Stream of Consciousness
Our Frozen Rituals
The cold was like an invitation to adventure, and one we looked forward to, like the fourth of July, anxiously anticipating the first hints of snowfall like fireworks. As Christmas break drew closer, we watched excitedly, as the sky turned the color of old iron. Suggesting that old man winter would soon be slowly and methodically making his way across the corn field graveyards and settling in, as if he was giving us permission to begin.
By Kelli Sheckler-Amsden4 months ago in Humans
The Silence Beneath Winter's Trees.
One day in December, I walked beneath the wintering trees and listened to their silent voices. Their bare branches rustled in the moaning winds...the sounds were heavenly - like the whispering of angel's wings into an earthly microphone, inviting us to listen. The yearly ritual of cold and chill had begun, it seemed to murmur happily to the filled and unfilled spaces...
By Novel Allen4 months ago in Humans
Dead Traditions . Honorable Mention in The Ritual of Winter Challenge.
I tell myself and others it's my favorite time of year. Then the wind snaps; outside the colors fade. Pink blossomed leaves shed their coats. I watch them swirl away with blue feathers joining- lost forever in their dance. Just brown decay; emptiness left in their place. Darker each night gets. Colder. Time for artificial light. There is oil to prime and windows to close.
By Nikki Torino Wagner4 months ago in Humans
Are we truly alone?
Since the earliest days of civilization, humanity has looked toward the night sky and wondered about our place in the cosmos. Billions of stars ignite the Milky Way, each with the potential to host worlds where life might flourish. Yet despite this overwhelming abundance, every search for signals beyond Earth has returned only silence.
By Sakuni Bandara4 months ago in Humans
Separate is Never Equal
There’s a profound shift in the weather, the Earth is stretching and calling us outside. And I am split in two. I’m going to need my morning coffee, if only for show. I’ll sip it as I walk to class. Pretending I’ve gotten used to the bitterness. Pretending I don’t hear the chanting on the street. Pretending for a moment, there isn’t a white man screaming white supremacy in the White House, as brown families are being ripped from their homes.
By Kera Hollow4 months ago in Humans
Hiding Away Until the Tinsel Melts. Content Warning.
When I was younger, in a younger man’s—no, a younger boy’s—shoes, I bought into the magic of the Saturnalian festivities that followed the last fall of brown leaves onto concrete and grass. The frenzy of family colliding for food, for drink, for the exchange of gifts and the anecdotal evidence that we were here at all, all tucked under the loose lore of a Messianic birth. It was joyous in its pomposity and, for me, rooted in imperfect humanity.
By Paul Stewart4 months ago in Humans
The Dark Psychology Behind Why People Stay in Toxic Relationships
Toxic relationships are talked about everywhere, in social media, talk shows, self-help books, and even in day-to-day conversations. Yet one question keeps appearing, again and again: “If it’s so bad… why don’t they just leave?”
By Liam Osuos4 months ago in Humans
How to Stop Thinking About Someone — The Psychology That Actually Works
Can’t stop thinking about someone? Whether it’s a crush, an ex, or a brief connection, your mind is replaying them for a reason. This article breaks down the real psychology behind obsessive thoughts and teaches practical, science-backed steps to stop overthinking and reclaim your mental peace.
By F. M. Rayaan4 months ago in Humans
