True STories
Walk in someone else's shoes with personal narratives and true stories as told by our community.
August 22: Today In HistoryINTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE RED CROSS FOUNDED!
On August 22, 1864, what would later become the “International Committee of the Red Cross,” “The Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded and Sick
ARE YOUR DREAMS REAL?
Every man or woman has dream within themselves, to reach a goal in life, while there is still time left. They want to find an
August 14: Today In HistoryVICTORY DAY! JAPAN SURRENDERS!
On August 14, 1945, Japan’s official surrender to the Allies was announced and made public. Although Japan had already submitted a declaration of surrender to
Instagram Is Home Of The Celebrity ImpersonatorThe celebrity you think messaged you is really a scammer
Instagram is home to celebrity impersonators; I’ve gotten messages from several celebrities I follow. They all follow a script, literally. All the initial messages have
There’s a Reason Why So Few People Want to Be Friends With Me: Because of my mental illnesses, my brain doesn’t process information like a “normal” person
I started losing friends during university; I was the only one in my entire group of friends that didn’t get accepted at the same university
Storm Of Grief
The affliction suffered has decayed the body Taking within, killing the inside slowly Once a warrior, now unable to stand Tightly holding on to dignity
An Inside Look At Depression:What it’s really like to be depressed
I’m depressed. You want to know what it’s like to be depressed? I’ll tell you. It hit me on August 1, 2022, when I got
The Icelandic “Delicacy”: Hákarl
It is — by far — the worst thing I have ever tasted in my life. This Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons image is from the
Consequences of Inconsequential Words
I’ve always paid close attention to my dreams, not so much to analyze what they might mean, but to track the details of what my
Poetry Slam
I thought that I would never see A fight regarding poetry. Life can venture nothing worse, Than fisticuffs o’er flowing verse. * If poems be
MEANING OF LIFE
You start out young. You end up old. Where did all the time go? You spend all your money. You waste all your time. Then
The Diver
I sliced my foot open on a broken bottle of Coors Light. It had fallen into the sand, half-buried, littered amongst the rest of the
The First Day Of School Jitters
Yesterday, I got two video messages from a sweet little soul that I see as my niece. Her grandma and I met on a Christian
Usually Have Bad Luck, but this Night I Knew I was Especially Lucky
I dodged rape. Photo by James Kovin on Unsplash If you follow me, you know that 80% of the time, I am here to try
PEOPLE WON’T STEAL THIS FROM YOU
Some people may try to steal your money. Some people may try to steal your car. Also, some people might try to steal your land,
Tyke and Bear
I notice you in the front yard every now and then. Passing by, I look into your eyes and see everything. I see the collar
Midway
When I was little, I would visit this beach with my parents. Nothing was exciting about it: no boardwalk, no shops, no amusements, no games.
They say; ‘Some people just shouldn’t drive!’
I hope you enjoy this change from the darker poems. This is a short, humorous story; a little light relief to accompany you and your
The Day My Dad Served Cut-Up Pig Stew For Dinner
I remember this food experience like it happened yesterday. Photo by Becca Tapert on Unsplash After a blustery morning of playing in the snow and
I WON’T HAVE TO HURRY
One of these days if I make it to heaven, when my life on this earth is over, I’m gonna sit down and visit with
August 21: Today In HistoryHAWAII BECOMES THE 50TH STATE!
On August 21, 1959, a ruling accepting Hawaii as the 50th state of the Union was signed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Polynesians who arrived
Breeding… The Vicar’s Way
A humorous story, passing down the generations in my family. The moonlight blue saloon drew up in the drive at 4pm one sunny Saturday by
A Change In Demeanor
Walking in the UPS Store, I’m excited All three retail cashiers look delighted Helping their customers get what they need I couldn’t wait till it
TRY A LITTLE KINDNESS
When you go out and play, try a little kindness along the way. When you’re feeling blue, remember a little kindness will always pull you
Two Paths Crossing
The story of a broken heart healed and a tiny life saved Photo by Victor Grabarczyk on Unsplash In the beginning, I did not like
REDBIRD AT MY WINDOW
There is a redbird at my window, looking in at me. Saying son, you’re not the child. You’re not the child you used to be.
Time Stands Still in Pompeii
I walked the path of gladiators, sailors, and shopkeepers from 79 C.E. Image of the author, Crystal A. Walker in Pompeii, Italy Entering the gates
I WISH THINGS WERE LIKE THEY USED TO BE
Oh, I’d love to see Grandma Pearl and Grandma Emma again. I’d love to hear Uncle Curtis play the banjo down in Nebo Bend. I’d
DREAMS
You can have a dream that will carry you through life. It will get you to your next day. You can dream of a better
The Secret of “The Tragically Hip” Concert at “The Spectrum”: To this day, I don’t understand how no one noticed I was fooling around with one of our friends during the concert!
Since late high school, the people I had been friends with then and I were huge fans of “The Tragically Hip,” a Canadian band; I’ve
Story Choices: Quantum Storytelling
This entire story already exists, but you are only experiencing it one word at a time as you move forward through it. You could, if
The Days When The Light At The End Of The Tunnel Dims To A Mere Pinprick: Depression extinguishes the bright light of life
Depression is invisible. No one sees the darkness permeating, invading the deepest corners of my heart, mind and soul. No one sees the darkness poisoning
EDUCATE YOURSELF
You don’t have to go to a fancy college to get a good education. I’m not saying that you shouldn’t go to college if you
I’m Never Going to Forget the Dead Man in the Freezer
Or the request his family had that I did my best to honor. Image by Pexels from Pixabay Please note, I have omitted or altered
Why I’m Afraid to Fall in Love Again
After a summer fling gone wrong, I’m not sure how to let myself fall in love again. 2019 was a mess of a year for me.
TIME ROLLS ON
Each person has their day in the sun, so to speak. But time keeps rolling on. You can’t stop time, no matter what you do.
YOU LOVED THE BLUE OUT OF ME
I was down, and I was blue. I didn’t know what I was gonna do. Then the light came shining through, when I found you.
August 24: Today In HistoryPLUTO IS NO LONGER A PLANET!
On August 24, 2006, Pluto was downgraded to one of the dozens of known dwarf planets from having been the ninth planet from the sun
BLACKBIRD
An old man was down on his luck. So, he rolled the dice for one more buck. He was just trying to find someone to
THE SILK UPON HER GRAVE
Now he unfolds silk upon her cold, cold grave. He is giving her the dresses that her young heart once craved. While she was living
When The Puppet Strings Break – Chapter 3 – Looks Can Be Deceiving
Image by Alex from Pixabay It was at this moment the wise words from her father were worthy to her next move. She can still
WORLD WITHOUT MUSIC
I can’t imagine a world without music. It would be a sad world without any songs or music in it. Music is the rhythm to
Did Robert Johnson Make a Deal With the Devil?
Did Robert Johnson sell his soul to the Devil in order to become the best blues guitarist there ever was? I have my doubts, but
August 13: Today In HistoryTHE CITY OF BERLIN SEPARATES INTO EAST AND WEST!
On August 13, 1961, shortly after midnight, the Wall between East and West Berlin began to be built. The military used barbed wire to make
Learning: Lost in the Dark
I rest my head against the window, peering into the night at the passing Indiana farmland. The soft patter of rain and methodical swish of
TIMES CHANGE
You get up one morning. Then you realize, times have changed. Suddenly, you realize things are different, and the times have really changed. What happened?
Rent Day
Today is the great day that tenants dread. You rather keep your hard-earned money instead. Not enough days to enjoy the pay we got in
LIFE IS WHAT YOU MAKE IT
How do you live a good life? People will have many different answers on how to live a good life. But life is really what
ADHD and Writing — The Opposite Side of Perfectionism
As a bonafide card-carrying ADHD person, I have the opposite problem that many writers have. I am the opposite of a perfectionist. I don’t have
WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND
If a rocket goes up into the sky, it will come back down. If birds fly up into the sky, they will come back down.
Thanks for Ruining One of My Childhood Experiences, Motherf*cker
Now peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are the bane of my existence. Photo by Freddy G on Unsplash There are childhood memories that should remain
I’m The Doormat Everyone Uses To Wipe The Shit Off Their Shoes: But I’m afraid of confrontation, so I let people walk all over me
I’ve been a doormat for 45 years. I let people walk all over me and hurt me. I’m terrified by and hate confrontation; it makes
I Can Hear You Call Me ‘Momma’
An ode to my unborn child Photo by João Paulo de Souza Oliveira from Pexels For the longest time,I dreamt of your red hair and
Le Petit
Photo by ÉMILE SÉGUIN on Unsplash or ‘The Little’ By Matthew Portman April 27th, 2020 I’ve never seen a piece quite like it. Le Petit,
INFORMATION SOCIETY
We all live in the information society. We are presented with so much information every day that we try to consume. All of us have
August 17: Today In History:LAST OF HITLER’S INNER CIRCLE, RUDOLF HESS, COMMITS SUICIDE!
On August 17, 1987, Rudolf Hess, 93, the sole prisoner at Spandau Prison in Berlin since 1966, committed suicide by strangling himself with electrical wires.
An Open Letter to the Bird Outside My Window
I hope you chirp in hell. Photo by Pixabay from Pexels Dear Tiny Feathery Alarm Clock, At 5:03am on a Saturday morning, the last thing
YOU DECIDE WHERE YOU GO IN LIFE
You are the only one that can decide where you go in society or the world. It is left up to you to try and
Snow Day!
The guests arrived after 10 pm. 10:19, to be exact. I must have dozed off while waiting for their arrival, but the doorbell in this
EDUCATION FOR LIFE
Education is a lifelong process. You can learn something every day, if you try. You can learn something from people, books, magazines, internet, movies and
YOU’RE JUST GOING AROUND ONE TIME
Today, I met this old man of yesterday. His shoulders were bent, and his hair was gray. He said son, don’t lag behind. You’re just
EVER NOW AND THEN
We planned a pretty future. It was only yesterday. Two young hearts were parted and went a separate way. We lost a pretty future, don’t
When the Puppet Strings Break – Chapter 11 – Shake, Rattle and Roll
Image by Stephen Keller from Pixabay Britney and Kane went back to their jobs and their day to day routines continued as they did for
The June Birthday Girls: Correcting their selective memories as to why our friendships ended provided closure
For many years, June was a celebratory month. By the time I finished high school, five of my friends had birthdays during the first two
A Kimo For My Young Mother
This poem is a Kimo — the “haiku of Israel.” Running through the woods–family dog ahead.Laughing, my hand reaches yours.Mother–you are still young. There was
My Liver Told Me to “F*ck Off” and I Deserved It
I take full responsibility for what I did to my body that night. Photo by Kinga Cichewicz on Unsplash A few weeks ago, I let
JUDGMENT DAY
There is a man without a head, high on a hill. Is he a spirit or is he real? Nobody knows what to say. They
The Worn Spot on the Floor
The smell of summer morning was replaced by the sweet aroma of bacon frying when I opened my grandma’s door. She always made sure there
YOU WANT TO BE A SONGWRITER
Do you want to be a songwriter? Do you want to write beautiful songs that people listen to on the radio and other places? Do
WALKER IKARD
Hello, I’m Walker Ikard. I wanted to introduce myself to the writing community. I’m the son of world famous, Osie Whitaker Ikard. Osie, along with
August 25: Today In History:THE NEW YORK SUN PUBLISHED PART ONE OF “THE GREAT MOON HOAX!”
On August 25, 1835, The New York Sun newspaper published the first article proclaiming the discovery of life on the moon. The six-part series, known
Bougainvillea Snow
A Prose Poem about a Teenage Crush My heart soars like a kite on a windy day, As a silent hello escapes from your mouth.
The Povitica Polka
Discovering this savory bread while learning about my heritage Photo by Klaus Nielsen from Pexels I have always been intrigued to learn about my family’s
The Somnolent Critic Reviews “God’s Bankers: A History of Money and Power at the Vatican,” by Gerald Posner
Year of publication: 2015Print length: 513 pagesPublished by: Simon & Schuster “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”-Matthew, 6:21 The Roman
Sunshowers
I’ve never forgotten the day I saw it rain on a beautiful day, with the sun out. I think I was six or seven when
Space Has Taken on a Whole New Meaning as a Full-Time RVer
I am the happiest I have ever been and it’s due to living tiny. Photo by cottonbro from Pexels For decades, I tried to figure
My Family and Friends’ Idea of Supporting My Writing Is To Offer Encouragement Occasionally: But it’s my online friends and four real-life friends who offer real support for my writing by taking the time to read my work
In March 2021, I made it public that I planned to resume writing and my family and friends acted and responded with encouragement, support, and
WALK A MILE
We never know what the world will hold. We never know how things will go. We don’t know what is coming around the bend. You
Eternal Song
In the realm of the divine, where melodies reign, A song of eternity echoes through the rain, A tune so pure, so sweet, so full
WHY DID YOU HAVE TO LEAVE?
I picked a lovely flower for you today. I placed a red rose on your grave. I thought of memories of a life spent together.
Speaking Truth to Power
I’ve written a lot of reviews and critiques. Books. Movies. Employee evaluations. Employer evaluations. Submissions to a writers’ group I was in. Long ago I
Solutions for Cleavage Challenged Chests: We must, we must, we must increase the bust
“Where are they? I can’t find them.” Not exactly what a 15 year-old-girl wants to hear when fooling around with a guy while he’s groping
TALKING TO THE WALLS
Tonight, I am so lonely, downhearted as can be, with four walls and the ceiling that can’t talk back to me. But I pour my
THE OLD HOME PLACE
As I travel down Nebo Road, I go back to where the old home place used to be. It was located at the end of
I Feared for My Safety When He Slammed the Door Grille
If you’ve been following my work, you’d know that I rarely talk about personal experiences. However, something so bizarre happened yesterday that I just have
Depression is a Mind FuckMy family rejected and abandoned me because of my mental illnesses
I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, trying to figure out my feelings. I checked the time. Ugh — 1:00 pm. I can’t decide
WHEN YOU WALK BY
When you walk by, you’ve got the look of love in your eyes. I’ve got a clear blue sky. I love you girl. You’re my
August 19: Today In HistoryUS CIA SPY PILOT SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS IN RUSSIAN PRISON!
On August 19, 1960, U.S. CIA U-2 pilot Francis Gary Powers was condemned to ten years in prison in the USSR, having confessed to espionage.
The Last Christmas Card
An ode to my Dad who left a surprise in my mailbox after his funeral Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash I remember when I
10 Comments About Mental Illness That Seriously Piss Me Off: Ignorance is NOT an acceptable excuse; maybe this list will help enlighten you
Mental Health Awareness Week 2022 may be over, but there doesn’t need to be a specific week for me to publish articles about mental health
LITTLE THINGS IN LIFE COUNT
The little things in life always count. If you show a little kindness along the way, it will always be appreciated. It will count and
When the Puppet Strings Break – Chapter 8 – The Puppet Strings Are Breaking
Image by Stephen Keller from Pixabay Willow had always been a free-spirit, believing in her dreams, following signs along the way and celebrating simple ways
When The Puppet Strings Break – Chapter 10 – False Hope
Image by Stephen Keller from Pixabay The drive home was unsettling. Willow distracted herself with hopes of better days as she pulled up to a
LIVING THE GOOD LIFE
You can live a good life by being free to choose what and who you become in life. If you can choose your job or
Lost In The City
I was distracted by the fiddle player for just a moment. The subway in Paris has groups of musicians in hallways and platforms. Hats on
August 20: Today In HistoryFIRST AFRICAN SLAVES ARRIVE IN JAMESTOWN
On August 20, 1619, the Portuguese arrived in the British colony of Virginia with 20 enslaved Angolans and others who they sold to the English
Present and Promise: A Mostly True Story
I wasn’t expecting anything. Yet, there it was. The unmistakable drone of the … well … drone dropping a package on the front stoop. I
August 16: Today In History:YUKON GOLD DISCOVERY!
On August 16, 1896, while camping near Rabbit Creek in the Canadian territory of Yukon, George Carmack reportedly found a nugget of gold sticking out
LIFE IS A WINDING ROAD
Life is a winding road. You never know which way to go. Sometimes you want to figure it all. What is life all about? Life
If Someone Claims They Attempted To Commit Suicide, Never Accuse Them Of Lying Unless You Have Proof
Don’t be an asshole, keep your insults to yourself, and at least pretend to be a kind human being