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$600? Are You Serious?
By: Michael Beverley
Tags: Opinion, Covid 19, Stimulus, Economic Relief, Stimulus Check

On Monday December 22nd just before the end of the worst, and probably most depressing, year ever the United States congress approved a $900 billion economic relief package.

I’m going to spell that number out for emphasis, Nine hundred BILLION dollars. This is more money than those of us reading this article will ever make COMBINED. This was after a two TRILLION-dollar stimulus package that was approved in March. With this new package each United States citizen will be receiving… $600… which, supposedly, will begin to be dispersed next week.

This stimulus package is embarrassing and a clear indicator that our leaders have zero understanding on what it is like to live as an average, working class, American in 2020. Our government basically gave us $1800 this year and said, “good luck.”

You might be thinking that I’m being hyperbolic — I can be guilty of that sometimes — but lets’ talk about some numbers. According to Yardi Matrix, in 2018, the average monthly rent in the United States was $1405. That is more than double the stimulus check we are about to receive from our government. Now, you might counter this with “you should still be working this isn’t unemployment” this is true. However, these stimulus checks are supposed to help with the added costs that the pandemic has created. Many Americans are now struggling with Daycare. Schools are closed, and many parents need to pay someone to watch their children while they work. The average cost of daycare in the united stated is between $5000 and $10,000 a year depending on the state and some families have needed childcare now when they haven’t needed it before. This pandemic also added to a households food cost. Many families rely on free lunch programs that public schools provide, and those kids aren’t going to school anymore.

Let us go back to a different number, $1800. That is how much the United States government gave its citizens to make it through this year. This is how much they gave us when our economy has shut down. Some senators have said that this should be plenty, one being Nancy Pelosi, who called the $600 a “significant amount of money.”

Nanci Pelosi: The United States Speaker of the House

I don’t want to come off as too critical. I am a left leaning man, and I acknowledge that this $600 had to be negotiated (I also believe that many liberal senators such as Pelosi know deep down this package is a failure).

The stimulus package almost didn’t happen at all. Republican lawmakers pushed back heavily to this deal. They are why the stimulus package almost didn’t happen at all. I think we should take this as a sign; A sign that our leaders have lost touch. a senator makes $175,000 a year. They have lost touch on reality so much that they believe the average American can last longer than a few weeks, if even that, on $600.

Let this be a wakeup call to you. Your leaders do not understand what it is like be a minimum wage, working class American. You deserve better treatment from your elected representitives. We deserve better.
No, BTS are not the “average” boy group or k-pop group
By: Catharina G.
Tags: Opinion, Kpop, Music, Lyrics, Bts

OPINION

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably heard of the K-pop group BTS. They’re a South Korean K-pop group, and they consist of 7 members; Kim Seokjin (28), Min Yoongi (27), Jung Hoseok (26), Kim Namjoon (26), Park Jimin (25), Kim Taehyung (24) and Jeon Jungkook (23).

They debuted in 2013, and have since released 9 studio albums, 6 EPs, 11 compilation albums, 3 single albums and 2 reissues (source: ibighit.com), with their latest album “BE” (deluxe edition), which was released November 20th of this year. As of today, BTS have racked up a whopping 20.7 million studio album sales (chartmasters.org), with MAP OF THE SOUL:7 selling more than 4 million copies this year alone.

But their massive sales and sold out stadium tour are not the only things in regards to BTS, (although it is impressive), that makes them special. A big part of their appeal, besides their individual personalities, are the lyrics. Their songs are written by themselves, notably Namjoon, Yoongi and Hoseok, who I would personally consider to be lyrical geniuses. Their ability to write heartfelt lyrics through clever wordplay, sets them apart from not only the Kpop industry, but I would argue the modern music industry in general. In my own opinion, BTS’ lyricism is a class of its own, that cannot be matched by other artists of this generation. “Spring Day”, which was released on 13th of February of 2017, is considered to be their masterpiece, although, I would consider most of their songs to be masterpieces, my personal favorite being Love Myself; Answer.
MY EXPERIENCE WITH PSORIASIS
By: Jay Patlan
Tags: Science, Opinion, Psoriasis, Health, Journey

MY EXPERIENCE WITH PSORIASIS

I’m a 24 year old with psoriasis and I wanted to create an article about my experience with psoriasis as well as to give tips that may be helpful to others diagnosed with this auto-immune disorder.

I was diagnosed with psoriasis at the age of 19. My psoriasis first started in my scalp and for the longest before being diagnosed I had thought I had severe dandruff issues. I would switch shampoos on weekly basis trying to figure out what shampoo was making my scalp shed so many flakes. At one point I would have so many flakes that I would joke to my friends that I could make it “snow”. Eventually I gave up and went to a professional who told me I had scalp psoriasis.

Being told at age 19 that I had an incurable disorder was a little frightening. I recall spending almost an hour of the doctors time just asking questions on how to deal with this disorder. Fast forward 5 years and I can tell you my psoriasis has spread to others places but I have been able to control the “breakouts”.

My psoriasis has spread to my eyebrows, parts of my cheeks, and most recently on my eyelids. Yes; my eyelids and let me tell you when I woke up noticing that I was more than frightened. For starters to ease my symptoms it all started with my diet. I made sure to include omega 3-s, dark leafy greens, nuts, whole grains, and any antioxidants in my diet. I also avoided having sugar big time since it doesn’t help with inflammation. Basically, changed my diet to a well balanced one. After doing so I did notice less breakouts. The best shampoo I can recommend anyone with scalp psoriasis is any that has coal tar in it. Trust me it will make your life easier. For face breakouts I use a psoriasis wash and moisturizer everyday. There’s plenty of new products out there that have been made specifically for psoriasis and it has made dealing with this condition much easier; 5 years ago the range of products was much less.

What I fear the most of having psoriasis is as I age the condition is prone to getting worst and spreading more around my body. Some people have joint problems, stress, colds, and infections as the disorder progresses with time. As a 24 year old I’m content with how well I control my psoriasis right now and I’m hopeful I will be able to as well in the future.
4 Skill Position Players That Got Cheated Out of the Pro Bowl, and My Week 16 NFL Power Tiers
By: Zach Digregorio
Tags: NFL, Football, Opinion, Sports

AFC Pro Bowl Roster

Skill Positions Only

NFC Pro Bowl Roster

Skill Positions Only

The Flaw in the Pro Bowl Selection Process

The Pro Bowl is voted upon by three groups of voters: NFL coaches, NFL players, and fans. The flaw in this system is that a lot of the people in all three groups don’t have an accurate depiction of who’s playing well week to week across the league. It’s much more likely for big name talented players to make the Pro Bowl over less flashy players with more production.

Like most years, this years voters got the bulk of it right though. Of the 24 skill players voted in, 20 of them were more than deserving. But I do feel there was one player at each of the four skill positions that got cheated out of their Pro Bowl selection. Below I have ranked these four players based on how much more deserving they were than the player selected over them.

#4 QB Ryan Tannehill Over Deshaun Watson

Having Derrick Henry in his backfield has completely overshadowed the phenomenal year that Tannehill is having. He has a better QBR, more passing and rushing TDs, half as many sacks, and has won six more games than Watson. In a league where QBs are ultimately judged by their ability to win, Tannehill isn’t given the credit he deserves.

#3 WR Calvin Ridley Over Justin Jefferson

Justin Jefferson has had a remarkable rookie season, but Ridley should’ve beat him out for the Pro Bowl. Ridley averages seven more yards per game and has two more TDs on the season. They’re having comparable years, but Ridley is just one step above Jefferson on the year.

#2 RB James Robinson Over Josh Jacobs

James Robinson deserves so much more respect than he’s given. Both of these guys are in the top four for most carries in the NFL, but Robinson is simply being more productive. He has 269 more all-purpose yards than Jacobs, more big plays, 0 lost fumbles, and the same amount of all-purpose TDs. Jacobs is having a very solid year for the Raiders, but Robinson was clearly more deserving to make the Pro Bowl.

#1 TE Robert Tonyan Over Evan Engram

This is one of the most obvious Pro Bowl snubs I’ve ever seen. Evan Engram is an extremely talented Tight End, and has become a very popular player in the league. But objectively, he has had a bad year. Robert Tonyan exploded out of no where this season and is tied with Travis Kelce for the most TDs (10) of any Tight End in the NFL. Engram was the 23rd pick in the 2017 draft, while Tonyan went undrafted that same year. Engram earned his Pro Bowl votes this season based off being popular, while Tonyan deserved to be voted into the Pro Bowl this season based off being a significantly more productive football player.
Have the Courage to Just Be Yourself No Matter What Others Say
By: Carla D. Wilson Laskey
Tags: Life Lessons, Opinion, Courage, Life, Beyourself

4 Declarations for Your “Just be You” Journey

Photo by Makarios Tang on Unsplash

Declare: This Is Who and How I Am

Choose to be courageous enough to own who and how you are in the world by accepting it without reservation. When you are comfortable with who and how you are. There is not much anyone else can do or say that will rattle you.

Always remember that out of the over 7.5 billion people in the world. There is only one you. You have been uniquely created to “Just Be Yourself”. So, take pride in it and walk in the unique creation of who you are boldly and confidently.

2. Declare: This Is What I Believe

Remember. At a certain point in our lives what we believe (or don’t believe) is our own personal choice. Although attempts may be made to force you to believe one way or another. The truth remains. What we choose to believe, or not. Is strictly a personal decision that doesn’t require anyone else’s approval.

What is it that you truly believe? Why do you believe it? Your answers to the questions of what you believe and why you believe it can only come from inside of you. Once you know the answers. Stand on it and boldly and confidently declare. This is what I believe.

3. Declare: What I Believe and What Others Believe May Be Different

Know and understand this fact. There will never be a time when everyone believes the same thing. It’s not rationally possible. Although we share a common humanity as inhabitants on earth. We will never all agree on what we believe about the multitude of issues we face during this experience called life.

Because of this, it’s imperative that we understand and become comfortable with the fact. That at any given time. There is always a multitude of beliefs coexisting in the atmosphere. So, the discovery that what we believe may be different from what others believe is not only highly likely. It’s a given.

4. Declare: Being Different is Not Bad or Wrong It’s Just Different

Herein lies one of our greatest challenges. Learning to embrace that difference is not bad or wrong. It’s just different. Unfortunately, there will always be some who believe a certain way. And any deviation from what they have come to believe will be a definite sign that those who deviate are flat out bad and wrong. During these times, bowing out gracefully is prudent. No need expending too much energy in this type of space.

This is when the decision to agree to disagree is the only viable solution. Fortunately, as humanity continues to evolve. More and more people are learning to accept the truth that different isn’t necessarily bad or wrong. It is just different. And that’s good news for all of us.
Just Beachy
Tags: Opinion, Advice, Relationships Love Dating, Love, Writing

The waves. I envy them. I love how they move without a care. They could destroy things or hurt people and still, no care just flow.

I guess that’s how he lives. He doesn’t care, or maybe he does care but has no knowledge of the damage being caused. I feel like this would be a terrible way to live. I believe that we should all be aware of the feelings of others.

I also have to remind myself that not everyone thinks the same or treats humans the same way which is okay. We are all different people. If everyone was the same and treated each other the same, there might be peace but there would also be nothing interesting. There would be no uniqueness and no creativity.

There might also be a lot less love. With each apology, love grows more and more. The other edge of that sword is that sometimes people just can’t forgive. Rather even, they shouldn’t forgive.

If you don’t agree with the way that someone is treating you, here is no obligation for you to stay and endure that. Leave. Gather all your courage and leave. You don’t need that person, I promise.
Great article, totally agree with that! Thanks for sharing!
By: Bryan Dijkhuizen
Tags: Opinion, Technology, Software Development, Programming, Data Science

Great article, totally agree with that! Thanks for sharing!
If you are afraid of getting wet, you will never learn how to swim
By: Harsh Bhat
Tags: Opinion, Grow, Growth Mindset, Self Help, Mindset

If you are afraid of getting wet, you will never learn how to swim. Yes, that’s right.



One of my good friends Diego recently said that don’t wait for it just get yourself in the water.



So the next time you ask me, “hey why are you doing videos and stuff?”Some of you guys might say well you look stupid in front of the camera. Yes. I probably do look stupid.



But I always ask myself, is that really going to affect my actions?



If my parents are still going to have me with them for lunch, my sister is still going to be my sister and my close friends are still going to be my close friends.



So the question is why do we care so much about what our so-called friends are saying or thinking.



Also, I am not saying get rid of those friends, what I am saying is stop caring so much and that is it.



People don’t like change, do they?



That is the reason when you try to do something new or different they just try to stop you from doing that.



All you need is a little patience and carefreeness.



So the next time you try something new or different.



You just keep on doing it and you just stop caring about what other people think.

Conclusion:

There you have it.

Let me know what were the key factors for you ( and feel free to add yours in the comments.)

If you have any doubt or need any help just give me a knock on Instagram it is @creatorharsh

I will see you soon champion.
Debunking the Progressive Myth of Everybody is Doing the Best They Can
By: Brian Brewington
Tags: Opinion, Self Improvement, Thoughts, Self Love, Self-awareness

Be honest, if only with yourself quietly — are you always doing the best you can? I mean one hundred percent of the time, in everything.

Meaning you are giving it everything you have at work and cutting no corners, presenting your very best self to the world, both at the office to all of your coworkers, clients, and customers and at home to your partner and children.

All of the time. Even when they’re shitty to you for no reason on a rainy Tuesday you woke up mopey. Was what you returned to them was your best? I mean the absolute best you could do at that moment, showing the restraint of a saint. I’m doubting it. Because that is what makes us human. We are constantly erring.

Yes, granted, sometimes those mistakes are the very best we can do at that moment. But not all of the time. Because too often those mistakes, poor performances, or lapses in judgment are the result of us doing less than the best we could have. To argue against that fact is to derail your own progress and growth.

Our politicians and Government are not doing the best they can and neither are our police. We could do better as citizens and members of the human race as well. Our lawmakers have failed us and so have those who have sworn to uphold those laws. And it isn’t because their best wasn’t good enough, it’s because they never cared enough to give it their all. And neither did we.

All I’m saying is if you believe the lie everyone is doing the best they can all of the time, then you never have the right to demand more from yourselves and others — and as uncomfortable as this may be, it’s required in life.

Because if not people will give you what they prefer to — which is as much as they have to and nothing more. Worst yet, you’ll accept this kind of standard from yourself as well. And even worse than that, you’ll believe it’s because you can’t do better.
Sentiments
By: Danial Naqvi
Tags: Opinion, News, Emotions, Nonchalant, Current Affairs

Everyone has an emotion towards something, no matter how suppressed.

I’ve found that it’s often the nonchalance you need to take stock of, not the grand theories.

It tells you a lot more than you think.

I don’t typically have opinions towards topics of current affairs.

Why?

It’s ongoing, changing and no-one really knows the truth.

So commenting makes no progress, it’s all speculation.

It also prevents too much emotional draining on topics that can change in an instance.

Not a dependency I need.

Sentiments
A “Post-it” Vacation
Tags: Short, Blurb, Thoughts And Feelings, Memories

The most interesting place I have ever visited still sticks in my mind like a post-it on a desktop screen. Waiting to be completed yet almost flying away.

I was only sixteen years old when I first felt the hot sand beneath my feet on the beach in Jamaica. It was as if I was floating in a tall glass halfway filled because I was able to see my feet as clear as day while standing waist-deep in the ocean.

Photo by Dalelan Anderson on Unsplash

The waiters were native. It was obvious from their deep accents, beautiful and cultural garments. They smiled and spoke if you insisted.

I know I had been staying on a resort with a commercial and industrial kitchen. But I could tell the food was native to the land as well. That the staff back there knew real people were going to be eating. So with each bite, when lifting my utensil, I could taste the love.

I felt welcomed and embraced.

I did not journal about this vacation. Yet the memory is the post-it that doesn’t fly away.
Musings Under the Moon
By: Margi Flint
Tags: Musings, Family, Covid Christmas, Memories

The pull and power of the holiday moons, the Earth, water, and airs swirling and Snows falling, Trees bending, heavy with that snow that looks so fluffy but weighs evergreens bent to breaking. Christmas was the best ever.

I could not face the managing of a tree on my own. Not this year, no crawling to the ample storage boxes and papers holding decorations. Every one special, the fairies, wizards, Hawaiian Santas, forest animals and musical instruments circled by garlands of our planet’s people and celestial stars. Those boxes stayed tucked into the eaves.

I am the only person in this big home. I sit surrounded by my greens, pruned by friend David, from in front of the house to create a bowl of scent and beauty. Cards and sweet presents (always a surprise) are tucked into the arms of the kids stuffed animals. All that soft cuddliness of love still imbued in the vibration of each stuffed adorable wild thing. The imprint of my kids holding and loving their floppy bodies, then grandkids squished them too. Dragonfly from Amy, a bell from Santa’s last visit to the grandboys, and the snow globe Gabe gave me of Rainbow life in Kauai.

Yes, I miss my kids, Gabe, in Hawaii, now with white creeping onto his sweet scalp and he not missing the white of snows here one bit. All three grown up and succeeding in marriage and occupations. Sarah, Gabe and Hannah. Sigh.

Beeswax Solstice candles are safely lit at sunset. The bronze sconces from my family dining room light the portrait in golden hues, as they did for so many family meals shared with my parents. I am simply surrounded by love.

I did manage to teach a class on Reading the body this summer. Parts of this will be offered on my website www.earthsongherbals.com or Facebook. My personal page has reached the maximum number of friends. Really?! I can only have 5000 friends? Not to worry, you can be a friend on the business site Margi Flint, Earthsong Herbals still has room for me to share with 2 thousand more!

Virtual Clinic circles are twice monthly, sliding scale for the client, $75–200 and $65 for practitioners. Six practitioners for each intake, you will have a job whether I or one of the others shares the consultation. (9:30 am EST to 12:30)

I have cleaned out my shed, have 2 far infrared heaters, a carpet and chairs, Herb infused Covid spray on hand, so that open-door, masked, private consultations and friends can be seen safely. I am a social being! Covid test and careful? Book a consultation.

Staying busy and learning to enjoy the new world, in the new era, in my new self. Busy updating The Practicing Herbalist, the continued purging of my possessions and enjoyment of my pod people.

If you care to, enjoy my musings………
Personal Journal: Day 2 (12/27/2020)
By: Kole C
Tags: Forgotten, Christmas, Memory, Journal, Dream

Back to work after the Christmas break and nothing feels quite right. It’s like the break never happened almost. Almost like the time off was an experience based on a day to day life. Like it happened in a dream or in my imagination. It’s weird. Back at work, back to the daily grind of typing the products up on the website, completing orders and setting up new offers on social media. It’s the same as before. Christmas just acted as a day or two off from the work stresses and same old, same old.

I feel like the days haven’t changed and maybe Christmas never happened. I’m back to work after a lunch break or starting the shifts before just re-doing them (as if they didn’t happen).
Memo
By: Madhav Kumar
Tags: Memories

Sometimes remembering the past, sometimes speaking of the present, sometimes the gift of the future ………
नारायणराव अपराजित — माझे आजोबा
By: Ram Deshpande
Tags: Marathi, Indian Classical Music, Grandpa, Nagpur, Memories

Nagpur-Pilani-Gurgaon-Shanghai-Gurgaon; Analyzed a lot of patents, did a bunch of things in Ecommerce, now in Advertising in India. Of course, played Cricket
Do you remember the old you?
By: Hollie Earner
Tags: Growth, Deep Thoughts, Blogging, Memories

This title alone poses a strong question for anyone who reads it since we have all been through various scenarios in our lives up to this date in time, however, for some this time frame holds a huge place in our hearts because for me personally, I can say out loud that I am an entirely different person now than who I was 5 years ago.

Now obviously I don’t mean physically for those of you who just said to yourselves well yeah that’s kinda obvious, I’m talking about my emotions and my spirit.

Yes, we have all changed in certain ways over the years as most humans do, however, we all have a particular time period that changes us entirely and we become a different person and have different interests, standards, beliefs, and possible feelings.

Mine was stripped from me through utter heartache, now this blog isn’t going to be gloomy like I made that sound although I want to point out that I had become lost due to that time period lasting roughly 2 and a half years which made the recovery process extremely hard as life was completely different yet it was the exact same.

My environment was now a blank canvas yet I had no courage to explore it, I couldn’t paint a new picture due to my colour palette being black and white whereas before my palette was full of colours and I could design as I pleased.

I strongly believe in fate and karma lol but for the most part, I think what happens to us happens for a dam good reason, even though you might be left in the dark for years not knowing why it happens in the first place.

It can be quite sad yet exciting to become a new version of yourself but the sad part was that I had no control of the situation and since it was caused from an external factor, this had taken my very powers away from me that had guided me to that very point in life which were my own thoughts and judgement.

To be stripped of these powers leaves you naked and vulnerable although on a good note it does toughen you up extremely fast as the mind recognises this was pain and obviously you don’t want to hurt yourself again intentionally, so you build an armour twice a thick for self-protection.

For me to be openly honest I want to show that I’ve come a long long way and proved to myself that I can literally overcome anything that life may throw at me, no matter how dark the room gets I always find a light and that to me is what makes me unique.

I do hope that anyone who goes through similar situations that you have found your light and have come out the other end happy and accept yourself for who you are.

Because I can’t remember who I was 5 years ago since my mind has blocked that from me to protect me and allow me to move forward with my life and prevent me from hurting myself, which is something I feel that no one talks about as nobody can see it nor diagnose.

All I can say is when you surround yourself by the right people and the right attitude you can achieve anything because coming from the girl who felt like her world was over and had no circle of friends, it does get better when you change yourself first.
Grandmother’s Old Mirror
By: Somsubhra Banerjee
Tags: Thoughts, Memories, Grandmother, Weeds And Wildflowers, Poetry

That little mirror carved out of wood, intricately designed,

layers of dust, gathering on the artsy curvatures, lying,

lying somewhere in the rubble of unused items in the house,

I wonder what stories it has hidden inside it.

I remember grandmother, combing her hair, looking into it,

sometimes, I held it, as she tied the knots in her hair, gently,

multiple knots, one atop the other, whilst looking into the mirror,

and placing it back on a shelf on the wall.

I remember her sometimes, casually, immersed into it, probably,

counting the criss-cross of the lines on her skin, probably,

reminiscing those days, she had long, long hair, flowing on and on,

reduced now, a bit, colored in greyish white, and smiling,

at the time that flowed by, changed, evolved, probably,

this mirror of hers, proving to be a medium,

to peek into her soul.

As I took it out, all dusty and a bit discolored,

splattered with spots, of bindis from times, unknown, all around it,

I wondered how many generations of people must have had,

looked into it, to enhance one’s beauty, or to smile at oneself,

to feel that everything’s fine, you just have to keep smiling,

and wade ahead, wade ahead, in the river of life.
Music Maps — Dream State
By: Jesse Bartel
Tags: Memories, Writing, Love, Poetry

*Music Maps is a writing exercise where songs inspire me to write either real or fictional moments — song is always posted below*

You were telling me about how your father passed away.

And we were illuminated by the light coming off the phone charger plugged into the cigarette lighter

Blue

We saw it coming — the dark, black clouds

Behind you — out the car window — the beach flashed images of its existence from the punches of lightning above

Our bodies blue, flashing skeletons

We were closer — closer than we ever were to each other

On the way home, we spoke of ghosts

And wondered if we would ever haunt anyone.
In Memory of You
By: Alexandra Fisher
Tags: Loss, Love Letters, My Love, Memories, Romance

Written for the love of someones life

Sometimes I wondered what you ever saw in me. You were beautiful, smart, and funny. I however was awkward and nerdy, but somehow you saw past that awkward exterior and saw me. I remember the first time you talked to me, we were in Intro to Economics, you greeted me with a “Hi” and that smile that I later began to notice never left your face. I of course couldn’t even begin to put words togethers in your presence, instead some groan intended to be a “Hello” came out.

Even though I probably sounded like a moron, you sat down next to me and said, “Since I’m sitting here I’m going to keep talking to you, so at some point you might want to answer.”

I just laughed in response. You talked to me day after day in class until I eventually started answering. I started to become this social person with you, someone I never thought I would be. We started hanging out outside of that horrible class, and we talked about everything. You had so many goals, so many plans for your life. The worst part about being here speaking right now is knowing that you never got to do them all. She kept a list of some of the things she wanted to do.

Learn to water ski Travel to Italy Bungee Jumping Never have to be a waitress again

I like to think these next few were the most important to her.

5. Fall in love

6. Get Married

7. Have kids

She never got to do all these things. I’m happy I could help her accomplish at least some of that.

We were together for seven years, but we were supposed to be together forever. We had plans, great big plans for our lives together. We were supposed to grow old together. I guess sometimes the world has different plans for our lives and you either accept that or let it bring you down. Grace wouldn’t want it to bring me down. She would want me to look at our son, see her in his smile, and be thankful for him. She was the sunshine in my life, I thought the world would be dark without her but now I see that same light in our son Jack. Now I know she will never truly be gone. This moment isn’t a goodbye it’s a see you soon, because I know you are still here watching over us, and someday when my work is done I know we will see you again.
Grover’s Lament
By: David Cenicola
Tags: Injustice, Prison, Memories, The Masterpiece, Justice System

When I was a boy, back in the 1950s, I thought I would live a charmed life. I used to love fishing, skipping stones across the creek, helping my poor momma empty the buckets from our indoor latrine. I went to school. My teachers thought I was smart, and they used to call me “their little darling.”

I was a small boy, and others would customarily kick me and drag me through the fields for fun. I never had anybody to really look after me, and Momma used to say, “Grover, you gotta figure out a way to handle your problems!”

So, after I gave some thought to what Momma had told me, I got used to taking matters into my own hands. If I had a problem, I would like to think about it first, and then commit myself to doing a certain something about it.

By the time I turned ten, I had become good at it, and others either had learned to respect me or if not, they had better well fear me.

Now, I look up to see the three-inch cockroaches crawl across the walls and floor of my cell. As I write this, my cellmate is yelling at me for having left a cold cup of coffee on top of our locker. He spilled it across his artwork and blames me for this occurrence.

I am sixty-eight and have a heart condition; otherwise, I’d stand up to him. As it is, if it’s not one thing, it’s another. Better to just let it go. I believe God will have the final word. He will deal with my thirty-two-year-old Mexican Mafia hot-head of a cellmate. And He will deal with the judges, prosecutors, and sheriffs of our “justice” system.

See, about twenty-five years ago, my twelve-year-old daughter was approached at school by two of the sons of our local sheriff.

They gave her a bag of illegal street drugs and told her where to come when she wanted some more. I talked with my daughter Daisy that afternoon. Holding out the bag of drugs for me to see, she explained where she had gotten them and what had been said to her.

I drove to the sheriff’s house myself and knocked on the door. When he answered, I threw the bag at him and told him to tell his sons to leave my daughter alone. But they would not leave her alone.
Shadows Of The Past In Captured Images
By: Suntonu Bhadra
Tags: Nonfiction, Memories, Travel, Photography, Self

Location: Mirpur 13.5 Sector, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Every weekend, our friend group used to roam around different parts of our country, Bangladesh. On one of the weekends, we didn’t schedule any place to visit, and the time was ticking. One of my friends lived near the location, and when we came to pick him up from his residence, we decided to explore the place, as suggested at that time for a cup of tea, adjacent to the site.

Once we went there, we decided to spend the rest of the day on the spot, as it was still an unexplored zone for any visitors. A greenfield, open and crowd less, we spent hours and hours walking around, photo-shoots for Facebook, and returned home after the sun-kissed the grasses before it went to hide in the sky.

This picture was when we were entering the field. Russel Crowe’s Gladiator walk in the open grass field, with the song of Enya, that’s what I thought once captured the snap.

Some other captured actions:
Christmas Morn
By: Ken Holsten
Tags: Christmas, Memories, Family, Love, Funny

Twas the morning of Christmas and all through the house,

Not a creature was stirring, just a gray haired daddy making coffee,

When arose such a clatter as he moved noisy grocery bags from master bath shower to living room floor.

Wrapping gifts with that smidgeon of skill, but decent care,

In Hopes the night owls would stay their slumber, that caffeine headache would disappare.

In Hopes his 3 kiddos could make some cherished memories on this fine day.

In Hopes last night’s (not burnt, actually good) Roast Beast hopefully was a good start.

In Hopes next year could see the Great (Big) Gatherings, come warm, come cold.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, friends of Medium!!

And Thank You!!! 🙏❤️

May your day be Memorable, your Hearts be glad.
Memories of The School Time Story.
By: Harmeet Singh
Tags: School Time, Story Writing, School Time Story, Memories

It is an old story that I am going to share with you. I was read this story at my school when I was small and started school. I still remember when I used to read this story in class. This story was in my school’s book. It was the first story which I read in my class by my teacher. At that time, I don’t know how to write, I was learning to write. The name of this story is “Thirsty Crow”. This story is linked to my school memories. I remember I was also read this story in my home as homework. So I still remember this story.

I think you also have read this story in your school time. Do you remember this story? Are your memories also associated with this story? Tell me about your opinion.

Thanks.
Christmas tree
By: Iva Hotko
Tags: Christmas, Poem, Memories, Self, Poetry

Poetry

Image by Iva Hotko

It’s Christmas Eve

and angel is on the tree.

Every decoration is a memory,

a life time of laughter and tears.

I sit alone and I look at it,

our Christmas tree.

Down the memory lane I go

quietly dancing through it all.

No regrets but a sigh for

a time that passed by.

All is quite

while I sit and look at it

a tree of memories.

Reminiscing goes so far

reaching, touching

making you cry.

It’s a new dawn

I’m longing to see,

all the things that could be.

I’m leaving you now

with all the memories,

my Christmas tree.

~Iva
Memory Lane
Tags: Memories, Family, Humor, Comics, Cartoon

Almost famous cartoonist who laughs at her own jokes and hopes you will, too.
Moments like this come and go,
Tags: Life, Moments, Memories, Love, Poetry

Moments like this come and go,

And we can only do our best to hold on to them.

The pictures may not be as good,

But they hold the most precious memories.

And they’re moments that we know we’ll remember for years as we live them,

As if we were able to see into the future.

So we try to remember every little detail,

The time, the place, the people…

So that once we come back to that moment,

Everything will be intact,

And nothing would have changed,

Not the way we did, anyway.

So let’s keep remembering,

And holding on to our present,

Taking nothing for granted,

But being grateful instead,

For the faces we know and the places we’ve been,

For the time we’ve spent with our loved ones and the smiles we’ve recieved.

For the time that’s to come and the things we’ll do,

Let’s keep our hopes up for the future,

But enjoy our today, too.
Departures
By: Pooled Emotions
Tags: Nostalgia, Memories, Travel, Family, Prose

My sister was as young as 4 the first time we flew and I, 6. Memories woven to music, hover cloaked by musical choruses. “Everybody dance now!” Staring at the airplane tray table in front of me, switching radio stations in my seat stereo. That song always brought me across the oceans, every time, I would listen to the airplane radio and it would be there. Beckoning me to start my adventure. It was like a dream, surreal paired with that music, the sound of the airplane engine buzzing. The faces of strangers moving about the cabin. I distinctly remember conversations that I had with myself “where are we going? What are we doing here alone with these strangers?”

With passports and tickets hanging in plastic pouches around our necks, we are collected like sheep and herded to the next destination. My sister was a baby lamb, with beautiful curly, red hair, green eyes and freckles. She was just a little bit chubby, enough to make anyone want to hug her and take her home. Often, she would be crying, missing our parents which only made her more wanted by the matrons of the airline. My sister would be adopted by the stewardesses (they were called this at the time), they would cuddle her, bring her candy and even toys. Standing to the side, the older sibling, I was often ignored but I took comfort in being included in my sister’s entourage during our long excursions over the Atlantic.

After long and sometimes fitful slumbers, tossing and turning in our seats, we would be fed bread buns with jams and butter, some fruits and yogurt. Morning hunger would excite me to imagine that the bread would be delicious, a pastry masterpiece. As soon as I bit in, I could taste that gummy, plastic taste that airplane food is. We would hear the pilot telling us that the plane was landing and we’d see the airport, tiny from above.

Stepping out of the airplane and out and down the attached staircase, we breathed in the hot air of summer in our familiar and yet foreign land. We were bunched into buses and driven to the main terminal. It is here that we began to hear strangers speaking in our mother tongue. Our ears perking up with every syllable, retraining our brains to accept the meaning of these words, these words that would begin to bathe our brain cells and retrain our thoughts until we spoke and even thought in the language on our own.

I draw a blank when crossing the border, speaking to officials, was always uneventful. Next thing we knew, we were walking through the doors into the real world where our relatives awaited. My grandparents, and cousin waiting anxiously. Weeks they spent counting down the days, preparing for our arrival from the faraway land they call “Canada”. We would hear our names being called, yelled with excitement and love. These voices so familiar would become our every day comfort and certainty.
Christmas Haiku
By: Jack Macdonald
Tags: Winter, Christmas, Haiku, Memories, Poetry

Concerned citizen. Critical thinker. Veteran. Consumer of knowledge. Making things better. Getting stuff done.
Collect Memories, Not Things
By: Zul Bal
Tags: Life Lessons, Parenting, Memories, Relationships, Self-awareness

As a toddler, my son liked to sing London Bridge Is Falling Down. Now he likes to dance to Dance Monkey. On December 21st, he turned 9.

Two of my son’s best friends came over to share pizza and cake with us in a neighborhood park. It was one of those beautiful days in Northern California.

The sun streams through Gingko trees and their golden leaves fall gently like snowflakes. The boys collect the fallen leaves to make a mound to jump and slide on. Soon the sliding game becomes a leaf-throwing battle involving all of us. I’m overwhelmed with gratitude and mesmerized by these ordinary beautiful moments. I remember one of my favorite sayings:

Collect memories, not things.

A few of my childhood memories come to me out of blue. I see my father pulling me and my brother on a sleigh through snow covered forest trails. I see him picking me up at my kindergarten with a string of colorful balloons and forbidden sweets. These memories still nourish and warm my thoughts.

I’m continuously learning to never underestimate the power of sharing ordinary yet joyful moments with loved ones. They are free and they sprinkle our lives with magical memories.

We may be trapped in quarantine isolation in addition to our own special kind of ruts, but we can still make and collect memories. It only asks for our caring attention to what we already have but can’t afford to take for granted.

“I’m officially nine,” my son declares. “I’m officially afraid of you growing up too soon,” I say. There is nothing I can do about passing time or falling leaves, but I can pay attention and savor these moments.

Give yourself a gift: the present moment. — Marcus Aurelius

Thank you for reading.
A part of you is still here baby...
By: Preeti Dakua
Tags: Memories, Breakups, Relationships, Pain, Love

A part of you is still here baby... what is it that’s left behind...

Wakeful are my eyes... in the hours of darkness assigned...

Dawn when touched the reality of my life, i realized there was something incomplete inside...

Am i having a discomfort in my spine.... or they are your feelings blotted in my mind...

Usually I am a forgetful soul... but your memories have a promising hold....

Everyone has only 1 destination.. tell me a secret... have you found your combination??

I dont know why unreasonably... I’m considering you... a reason.. to help me pull out.. from the aches and pains prison.....

Somewhere or the other, life mentions you always... is there a complicated question, You still want to phrase??

Why do I miss you so much? Why do I still feel your touch? I’m sinking down in my life, you still think I am misjudged?

Oh my life, you said you will fail to think about him... but hey.. this is something serious... and not just a meme....

A part of you is still here baby... is it there something that is left behind....? / what is it that’s left behind...?
My First Trip
Tags: Trip, Family, Andaman, Memories

It was during my 6th grade when my father decided to take us all for a vacation. It was one of the first vacations I’ve been to. He decided to take us all to Andaman and Nicobar islands. So the first thing which was a little difficult was to get the leave from the school since the half-yearly exams were only a month ahead. After a long pleasing the principal agreed to grant me leave. So, it was a one week trip. We have to either go to the islands through Chennai or Kolkata. We’ve decided to go by Kolkata.

We started by train to Kolkata in the afternoon and then reached there early in the morning. After some time we reached the hotel and got refreshed. Then we visited the Kalimatha temple which is very famous there. It was a colorful place with many people around then after our darshan we went to see the famous Victoria memorial and had a good time there. Then we returned to the hotel and had our lunch there. After lunch, we were off to science city which was a very huge place with a lot of informative things around. The next early morning we started off to Port Blair through the flight.

After reaching the place we went straight to the hotel and got refreshed and were off to some local places there. We went to the local biggest fish aquariums. Then we went to the Indian jail and had a look around and experienced history. Then we returned to our hotel. There were actually a very few South-Indian restaurants there and we had a little trouble with the food but later we found a good dining restaurant, and had dinner then. The next morning we woke up in the early hours and we got on the ship to go to another island Havelock.

After a few hours of journey by the ship we’ve finally reached the island and spent some time at the beach, then did scuba diving. We also saw some limestone caves there and seen the local beaches and places around. The next day we went to Baratang island where we have to cross across a tribal village and seen some tribal people around too and we are advised to stay inside the car and there is also a military van following the cars since these people aren’t welcoming to new people.

After that, we went to see a mud volcano and some caves and also seen the area where the tsunami had recently occurred. The next morning is our flight back to Kolkata. So we checked out and had a quick breakfast and we were on our way back. After reaching back to Kolkata we have been to the Indian museum and in the evening we had been to some local markets and did some shopping around.

I had a very beautiful experience since it was my first trip and also had a joyful time there.
Adventures in Tyson’s corner
By: Sophia Robbins
Tags: Virginia, Why Dont We, Imagine, Memories, Corbyn Besson

I met Corbyn when we were kids.

My mom grew up in Stafford which is near Fairfax. Our moms met through Facebook and when we came to visit my uncle for Christmas we marked a day to go meet Saskia.

My brother didn’t want to go with me because he was too busy watching movies. So it was just my mom and me.

We went to an outdoor mall and they told Corbyn and me that we could do what we wanted to. It was hard for us to connect because I was 6. I don’t know why they wanted us two to hang out. It was quite weird.

Anyway, I was good at dancing and a DJ was controlling the music on the ice skating rink. I asked him to play a song that I could dance to.

Corbyn took a video with his camera. I danced in the middle of the square and I attracted some attention. When I finished I took a bow and everyone watching cheered.

I ran over to my mom and she gave me a hug. Corbyn played back the video for them to watch and Saskia complimented me. Our moms finished their coffee and we said our goodbyes.

I haven’t talked to them since. And I don’t remember the whole story. The reason I am telling you this is because I found the camera in my basement. I know that it's his because at the end of the video he shows his face. He couldn’t have been any older than 11. I’ll update you with more stories of what I find on the camera.