humanity

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

joy is as contagious as a strangers yawn
The potential of impacting one another deeply is a beautiful truth of being human. Sometimes I feel we forget how connected we are to one another, like heart strings threading across distance and culture, we feel for one another. Like everyone in the world, this experience of COVID has me processing the whole spectrum of emotions, even ones for which I have no names! I’ve found, through much trial and error believe me, that every emotion can be nourishing if we follow it and allow it to be. For example, experiencing deep grief can lead to realizing how deeply we love. Personally, I’ve been continually moved by the ways communities are coming together, from musicians all over Europe serenading their neighbors from rooftops and balconies to mutual aid funds being set up across neighborhoods, we’re all trying. Inside the walls of my home, I reflect on joy and the internet's seemingly magical capacity to lead us to discovery. I want to share with you some gemstones I have found across corners of the internet. Gemstones that have led me to find that surfing with women all over the world, sensuality, and music are my heart's greatest joys.
By Lauren Flavin6 years ago in Humans
A Personality Test Hater takes the Enneagram
Personality tests have always rubbed me the wrong way. For some reason the idea that someone could possibly have me figured out and put me into a category really irritates me. Even though I typically don't like personality tests, I know that they can be taken just for fun and it can be a great way to help you get to know yourself better. I've heard a lot of great things about the Enneagram Personality test and decided to take it. The results were shockingly and annoyingly very true for me.
By Madeline Keys6 years ago in Humans
If Only These Pigeons Would Learn to Meditate
Every day I move towards forgiveness. -- interpreted by Deepak Chopra Forgiveness is hope is forgiveness is hope is forgiveness is hope . . . -- Karen's interpretation
By Karen Lichtman6 years ago in Humans
Long Live Surrender
What strange times we live in. Strange, still and somehow, manic. Panicked, and yet when I truly look, I see surrender and clarity everywhere. From through my window, I see the sun still shining. The birds, still singing. The plants, still thriving. The wind, still breathing. In - deep. Out - deeper. From this place in my front room, I am surrounded. I am surrounded by the squeals of my toddler, restless and tiring of the four walls of home, and the billow of Stevie Nicks singing, crackling through my iPhone 7. Claustrophobic from the closeness of my family, squashed in our togetherness - forcibly pushed into the deep places within each other where the oh-so-good and the oh-so-raw live together in discord and harmony.
By Kara-Glenn Bolger6 years ago in Humans
Can I Return My Fuck For Store Credit?
I made a huge mistake. I started to care about the world again. Blame Star Trek. With all its planetary cooperation, gender equality, and the constant protection of basic human rights. Apparently, we have to turn to science fiction to see these things. You start to fall in love with humanity when you hear Captain Jean-Luc Picard defend the human race.
By Ethan Taylor6 years ago in Humans
The Leatherman had Bedford and Katonah on his Wandering Loop
Today, the sighting of a man looking like the 19th century wandering hermit known as the Leatherman would probably elicit a response more closely associated with Leatherface from the Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Nonetheless, a celebrity surrounded this man that has not been forgotten. “It was like the circus was coming to town," said Dan DeLuca, long time researcher of this local real life legend.
By Rich Monetti6 years ago in Humans
Receiving Another Chance From an Enduring Heart
INT: MY TINY LIVING SPACE, BROOKLYN -- 3:56am SID and NANCY are arguing loudly in the apartment directly above me. I am now wide awake.
By Karen Lichtman6 years ago in Humans
A passion
According to human psychology, people only use half of their brains capacity or potential. Laying in the dark at night, my mind expands to every corner of my room, ideas flying at me like bullets. Plan after story after revelation, etc ambushing my mind as time ticks away. And while I know I should be sleeping, i feel this is the one time I can truly challenge that idea of their being a limit to our brains. I feel like I can change the world. Drawing castles in my world of intertwined fantasies and realities my finally heavy eyelids win over my stubborn pursuit of a night to parallel the day. Falling deep into slumber, what I dream can only be called such...dreams. The complete absence of normality. I feel slumber is the only place where dreams in there own light become reality. As children we protested about having a nap because as we thought, the adults didn't have to do it so why should we? I feel the real and underlying reason as to why we felt we didn't need to is because we didn't need to be reminded of our hopes and dreams as they were already vivid in our imagination. As we became teenagers however we realised that the world around us was slowly sucking them away. Some just accepted that fact and did what some would call growing up too fast. Nonetheless they still hold on to sleep. Others however refused to accept and held on to the dreams and the hopes, in the process being called childish and unrealistic. They are the ones who like children do not need to sleep but as the world constantly puts pressure on them they have no choice but to use that as a constant reminder of a fantasy that is not to far fetched.
By Anonymous 6 years ago in Humans
Social Distancing 101: The Survival Guide
With weeks in this state of being, I know I don't have to go into details about social distancing, essential workers, or the "The Virus that Must Not Be Named." After all, it's all anyone is talking about these days. Morning shows and social media feeds are littered with information—from memes to testimonies to "facts." It's not a stretch to say that this event will be a defining moment in our histories.
By Samantha Sabio6 years ago in Humans
My Husband got Someone else Pregnant
I'm not sure how to begin this story in all honesty. It isn't an easy one for me to tell and I'm not sure it will be an easy story for you to read.
By No One’s Daughter6 years ago in Humans
Acts of Kindness During A Pandemic:
1. Mow your neighbour's lawn or shovel their driveway. If you just want to spread some kindness, maybe start the day by shovelling your neighbours driveway or mowing their lawn, depending on where you are and what the weather is like. It costs nothing and can mean a lot, especially to someone older or someone who is really busy, like an essential worker.
By Mary Sowden6 years ago in Humans
Anger into pain
Anger. Anger by definition means a strong feeling of displeasure and belligerence aroused by a wrong. However, anger is a secondary emotion. Because as angry as she was, Amber realized she was truly just sad and hurt. She is sad that she’s has allowed certain things to happen to her, and she is hurt that she has held expectations for people that they can’t live by. Maybe she just needs to come to terms with the fact that people are disappointing. “I genuinely feel like I can’t rely on people,” she said as she stood up in her anger management class. Her counselor responded with, “And what about that hurts you the most?” Amber paused for a moment. Because really, she hadn’t thought about that. “I guess, if you feel you can’t rely on people, then you never will. Then maybe you’re just alone.” She spoke reluctantly.
By sydneyaspen6 years ago in Humans