humanity
For better or for worse, relationships reveal the core of the human condition.
kain, not able.
It started as the classic plea, a tale as heartbreaking and old as time: "have any spare change?" I looked at the one who'd tossed these gentle but desperate words my way: young, mid twenties. African american, clearly gay, kind brown eyes and a desperate look on his face. He had a tired look about him, worn out even. He looked like a friend.
By Mary Scott Willson6 years ago in Humans
Through My Eyes
I shift uncomfortably in my chair, feeling the pressure of the seat on my legs, knowing I should be listening to the lesson but the constant humming of the snack refrigerator in the corner pulls my attention. I hear the feet shuffling around me, whispers of kids not paying attention; a sniffle… a fly buzzing and bouncing off the window. I register the droning voice of the teacher somewhere amidst it all. I count the bounces of the fly… one… two… three… fo –
By Gloria Jean6 years ago in Humans
Welcome
Welcome readers to my brand-new website called “Encouragement For Your Journey” as well as thank you for taking the time out of your day to read what I had to say. I truly believe that we are all on a journey and I would like to encourage others along their journey whether good or bad. I do not know what you are going through right now, but what I do know is everyone needs encouragement along the way to remind us that we are not ever alone every single day. I would like for you to come and learn about the journey that I am on as well as I will be sharing with you all my struggles, mistakes I made, the wonderful memories I made, and the life lessons I learned along the way that has made me who I am today as a young woman.
By Heather Kendall6 years ago in Humans
About me, an introduction
I am Brooke. People just call me Brooke. I am 49 years old and in that time I have seen and done an awful lot. For starters, I grew up in California but in 2018 I packed up everything I had and my dog and moved to Kentucky to be near my only child, my daughter Sydney. It wasn't brave and it wasn't for the adventure, but rather out of necessity. It was do or die time for me and if she and her fiance Ryan hadn't come out to swoop me up I likely would be dead right now. Yep, you read that right. I don't expect I would have survived much longer on the streets of Rancho Cordova, California. For one thing, I am used to having a home of my own. Second, my poor little Babydog was used to having a home as well. And we struggled. She struggled to keep up and I struggled, well, I struggled with a lot of things. I'll get into that more later. For now, let's just leave it at this: in 2018 my daughter saved my life.
By Brooke Hardin6 years ago in Humans
Are younger generations lazy or are older generations jealous ?
If you have the abilities to provide a life for your child where they wouldn't have to hustle just to stay a float, should that be deemed bad parenting ? Are children lazy because they’re well provided for ? Is the goal of being a parent NOT to gain generational wealth, give your kids a better life than yours previous, and make them a better version of themselves ? In society there’s always been a drastic divide on how older generations look down at younger generations. The memories and traditions that become outdated, reformed, or forgotten sparks mini disputes between the two constantly. Older generations feel as though their childhood was superior and more hands on, younger generations retort with “okay boomer” and go about their lives uncaring of strangers opinions, but both fail to see each other’s perspectives. It’s true, older generations were more hands on and outdoorsy, having to produce a ton of manual labor to earn the things they had but that was their normal. Older generations ( Generation X: 1965-1980, Millennials: 1981-1996 ) quality of living didn't host the same technological advancements or financial comfortability younger generations ( Gen Z: 1997-2015, Generation Alpha: 2016-2025) have. Where one generation might of had to open a lemonade stand to earn a small income, another might play video games and have a YouTube channel. Where one generation might bare scuffed knees and bruises from playing outside, the other might have a sore back from hunching over there devices. Where one generation might of had to pick up three jobs, the other might have a parent that makes a high six-figure salary and sits comfortably in their room at sixteen. Where the “lazy” line is drawn truthfully lies within how much kids use tech and how their parents make their quality of living. If a child does not have to “hustle” because their parents can provide them with their wants and necessities they’re quick to be deemed undeserving and overly privileged. The confusion in that claim is in regard to mixing “provided for” and “spoiled”. Being provided for, means those child’s basic needs are met and their wants and passions are usually given and encouraged with slight filters. To be spoiled is to get everything you want with minimal effort put in; giving someone a sense of entitlement/unhealthy relationship with the word “no”. Being spoiled is damaging no matter what generation someone was born into and it seems the older generations feel every person younger than them is spoiled because they haven’t lived the same as they did back in the day. What is the obsession with wanting kids to be placed in vexing environments when they don’t have to be ? It’s not all kids and I definitely wouldn’t say the majority have a more lackadaisical life (especially in minority demographics) but more kids currently have guardians that can provide an extremely comfortable way of life now then prior. There’s a phrase I’m pretty sure we’re all familiar with, “I work hard so you don’t have to” and it’s usually said in the voice of loved ones and care takers so why is there so much disdain when that phrase is lived up to ? Just because a younger person is well provided for does not make them a spoiled brat or any less deserving of an opportunity. Just because their way of life and experiences growing up are different doesn’t mean they lack discipline. So why are we so quick to judge someone, kids, based on their positive living conditions ? Could it be a possible inferiority complex/hidden jealousy because the latter grew in a more stable and fortunate circumstance ? That’s an answer this article can’t provide, that answer is for introspection. Though it may seem the kids now have little to worry about they actually have the most to worry about. With climate change, political corruption, and global unrest, the younger demographic have to turn into activist and fight to change the consequences of actions they never committed. Another way in how they’re berated is being told they’re “Sensitive”. Sensitive because they have higher spouts if morality and don’t tolerate negative and offensive comments ? Are they sensitive because they want a world where everyone feels included and equal ? Is it sensitive to be empathetic towards another human being ? Younger generations are quick to correct behavior and learn right from their previous wrong which is taken harshly from generations that are stuck in traditional “tough skinned” mindsets. Where the younger generation fails to see the perspective of the older generation is not acknowledging what they had to go through. Currently, kids, teenagers and young adults are commonly use to instant gratification. That’s something the older generation never had the privilege of expierencing, everything was a slow burn that took time to reach a payoff. In-person interactions were prioritized and lead to moderate social skills where as social media makes quality time almost rare, with kids growing up on it slightly more unsociable. Topics like respect and appreciation now have to be earned from the younger crowd where formerly those things were just given on the simple basis of someone being older than you. When a way of life someone grew up on starts to change it’s just apart of their natural instincts to question if this “new” is right or wrong but that’s where the conflict arises. It’s not a matter of “right and wrong”. One generations normal will never be another generations normal. The failure to understand where one generation came from and where one is going will continue to incite conflicts between the two. For as long as there’s this failure to see the perspective of each other’s lives and make a push for understanding and common ground, the war between childhoods will carry on.
By Justin Curry6 years ago in Humans
Long Lost Love
One night I was by myself walking home when I looked up and thought I saw a familiar face. At first, I wasn't sure, it was a fairly dark winter night and my eyes had been focused on a screen so long that I had to squint to see anything else. I tried calling out to them, asked who they were, explained my vision wasn't the greatest with them so far away. But there was no response. Surprisingly this more annoyed me then made me feel uncomfortable, but even still I didn't move toward them. The more I fixated on the figure the more I realized I did, in fact, know exactly who it was. In shock, I find myself slowly walking in his direction not believing at all who I was seeing. I thought he was dead, but there he was, right in front of me on the street, smiling at me. My late boyfriend. He died in a bad car accident a few years ago. And today was the anniversary of his death.
By Eliza Vargas6 years ago in Humans
Home Grown Boys
I just turned 28. Fresh out of a snail-paced Cal state MA.Ed. program, I got a job as the editor of an ESL textbook called Tales of California. (It's a charming, dated series of old northern California folk tales for me to revamp and add comprehension activities to accompany each story.) However, I have not been doing much editing. I am distracted and anxious as I have been for years. There are so many things I want to do, and at 28, I still haven't learned how to take my own work seriously. The only thing that I have established with certainty is my faith and trust in my own heart to tell me which direction to go next.
By James Scott6 years ago in Humans
