humanity
For better or for worse, relationships reveal the core of the human condition.
Two Modes of Going Through Life
The experiential and the intellectual Each and every single one of our actions reflects a value — usually many at once. There is, at any time, an infinite set of other possible choices. In the past decades, this notion has transformed from a philosopher’s thought experiment into psychological reality for many, frequently leading to decision fatigue and paralysis among those theoretically blessed with extensive possibilities. On what basis are we to take all these decisions?
By Paul Finglabout a month ago in Humans
Frozen in Silence. Runner-Up in The Ritual of Winter Challenge.
I am blessed to live near one of the largest urban parks in Canada, and even more so because the walk across Fish Creek Park is my commute. Carved by the retreat of ancient glaciers, the river valley was once home to innumerable bison—the Blackfoot peoples for whom this this land is ancestral call them iiníí. It is not difficult to see their ghosts emerge in the icy fog. I imagine them trampling the snowy grasslands on the far side of the frozen creek. On most days, the valley is alive with the sounds and activity of its inhabitants. Birdsong fills the air. The movement of deer and coyotes carry the crunch of crusty snow into the distance. Trees, partially chewed by beavers, sway and creak as if deciding whether to fall. But there are some days in the middle of winter when all is so still and quiet, you can hear the thrum of your pulse in your ears.
By Cory Wright-Maleyabout a month ago in Humans
The Farewell
Throughout my young adult years, I clung to what had been childhood traditions in an attempt to keep the rare moments of family celebration alive. But they were built by our mother, and though I didn't see it until years later, they were laced with her frantic drive for perfection in herself and her children. I loved the idea of the big meals and opening presents together, but none of it was free of stress or the anxiety of the need to please her.
By Frances Leah Kingabout a month ago in Humans
For This is No Dance of Magic, But a Flare Thrown Up Into The Darkness
The Christmas lights switch on. An annual event that gets the whole community together. From the littlest ones in their ‘My First Christmas’ onesies to the oldest of old, taking extra care as they walk towards the big green centrepiece. It's the talk of the town for the week before and after.
By Sarah O'Gradyabout a month ago in Humans
The Toothbrush Test
For six months after we realized I was autistic, I still wasn’t sure. I argued with myself about it. I kept wondering if I was just good at reading about things and seeing myself in them. If I was pattern-matching my way into an identity. If I was so desperate for understanding that I was convincing myself instead of discovering something true.
By Danielle Katsourosabout a month ago in Humans
The Plunge. Winner in The Ritual of Winter Challenge. Top Story - December 2025.
If you had said to me four years ago that one day I would be addicted to swimming in the hole in the ice, I would have said you have lost your mind. And if you had said I would be so into this winter ritual of mine that I would make my own hole in the middle of the lake, I would have asked if you were on drugs.
By R.S. Sillanpaaabout a month ago in Humans
Five Key Moments in the Assault on the Rights of Women and Girls in 2025. AI-Generated.
The year 2025 has emerged as a defining moment for women’s and girls’ rights worldwide—but not in the way many advocates hoped. Across continents, legal rollbacks, social restrictions, and political decisions have challenged decades of progress toward gender equality. While some nations continue to advance protections, others have taken steps backward, placing women and girls at greater risk of discrimination, violence, and exclusion. Below are five key moments from 2025 that highlight the growing assault on the rights of women and girls and why they matter globally.
By Fiaz Ahmed about a month ago in Humans
The Kettle Knows Winter
I learned winter by the kettle. In our house, winter did not announce itself with snow. It arrived as a tightening. Mornings narrowed. Light came later and left earlier. The rooms grew quieter, as if the walls themselves were listening. When the first real cold settled in, my mother moved the kettle from its usual place to the front burner and left it there, permanently ready. That was how the season began: the kettle claimed its territory.
By Games Mode Onabout a month ago in Humans
Mary Christmas: A Season of Love, Hope, and Togetherness
“Mary Christmas”—often written or spoken as “Merry Christmas”—is more than just a seasonal greeting. It is a phrase filled with warmth, tradition, faith, and human connection. Across cultures and continents, Christmas is celebrated as a time of joy, generosity, reflection, and togetherness. Whether observed as a religious holiday or a cultural festival, Christmas carries a universal message: love, peace, and kindness matter.
By Hasbanullahabout a month ago in Humans
