humanity
The real lives of businessmen, professionals, the everyday man, stay at home parent, healthy lifestyle influencers, and general feel good human stories.
I Would Like Refund Please
I don’t know what's going on. I can feel myself starting to panic. Waiting for the confrontation. Dreading the inevitable that is about to happen. This war that is about to start. I know what's coming my way. The yelling and slamming of doors.
Jasmine HarrisPublished 4 days ago in Journal
Memories: 20 September 2021
20 September 2018 So it’s been a strange few months. I am Struggling with my own level of hypocrisy. Several months ago, after witnessing a small Asian woman being kicked on the dance floor, I defended her then left the casino in a great flourish of righteous anger. I swore never to go back there (although I had been a loyal customer for 7 years).
Tanya AronsPublished 4 days ago in Journal
The Good, the Bad, and the Kitty
“Helen’s got a cat on her desk”. I stared at my co-worker and squinted in confusion. What the hell were they talking about?
Carmen StalleyPublished 4 days ago in Journal
Finding Peace
I heard her tiny body hit the wall before he slammed shut the bathroom door, and a cry that sounded more like that of a child, then that of an 8 pound dog. It pierced through the wall that separated us, and through my heart which was beating out of sync and out of tune; beating a rhythm of terror and despair, ancient, formidable, daunting. My stalker was now in my home, raping me. And all I could hear was my heart beat, his rancid breathing, and my little dog’s sudden silence.
Piper Monique DellumsPublished 6 days ago in Journal
Slow Down and Just Live
Do you remember when the biggest stress in your life was whether or not someone else in class was wearing the same outfit as you? If the varsity football player you had a crush on even knew you existed? Whether or not mom and dad were going to let you borrow the car this weekend? Growing up you hear over and over how fast life flies by from “the adults”. You never actually listen to it though. You are too busy just trying to grow up so you don't have to follow the rules of your parents anymore or the stupid rules from school. You think, once you are in your twenties and have it all figured out (eye roll) then you can start enjoying life and not let it pass you by. But then you wake up and you're about to turn 35 and starting to really understand what all those “adults” were telling you about it flying by and fully grasping that you are one of those “adults” now. While being aware of how fast life is passing you by, you are still unable to just slow down and take it all in. Because now the stress is not whether or not you and someone else will wear the same outfit or if the varsity boy you have a crush on notices you or if mom and dad will let you borrow the car. It is instead- whether or not your clothes still fit and if you can afford new ones if they don't, it is will your spouse give you some alone time to think and notice you a little less and if you are going to have enough money to make the payment on your car, or your car insurance-forget gas, your car has been running on fumes at this point. Life so quickly goes from passing you by from living life to the fullest responsibility-free, to passing you by while you are caught up in the stress of adulthood. Life goes from passing you by from not paying attention to your responsibilities to passing you by from being so bogged down in your responsibilities that you forgot to live in the mean time. You just wanted to be old enough to graduate high school, you just wanted to be done with college, you just want to be old enough to retire. You just “want” for so much and in the mean time, life is racing by you. Until one day you wake up and realize, you missed out enjoying on your twenties when you were too wrapped up in waiting to get out of college and feeling sorry for yourself in all your mostly self inflicted hard-times and now you are missing out on life once again while you mourn losing your twenties.
Michelle PaivaPublished 6 days ago in JournalMy Journey into the Arts
I am an artist. What can one say, except it is a calling. It takes a lot of devotion to be an artist; to spend hours by oneself immersed in creativity and perception, finding inspiration when and where I can. I wouldn’t have it any other way. To have people enjoy one’s work, glimpsing it in ways similar and different from me, the artist, is inspiration unto itself, and makes the process that much more enjoyable.
Linda StambergerPublished 6 days ago in JournalI Wasn’t Allowed to See Paris Because of My Brown Skin
Are most Filipinos closeted racists? As much as I am proud of being a Filipino, I know this to be true. This is a country where the locals from the metropolis would make fun of how Filipinos from the south speak the native language with an accent.
I am a Proud WAHM (Work At Home Mom)
***Please note this piece was originally written a few years ago. Before Covid, when most families had at least one person working a 'normal' job and it wasn't quite so hard to find a job. Before the cost of living skyrocketed. Before people started getting fired for refusing to be vaccinated.
Analise DionnPublished 8 days ago in JournalHis Secret Obsession
His Secret Obsession Mysterious Preoccupation Does Not Want the Perfect Woman at All Instead, he wants you to provide him with these three things... Spend how much time attempting to be the lady that you believe guys want? When it comes to ladies, it may be a lot. As a result, you spend so much time trying to make yourself appear beautiful and desirable to others. Meanwhile, you've been portraying yourself as amusing, fascinating, well-travelled, and not at all needy. Then you spend the rest of your time proving to him how great you are. I can't imagine what his future might be like with you at his side... The problem is that it doesn't function at all. It's never going to work.WHY? Why work so hard? You're taken for granted by the person in your life, or does he not really notice you at all? This is mainly due to his immaturity. It takes him a long time to realize a wonderful thing before it's too late. It's possible, though. Due to you completing all of his jobs for him.
Tharindu LakshanPublished 9 days ago in JournalWhy Many Vocal Writers Will Quit Vocal After Not Winning The SFS Challenge And What This Teaches Us About Longevitiy
You've got to love the American Dream. For our elders, it was a long journey of adversity with the hope of a better life. For my generation and neighboring ones, it seems to be closer to a get-rich-quick scheme. But not only do we expect money from our American Dream, we expect fame, often based on our perceived talents.
Bonnie Joy SludikoffPublished 9 days ago in Journal
stuck inside
I always thought of myself as an introvert. I believed I liked to stick to myself. I enjoyed my own company. Most of my favorite things to do were things I did alone: reading, writing, journaling, drawing.
Bailey MatwiiwPublished 9 days ago in Journal
How I Dove Back Into Fiction with Vocal's Summer Fiction Series
When I was a kid, I wrote stories all the time. They seemed to bubble to the surface constantly, completely out of nowhere. Looking back, I'm envious of my younger brain. I never stopped thinking of characters, names, plots, settings, and fictional worlds. I never seemed to run out of ideas, and I never got discouraged. I miss this creative younger version of myself.
Sarahmarie Specht-BirdPublished 9 days ago in Journal
