friendship
C.S Lewis got it right: friendship is born when one person says to another: "What! You too? I thought I was the only one!"
Sowing Seeds of Love
The picture above is courtesy of my wife who made this as a poster for an event we are planning in our town. Over the past 10 years, I've been working as an addiction and mental health counselor with a focus on helping people develop authentic spirituality and self-awareness. My work touches on a concept that is often talked about but thus far seldom practiced: learning to love ourselves and bringing our focus to cultivating a positive relationship with who we are, right now.
By Michael Thielmann7 years ago in Humans
An Open Letter To My First Love
My first breakup was almost 3 years ago. I was 15 and in what felt like love with my best friend. Heartbreak is a difficult thing to describe unless the person you are explaining it to has experienced it themselves. I've gone through a fair number of things in my brief 18 years, none of which I will divulge here, but my first breakup is still the cause of the most pain that I have ever felt.So this is to you, an open letter.I highly doubt that you will read it, but I'd like to start by pleading that you read until the end, I'm not bitter anymore, I'd just like a favour, for the good times we had, as friends, and whilst we were together.For the sake of keeping you anonymous, I'll refer to you as John.To John,It's been a long time since we've spoken now, you blocked me on a good number of social media sites after the breakup to ensure cutting me off was kept simple and quick. I don't know why you would want to hurt me like that, we were friends for years, John. I remember meeting you for the first time, you had a crush on my best friend! (I know you don't speak to her anymore, so in case you were wondering, I don't think she's doing too great at school. I think she's finding making new friends a little daunting, but her relationship is going well, maybe message her if you get the time, you always made her laugh, she could use that right now.)The first time I spoke to you was to urge you on to ask her on a date, because I knew that she really liked you. Who wouldn't? You were shy, but once you opened up to someone you were really funny, sweet, loved dogs, were a great older brother and all these other wonderful things that I thought made you absolutely amazing, and perfect for my best friend, let's call her Jane. Although I don't think she likes that name (sorry, Jane). You asked her to go on a date when I said to you 'She likes confident guys.' and nudged you with my elbow; this was 5 years ago, but I can still remember it clear as day. Walking down the street on our way home from school in late summer, the air felt warm and the sun had already begun to set. I miss that, walking home with you.You went on a date shortly afterwards, there had been a sex scene in the film that had made you feel so awkward you told me that you'd gone bright red. You were so embarrassed that you spilt the popcorn from your lap on the way to the bathroom, nice one, John. You didn't go on a date again afterwards, but we'd started to become friends at that point, as you used to confide in me and tell me about your crush on Jane, not knowing who else to turn to or ask for help other than her best friend for 'female advice', you said.
By Lola Rose Wright7 years ago in Humans
Days with Fleas in My Ears
We had a peculiar neighbour. When I say peculiar, it goes to such an extent where I used to run away from his peculiarity of sustained high-pitched tone of whining. He has something or the other always to clutch at. Either it is about the other neighbour's black cat every morning he looks at first when he opens his main door, or about the darned nuisance created by the songbirds or the cock crows waking him up early morning. He even complains about the owls blasting in and fracturing his silent nights with their unholy hoots, invariably followed by a proverbial death news the following day.
By Suresh Nellikode7 years ago in Humans
A Note to Him
It's been a year… A year of unanswered questions and undeserved silence… I had a dream last night and maybe that's why I felt compelled to write this, but the dream itself left me just as broken as the day I realized that you had, in fact, lied.
By Cassandrea Bloxsom-Joiner7 years ago in Humans
Lost Identity
Some people have said to me that I have Sofia Vergara's accent and Kim Kardashian's exotic looks. It's easy for people to approach me, as I have a constant smile on my face, except when I'm "randomly checked" at the airport and being shoved aside like a criminal. But other than that regardless of my looks I'm someone who is a magnet to others. And I still don't know the reason for such an unexplainable reaction.
By Evelyn Lallave7 years ago in Humans
Things Never to Say
In keeping with one of my more popular posts, What We Need to Hear: Friends & Family Guide to PMDD, it only goes to follow that there are some things that friends and family who want to be supportive of a woman with PMDD should NEVER say, first out of compassion, and secondly out of self-preservation!
By Cheeky Minx7 years ago in Humans
Letters to the Me I Used to Be
Dear Me in 1984, I want you to know I am here and I love you. I am from the future and time travel is real but it is not what you might expect it to be, it is not like you see it in the movies. Each person has the ability to travel forward or backward in time and to even make time stand still. Sadly, although most people can travel through time, most either don’t know they can or they don’t think to do it. That’s why it has taken me so long to come back to you – I didn’t realise until now that I could.
By Gabriella Grace7 years ago in Humans
Does Unfriending on Facebook Mean Unfriending In Real Life?
June is LGBT Pride month, even if the current resident of the White House won't recognize it. So it's fair to tell you that I am part of the community, I'll wait while you pick your jaws up off the floor. It's true, I am a gay man and I am very proud to be part of this community. That also means I can be a little sensitive about things people post on Facebook, in regards to my community.
By Edward Anderson7 years ago in Humans
