fact or fiction
Is it fact or merely fiction? Fact or Fiction explores the myths and beliefs we hold about our family dynamics, traditions, and if there's such thing as a 'perfect family.'
The Strange Reason Japanese People Stay Fit Without Ever Going to the Gym
In today’s fast-paced world, fitness has become a structured task. People schedule workouts, invest in gym memberships, follow strict diet plans, and still struggle to stay consistent. Yet, one country quietly challenges this entire approach. Japan is home to some of the healthiest and longest-living people in the world—and surprisingly, many of them don’t rely on gyms at all. So what’s their secret? It’s not about doing more. It’s about living differently. The Japanese approach to fitness is built on a simple but powerful idea: movement should be a natural part of everyday life, not a separate activity.
By Shahid Zaman5 months ago in Families
No good deed...
I was looking after my parents’ house and their many pets while they were away for six months. Though I am somewhat lax in tending to the needs of my own house, I’ve always been very particular in taking care of theirs. Daily vacuuming and dusting, floor washing twice a week, keeping the vegetable garden weeded…those sorts of things. I am fanatical and particular about it, maybe because I’m afraid I’ll be in trouble if I don’t measure up. Shades of childhood.
By Marie McGrath5 months ago in Families
The Girl Who Sold Mangoes to Survive
Janeth was only sixteen when life stopped treating her like a child. There was no warning, no slow preparation. One day she was in school, laughing with friends, thinking about small things that didn’t really matter yet. Then suddenly, everything changed at home. Her mother became sick, and the weight of survival quietly shifted onto her small shoulders.
By Anefu Louis Mercy5 months ago in Families
The Voicemail My Son Left
Seven Words That Became My Reason to Breathe THE MESSAGE I ALMOST DELETED 😢 My son Marcus left for his second deployment to Afghanistan on a Tuesday morning in March, and somewhere between the airport and the military transport that would carry him into a war zone he called my phone knowing I would not answer because I had told him the night before that I could not bear to say goodbye again because the first deployment had nearly destroyed me and I did not have the emotional reserves for another farewell that might be the last, and so he called knowing the call would go to voicemail and he left a message that I did not listen to for three days because seeing his name on my missed calls made my chest constrict with the specific dread that military families carry constantly, the awareness that every phone call could be the one that changes everything, and when I finally gathered the courage to press play his voice filled my kitchen with seven words that became the most important sentence I have ever heard: "Mom, I'm brave because you were first" 💔
By The Curious Writer6 months ago in Families
Why Good Intentions Make a Bad Legal Standard
Why Law Reaches for Intent in the First Place Legal systems lean toward intent because it feels humane. Motive appears to reveal character, and character feels like a stable guide for judgment. In emotionally charged domains like parenting and custody, intent offers something comforting: the belief that outcomes can be understood, and even forgiven, by examining what someone meant to do. Courts frequently ask whether a parent acted out of love, fear, confusion, or malice, as though the answer to that question can reliably predict what the child will experience over time.
By Peter Thwing - Host of the FST Podcast6 months ago in Families
