humanity
The real lives of businessmen, professionals, the everyday man, stay at home parent, healthy lifestyle influencers, and general feel good human stories.
The Kitchen Table
I always thought Jim would be a psychiatrist’s “What About Bob”. If you haven’t seen the movie, you should. It’s about a neurotic, yet charmingly funny patient named Bob, who wears his psychiatrist out to the point of a nervous break down. It’s very cute, and catchy. But Jim wouldn’t be funny, he would be mean, and even cruel, and of course he would still think he’s a great guy. But if a psychiatrist were to ever treat Jim intensely, the unlucky doctor would most likely end up having a nervous break down like Bob’s unsuspecting psychiatrist. Because Jim has an irrational, and keenly disturbing excuse for every rational question. In his mind it makes absolute sense, and there is no way to tell him otherwise, even when presented with logic. He will never answer a moral question about his behavior with straightforward responsibility. He will constantly deflect, or deny, and eventually change the subject. In his irrational minds eye there is always a rational excuse for being cruel.
By Robin Edwards5 years ago in Journal
The Moment;
Today is the first day of my life. Today I went and jumped in the ocean. A type of baptism of/for/and by myself. I needed it. I did not know this, until the moment just before I was gathering my things and headed for the door. Today I write this for me. For whoever reads. I love myself. Today perhaps is the first day that I can even know this. Today I have committed to being ME. In all my shit. Thank whatever it is that gave me life and thinks I should still be here. Thank you.
By Christian Henley5 years ago in Journal
The Puzzler
Managing stress is something I have learned to balance during my lifetime. I understand it can be a motivating factor but I also do not want it to push me over the edge. For the most part, finding time to relax is very important to me since I used to deal with depression years ago. Ever since I fought against my own negative state of mind and beat it I was determined to try my best not to fall back to my old ways. Thus, the need to take some time every week to relax and recoup so that I can stay happy and content with where I am and what I am doing. In general I like to play games, read stories, write, enjoy a cup of coffee, and socialize, all of which does help me relax to an extent. Coffee itself is my daily ritual and my wife and family have gifted several months’ supply of it. However, the activity that works best for me I like to save as a last resort because I feel like if it is used rarely then my mind does not have the opportunity to get bored of it. It would remain interesting and what helps the most is that my wife gifts it to me so I appreciate it even more so since it connects me with her in a sense. That and I have a habit of not spending money on myself so I would never allow myself to purchase something unless I deemed it necessary.
By Ruben Ramos5 years ago in Journal
The Clock
The only company in the room is the metronomic tick tick tick of the clock across the room. Regardless of where I sit, I can see the red hand move at its unhurried pace around and around again. The single window provides a cold watery light, casting everything in grey, not unfamiliar to the feeling in the pit of my stomach. Beyond the dirty glass to the fields outside there’s an unnatural calm about the sway of the grass and silence of the skies. I’m reminded of a dying man taking his last breath unsure if it will be his last - wary to exhale. The birds that would swell in waves and blacken the sky with their small bodies have nestled into the trees or died. I miss the birds. It used to be the birds were my only friends, the only creatures in this place that understood me. Of course, I don’t blame them for retreating into the known when faced with an astronomical unknown. I can’t decide if it’s comforting knowing birds feel the fear too.
By Chloe Dalton5 years ago in Journal
The Truth
Every individual is different. We have our own ethnicities, sexual affiliations, sexual identifications, our own religious practices, our own political preferences and we all have our own walk of life. That being said, we all have four things in common. We all need oxygen to breathe, we all need a source of income to support our own way of life, we all need sustenance and we all have hobbies that we enjoy doing. The last two of these cannot be done without the hard-working individuals who work at retail stores.
By Tyler Brooke5 years ago in Journal
AN ANATOMY OF A COLD CALL
Me again; your friendly neighborhood “Vocal” correspondent and self-published Fiction author awaiting the ONE manuscript that will mark my “big break.” I mean, I’ve wanted to write fiction since I was around four; and I’ve stuck with that dream for 32-33 years (let’s just say that I don’t write on the side to justify my locker-room cleaning or ice-cream registering habits). So I must DESERVE my big break, right; if, for no other reason, than because I’ve waited this long?
By Kent Brindley5 years ago in Journal
Writing threads my needle
To literally thread a needle is exactly what the words imply as you are pushing a piece of string/thread through the hole or eye of a needle. In the old days, this was the way women sewed hems in garments when not using an actual sewing machine. The words threading a needle also have a symbolic meaning which is skillfully navigating a rough situation or being precise and accurate during a shot while playing pool or billiards. Threading the needle can also mean a specific manner in which you deal with the stresses of life and for me, that method is writing.
By Cheryl E Preston5 years ago in Journal
Two Kingdoms
Once upon a time in a Kingdom far away a Princess was born. She was born from two worlds. Her mother, The Queen was from a world full of the most magical creatures you ever did see; some tall, some strong and some faster than any man could run. The earth here was so rich it grew the most beautiful flowers, plants and trees with sweetest fruit you ever did taste. Every day the sun would kiss your skin and the sunset would glow golden amber. Her Kingdom was called Congo.
By Marilyn Valentine 5 years ago in Journal
