humanity
Advocates, icons, influencers, and more. All about humanity.
Pro-Tactile ASL
What would your life be like if you were both blind and deaf? How would you communicate with others, form relationships, maintain a job, and navigate life in a world without sight or sound? You might be fearful, struggling to understand your surroundings and your place in them, or you might feel disengaged and isolated, unable to connect with family and friends that you can’t see or hear. If no one is touching you, you are essentially alone. Members of the DeafBlind community tackle the issues related to multi-sensory loss, survive, and thrive in a world using the strong intuition of touch and tactile communication. In honor of National Deaf History Month (March 13 - April 15), I want to share information with you about the uncommon but groundbreaking language of Pro-Tactile American Sign Language (PTASL), the language of the DeafBlind.
By John Raybould5 years ago in Longevity
Cleveland Nostalgia
That’s the thing about this city… everytime I come home, every so often, it’s the same old roads and stomping ground I remember growing up surrounded by. Since I was a baby, I lived in the same house on Bostwick Crossing. My siblings had one house before that they experienced as a home, but that place was never really a home for me; apparently they just threw the crib in my dad’s makeshift early 1990’s home office, disorganized and clearly on the precipice of a budding business venture. Anyhow, the streets in our neighborhood were new, as building projects of new homes sprung up, expanding the thriving barrio for families with kids to flock to.
By Holly Cook5 years ago in Longevity
Was having cancer a gift?
Two years ago in the winter of 2019 I found out I had breast cancer. I was a young new mother and completely terrified. Fast forward to today and I am healthy, have an amazing thriving two and a half year old and am planning my wedding with my perfectly imperfect soulmate. My hair has grown back thicker and wavier even than before, my body is my own again. I have found the confidence to build my blossoming writing career from scratch, and am happier than I have ever been. You hear about this happening, people turning their lives around after cancer. I'm not the first and I won't be the last. It begs the question and has made me wonder, was having cancer a gift?
By Gemma Corby5 years ago in Longevity
Unscripted Daily Marathons
Changing Life With a Fresh Start Three months after my boyfriend, Jay, passed away, I was living life from my bed. I would leave my room for three things: peppermint green tea, cheese doodles, and Ben and Jerry's. Daily marathons of Real Housewives would keep me numb. There were days I would roll out of bed, onto the floor, and pull on my own hair just to stand up.
By Karen Lichtman5 years ago in Longevity
Let it Fester
I fully admit that my insides chose a bad time to rebel (again). Doctors are overworked if not by the coronavirus, by the world slowly trying to turn on its axis again and start moving at a normal pace. Being chronically ill I tend to put off little pains until something tells me it's serious.
By Karalynn Rowley5 years ago in Longevity
Dancing with Covid-19
March 9, 2021 (this morning) CRYING IN MY CAR I sat in my car and silently cried tears of happiness. I just received my first vaccination for Covid-19 and feel like huge weights have dropped from my shoulders. Also, I think I feel a deep (and it is hoped, an abiding) sense of gratitude for this shot! I had Covid-19 in January. A retroactive realization of perhaps just how close to death I had come. There's nothing special about my experience other than it is my experience. But my story isn't especially tragic.
By Shawn Ingram5 years ago in Longevity
Birthmarks, Who Knew?
When I was born, I had a large brown spot on the back of my right leg. It started in my upper inner thigh and went all the way down to my calf. We’re talking huge. The entire width and length of my hamstrings. Who would have known that it wasn’t cancer? It wasn’t raised, light brown, not dark but also as parents, don’t take chances. So my parents brought me in before I was 3 months old and they took a skin sample. I was left with a small scar in the shape of a bowtie and upon reading the results, nope it’s just a birthmark. “It just makes him special.” They said. “But the world will only know I’m special if I’m wearing shorts!”
By John David Nelson5 years ago in Longevity
Dear Future Me,
5MAR2021; 0005, FRI Well, I'm just chillaxin on the couch jamming out to a Noname playlist on the first Friday of this year's Women's History Month, and it occurred to me that I've never written a letter to my future self specifically. In the interest of full disclosure, I likely would've never embarked on this particular time capsule had it not been for the phenomenal e-newsletter The Morning Brew and one of their verticals, Sidekick (formerly known as The Essentials).
By Nefarious Darrius5 years ago in Longevity
How to Find Things to Look Forward to While Socially Isolated
As we enter the third year of isolation, I finally took some action. Actually, it’s the first year for us, but you know what I mean. I know that, depending on where you are in the world, the schedule may be different for you. This has affected many of you much longer than us. But the problems and principles are the same.
By Darryl Brooks5 years ago in Longevity
