yesterday was one of the first warm and sunny days we have had this spring, and was a good day to get out and see the town. As always, in Burlington, VT, Church Street Marketplace comes alive as soon as the temperatures go up. Tourists weave in and out of locally owned and operated coffee shops, bookstores, and apparel companies, college kids jog in groups, or ride their bikes between classes, locals pick up coffee as they walk their dogs, and restaurants dust off the outdoor furniture from the storage area, and set up for the dinner rush. But there are those who don’t have much to do; they don’t work, they don’t talk to most people other than to beg, or ask for spare change. Some are new faces, and others are known throughout the area as friendly and harmless individuals.
By Morganne Thayer7 years ago in Humans