Top Stories
New stories you’ll love, handpicked for you by our team and updated daily.
For Better or For Worse
My parents are celebrating their 70th wedding anniversary this month! There are not very many statistics on how many couples reach their 70th wedding anniversary but it seems clear, not very many do. At eighteen years old, my mother looked at my dad and made him the happiest man on earth by saying, I do.
MaryRose DentonPublished 3 years ago in HumansBento Boxes
I didn’t hear the end of the world. I saw it though. Swirling masses of colour shifting across the screen of my ipad. Hurricanes first. Lots, and lots of hurricanes. It was the worst year for hurricanes on record. Then we had earthquakes, I felt them vibrating the house. Tsunamis followed by a few volcanic eruptions and a sudden drop in temperature. All in a perfect little span of less than a month. An apocalypse professionally gift wrapped, bow and all.
Kelsey ReichPublished 3 years ago in FictionGabriele Dawe On Fighting The Patriarchy One Rainbow At A Time
Gabriel Dawe has an incredible job as an artist. He creates rainbows indoors from thread art that is simply magical! His rainbow thread pieces span art galleries, airports and office buildings all over the world. The stretched thread pieces conjure the same effects: the rainbows dazzle with reflected light creating a state of wonder and awe in most of the people who view his works of art. Just imagine walking through an airport or office to encounter such magical artwork!
Samantha WilsonPublished 3 years ago in LifehackA World Away
I arrived at our usual spot. We always met at the park, just a 15-minute walk from my house. Mirabelle went to a different high school than me—whereas I went to public school, she went to a small, all-girls private school, so, aside from weekends, we could only meet after the school day ended.
Sephy AtlasPublished 3 years ago in FictionI Spent a Bachelorette Weekend Completely Sober on a Party Island - Here’s What Happened
“Oh I don’t drink really, I’m just here to have fun.” The burly best-man at the country cover bar gave me a baffled look. At this point in the weekend, I was used to it.
Sierra VandervortPublished 3 years ago in MotivationFlower Boy Signaled A New Era for Tyler, The Creator
Flower Boy officially signaled the bloom of Tyler, The Creator as an artist. Being entirely produced by Tyler himself, the album feels deeply personal as we travel through the emotions of a lonely artist. Admittedly, I took me a while to warm up to this album. Upon my first listen on its release in 2017, I was shocked by how different this version of Tyler was, compared to the one I used to listen to on his infamous Goblin and Bastard albums. The once abrasive, and almost offensive, rapper had changed — and perhaps, for the better.
Josh HerringPublished 3 years ago in BeatWhat Chapter Are You On?
I’m beginning to understand that we live our lives in chapters, short and long, each chapter a different story. I want my life to be a great read. In early chapters, we’re growing up, learning our likes and dislikes, and discovering who we are.
Danya WhitePublished 3 years ago in MotivationThe Painting
The painting hanging on the wall With its multicolored hues Brings forth an evocation of the time That I spent loving you.
Paul DouglasPublished 3 years ago in PoetsHow Cooking Lets Me Be an Imperfectionist
I am a perfectionist with almost everything I do. And while some might consider it my superpower, it gets exhausting. I constantly revise and rewrite drafts of pretty much all my writing. I only ever paint landscapes or flowers because I can never get noses right. Sometimes I even refold the laundry when my husband isn’t looking.
Sarah SheaPublished 3 years ago in FeastToday, I Would Rather Pull the Covers Over My Head
Today I would rather pull the covers over my head and wait out my funk. I don’t know why I woke up feeling this way. There is no clear-cut reason to point at and say,
MaryRose DentonPublished 3 years ago in PsycheReasonable Assumption
A knock at the door alerts the household. None of the three occupants are expecting a visitor or a package, and yet there is someone at the door. The mystery is elusive and each of the guys struggles to manage their excitement at the prospect of receiving actual, real-life, adult-style post. They each run for the door, Tony from his bedroom upstairs bounding down, shaking the house on its already poorly constructed foundations, Aaron from the kitchen, rubber gloves still on from doing the washing up, and PJ lagging behind after rushing off the toilet, stumbling towards the front door still doing his flies up. Each has a similar running commentary on what could be outside their own front door. Perhaps it is the hot pizza girl, "accidentally" delivering to the wrong address again. This had already triggered numerous arguments over who she truly wanted to sleep with when in reality she simply worshipped chaos and saw the fragility of this households combined ego.
Ryan AppleyardPublished 3 years ago in FictionHow My Brother And I Started A Plant Business With Less Than $100
Starting a new business is challenging, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. People are changing how they consume products and services. At the same time, businesses adapt their operations to follow social distancing rules.
Mari ConcepcionPublished 3 years ago in LifehackThe Toll Of Tipping
A casual conversation with anyone working front-of-house in the restaurant industry will solidify a known ideal; these workers rely on their tips to survive. An offhanded suggestion that the industry should do away with tipping would no doubt be received with an onslaught of objection and rightfully so. For decades tipping has grown from a small optional bonus for a job well done, to a mandatory shame-inducing ritual that is harmful to patrons, restaurant owners, and especially servers. To ensure the wellbeing of service industry workers and restore the integrity of restaurants, the United States must replace toxic tipping culture with a livable wage for employees.
Christine JuppPublished 3 years ago in JournalHow to Defeat Writer's Block Once and For All
It's the perfect day to write a new Vocal story. You've scheduled out the morning; the coffee-filled ceramic cup feels warm in your hands as you glide to your desk. Sparrows chirp in the distance as excited fingers place themselves on a colorful keyboard.
Olivia L. DobbsPublished 3 years ago in MotivationAnd The Universe Said I Love You
“And the universe said I love you.” Seven words that will never fail to prickle tears in my eyes, the overwhelming sense of truth and serenity in that statement will never not shake me to my core. In a good way.
Cereal OatmealPublished 3 years ago in GamersCOCO PARFUM NO.1
Esme was a student at one of the most prestigious fashion schools in France. However, nothing seemed to inspire her. But one thing was for sure: she loved dessert.
Savannah DaringflowerPublished 3 years ago in FictionCreator Spotlight: Members-Only Challenge Winner - Denise Elnajjar
Denise Elnajjar is a fashion & lifestyle illustrator, mixed media artist, and writer based out of New York City. Her creative skills and passions came together beautifully in her submission to the Vocal+ exclusive Members-Only challenge (supported by Memberful), where she ultimately won the largest payout in Vocal challenge history. Denise's first-place-winning piece, "Armchair Traveling to Every Country Through Art," earned her $22,500, and outlined her plan to "implement a project [she's] long thought about, dreamed about, and want[s] to make happen."
Vocal SpotlightPublished 3 years ago in ResourcesCoffee Talk: A Cozy Game That Lets You Play Barista to Magical Creatures in an Alternative Seattle
Coffee culture is widespread all over the world— from breakfast to break time, it's no question that it's a much beloved drink. Even the ambience of café s is more than enough to let people stay for hours, making it their little haven to unwind or work in peace. This is why creating a heart-to-heart talk simulator around this theme is very fitting. Although coffee makes me extremely jittery, a virtual latte or two wouldn't hurt, right?
M. DaniellePublished 3 years ago in GeeksFrozen Dreams
Frozen Dreams Making her way slowly through the melting snow, Annie began to realize she may have waited too long. The chill of the early evening was becoming deeper, and she pulled her wrap tighter around her frail neck. Resolutely she trudged on, her thick rubber golashes crunching in the icy grass, they were beginning to take on the cold, only the two pair of wool socks kept her feet warm against the frozen elements.
Beyond The Lens: Interview with Untamed Photographer's Melissa Groo
Melissa Groo is a wildlife photographer, writer, and conservationist with a passion for educating people about the marvels of the natural world. She believes that photography can be both fine art and a powerful vehicle for storytelling, and considers herself a “wildlife biographer” as much as a wildlife photographer.
Untamed PhotographerPublished 3 years ago in Photography