humanity

For better or for worse, relationships reveal the core of the human condition.

Hurricane Harvey Heroes Step In to Save Precious Memento
To most people, Elsa, the princess from the Disney movie Frozen, is just another memorable character in an animated movie. For Maya Sacks, age 6, and for her mom, Julie, she represented hope for a future in the home they loved, and the return of normalcy to their lives.
By Arlene Nisson Lassin8 years ago in Humans
Biology and Bias
I just read an eloquent article in Nature (a premiere science journal) in which the author discusses our need to become aware of our own biases in order to overcome them. Of course, this is true and critical. That said, there is truth in the premise that bias in built into our biology. Some of the evidence is overtly obvious, if you are five feet tall the chances of being a top tier professional basketball player are small to none hence coaches in college will exclude you because their goal is to win, not to make you feel good about yourself. Then there are much more subtle biases, many impacted (profoundly) by nurture (environment) but, as always, nurture acts upon, and responds to, the code that defines a living system, namely, nature (your DNA).
By Eric Henderson8 years ago in Humans
Texas Strong
While most of the world knows of the state of Texas, we are a proud state, but what people don't understand is what it means to be a Texan. In light of hurricane Harvey, I've never been more proud to share of my people or the place I grew up.
By Kiarra Pierson8 years ago in Humans
The Empath and the Narcissist
I am currently learning how to value and protect my own mental health. There are many types of people in the world. I am an empath. This means that I absorb and often physically feel the feelings of those around me and those I am connected to.
By Jasmine Flower8 years ago in Humans
Water Aid
It was the hottest day of the year so far. Sweltering. It was one of those days where you can feel the air resting on your shoulders and the sun burning the skin on your cheeks. I remember feeling like it would never be so hot again, or quite as dry. The searing heat cut through my body, scorching me, and my throat felt coarse due to lack of water.
By Emily Durston8 years ago in Humans
What It’s Like to Date When You Have Lupus
People have asked me updates after my first story on Lupus in 2014. I detailed an encounter on how was I faced with Lupus watching my mother suffer from the disease for 14 years of my life before she passed away at home from a heart attack.
By Chenelle Covin8 years ago in Humans
Push or Pull
You brush shoulders with someone as you pass each other in the street. You have no idea who that person is or where they have been and you cannot possibly know what is going on in their head. They are fighting a battle you know nothing about.
By Kali Ace9 years ago in Humans
Growth
I grew up in a small town, down the road from a brook, and a few miles from an abandoned farm. It is a place with its beauties, its quirks, and its little secrets. There are trees that appear to grow into the clouds, rivers that sing lullabies as you pass, and stories of vampires that run rampant in school hallways and around campsites at night. Like I said, beauties and quirks.
By Katrina Thornley9 years ago in Humans
Cohabitation Complications
London is not a city that indulges in permanence. Since moving here two years ago, I have had four jobs, countless best friends, and 13 housemates. Eighteen if you count the pets. Thirty if you count the mice we obliterated one week last May, in a massacre proudly chalked in on our living room blackboard (a giant thing found at the local dump) as "The Great Mouse Hunt of 2014."
By Charlotte Fox9 years ago in Humans
Forgiveness
When I think about forgiveness, I think of a quote from the movie Diary of a Mad Black Woman by Tyler Perry. Myrtle: “When somebody hurts you they take power over you, if you don't forgive them then they keeps the power. Forgive him baby and after you forgive him, forgive yourself.”
By Nadia Tapia9 years ago in Humans
All Mixed Up
As a mixed person, I struggle a lot with identity, especially as I come across as white-passing to many people. I feel that I am often encouraged to "pick a side" to be associated with. For instance, to choose white friends over Asian friends, adopt different mannerisms that would make a racial group more comfortable—to simply avoid expressing my other "half." The fact that others seem uncomfortable when I embrace my culture suggests I do not have the authority to choose which box I fall into, since, upon first glance, the "one-drop rule"* is applied and my box has been pre-determined.
By 🍬 🍪9 years ago in Humans
Strangers
Have you ever felt isolated? People pass us all the time in the streets never once taking a second to look at who they pass. I’ve been told people are born to be good but what happens to them? Why do we start to care less and less for humans the older we get? What happens if we just stop and look out for another human being? I stop and look at the girl sitting down by herself. I walk towards her not knowing what will happen. What she will say or do. However, it’s worth it because we humans need to take time to talk to one another. She looks sad and depressed. I wonder what she’s going through.
By Juan Sabala9 years ago in Humans