coping
Life presents variables; learning how to cope in order to master, minimize, or tolerate what has come to pass.
A Conversation With the Mirror
There are moments when the world tilts—when you find yourself cracked open in a silence so loud it roars. The polished affirmations, the soft-spoken mantras, all start to feel like bandaids on bullet wounds. Not beautiful. Not helpful. Just a cover that doesn’t hold—words that slip right off when you need something that sticks.
By Annie Edwards 12 months ago in Psyche
My Guests
I sat in that room I was born in. I spent formative years with the duality watching over me. They were treacherous; at times affectionate and nurturing; others cold and barbaric. From kisses to strikes across my cheeks, to kicks above my knees. An upbringing riddled with light and darkness; a preparation for their departure and my first guest.
By Andrew Dominguez12 months ago in Psyche
Living in the Shadows
Throughout the years, it has been a subject that I felt invisible. At first, it was a horrible thing that I detested with more effort to succeed. Each passing failure was no help. The times seemed difficult, but they truly reflected what life would become. It was a time of transformation from youthful dreams to adult reality. Life in the Shadows was a place to develop my love of storytelling. It was those times that I was not seen but could see and study so much around me. The beginning was always the hardest, with the acceptance of failure.
By Sarah Danaher12 months ago in Psyche
The Mind Wanders
Before I begin, I would like to tell you, the reader, that I’m okay. This narrative is prompted by a Vocal challenge entitled “The Metamorphosis of the Mind.” This challenge is a no more than 2,500-word and no less than 1,000-word piece where I, the author, am supposed to share a transformative moment from my mental or emotional journey. For the past few years, while being a Vocal Plus member, I have been entering these challenges in the hopes of likes, reads, subscriptions, and, of course, prize money. My entries, thus far, have been mostly fictional pieces of science fiction, fantasy, horror, and the occasional poetry. I report that to date, I have not won nor have had an honorable mention, which is okay. I am hopeful that I will at least sharpen my skills to where someone enjoys my writing enough to continuously want to read what I put out on Vocal. This challenge, however, is different. This challenge wants us to explore our own psyche and present a moment of our lives to you, the reader. I did not know where to begin with this entry, for you see, I believe I have experienced a more than average share of personal growth. Let me quickly explain.
By Anthony Diaz12 months ago in Psyche
The First Time I Fell in Love Was Also the Last
They say your first love never really leaves you. I didn’t know mine would come and go in the same summer. This is me. A shy, thoughtful 17-year-old in my final summer before college. The kind of person who watches life from the sidelines—introverted, observant, not the type who’s ever been in love before. My world is small, familiar, and safe… until he arrives.
By Gift Abotsi 12 months ago in Psyche
The Power of Rock Bottom . Runner-Up in The Metamorphosis of the Mind Challenge. Content Warning.
For the fifth time that night, nausea washed over me, as my gut began to heave and contract. Pulling myself up to kneel, I pulled the glass bowl closer to my face, as the razor-sharp convulsions brought up more bile. The yellow liquid stung my mouth.
By Chantal Weiss12 months ago in Psyche
Random Acts Of Flowers
Today started off as any normal chemo day, however honestly I thought I’d be turned away since I was sick last week. Alas, my labs were super this week, so chemo proceeded as normal. On the infusion floor, there are always two elderly volunteers who are amazing. They go around each section of the infusion floor asking chemo patients if they want anything from snacks, beverages and even warn heated blankets. Around eleven they bring by a small light lunch, half sandwich, chips, a drink and a snack for later. However something different happened today, today I received flowers from them with a person from the company called Random Acts of Flowers.
By Jessie Lynn Nelson12 months ago in Psyche
Trust Your Mind
When I saw the Vocal challenge for The Metamorphosis of the Mind, I had to dive into the fun and write this piece in the hopes it inspires even one person who is currently in mind warfare, debating should they switch careers or have they wasted their life on a career that is not giving them their purpose and fullfilment.
By Tammy Reese12 months ago in Psyche
