The 7 Things I Love About Us
Image Courtesy: Strike Magazine Chattanooga
Sometimes when I grow angry at the world or need a dash of bliss, I find myself coming back to this list. It’s the little things we humans do, and I happen to think we can be kind of cute.
From fun encounters with strangers, longingly staring at someone you find beautiful, and traveling the depths of the world– we have not been told to act in such ways, but we just do. There’s no manual to being human, we just are.
It’s endearing to think that out of all of the species on Earth, humans have the capacity to express deep, wide emotions with each other. We like to travel in groups. We like community no matter how much we deny it and claim we’re far better off alone. We expect other humans like us to know what we’re thinking based solely on our demeanor. We believe in past lives where our souls—before the ones we are inhabiting currently—lived in a completely different way in space and time.
But all I know is that in this life right now, humanity is the most intriguing, complex thing I have ever witnessed, and I am lucky to be a part of it. So, when I feel frustrated with my faith in humanity, I linger on these adorable things we do.
1. We transform into different realms of the universe by reading novels written by other people like us. We sit down in silence and let our eyes and imagination run free. These authors take us somewhere else outside of our own lives, where our problems and worries subside for a little bit. I know as we grow older it’s more difficult to find time for these literary escapes amidst the hustle of work and school, but it’s beautiful when we do find that time.
2. We celebrate with champagne and food. These two things are communal to us. When a human has a big announcement, we gather around and eat, drink, and socialize in that person’s honor. We toast to people and wish them well and say words of gratitude while we do so.
3. We save up money in piggy banks, in hopes to reach the goal of whatever we wish to have or experience to spend money on. I got my first piggy bank at five years old, and I remember the joy of dropping coins into it whenever I had the chance. Piggy banks teach us to be smart and financially plan without realizing it. And the fact that these banks are in the shape of a pig makes it so much cuter.
4. We decorate our rooms with pieces of our lives that reflect who we are. Posters, furniture passed on from generations, and wallpapers that you never would’ve picked out but you grow to like anyway. Private, peaceful bedrooms are a luxury to have and it’s sweet to think about these little cocoons we make for ourselves. Humans always want their own space, a place where they can retreat.
5. Love letters, or any sort of cards tug my heartstrings. So do messages in bottles. I love how we write down our thoughts and have the ability to send them wherever in the world. Yes, technology accomplishes this job for us efficiently, but the anticipation of waiting for someone to receive your letter is incomparable.
6. Birthdays and specifically blowing out candles on a cake is a delightful image to me. Yes, a lot of us get embarrassed and flushed while everyone is looking at us and singing the happy birthday song, but even that is admirable too. Again, having people who care about you all in one room, no matter how big or small the party is, and watching you manifest a birthday wish is a memorable experience. Birthdays are a constant for us in our lifetime, and humans do a great job of making them worthwhile.
7. Finally, we grow gardens and tend to them. Flowers are just like us, and we take care of them as such. The same goes for animals. We take on the task of parenthood through more than just children. We keep things alive. Whether it’s our own selves, plants, animals, or our hope for the future, we persist. And that’s the most lovely thing I’ve ever heard.
Next time you’re at your wit's end, step back and look again
At whom we are as a whole, and perhaps then
You, We, can all get up
And rise again.
Strike Out,
Writer: Madison Meadows
Editor: Jane Dodge
Graphic: Marley Hillman
Chattanooga