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New to Five Minute Observations? Welcome. I’m Joe Class III, and I write stories and essays about what I notice, the encounters that reveal something true, and the moments that stick with you after they’re gone. If you’re just getting started, these three pieces will give you a sense of what this space is about:…
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Hermes. I know. I laughed when I first heard his name, too. I couldn’t help it, but there it was, my laughter out in front of the classroom. He was a scrawny guy with curly, dirty blonde hair and blue eyes. From the back, it was easy to mistake him for a girl. My friends…
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“You’re offended by that?” Shelby screamed at Angela. The two best friends were having coffee at the local Starbucks. It wasn’t unusual for the friends to talk about subjects varying from abortion to religion. Even political ideologies were a part of their dialogues. For some reason, all rational thought left Shelby. There was no reason…
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When I tell someone I’m a storyteller, they automatically reply, “Oh. You’re a reporter.” “Uh, no. I tell stories.” “How is that different?” A reporter relays the facts relevant to the current situation, focusing on having every fact relevant and accurate to the event while maintaining objectivity through words, video, or an online report. A…
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I get it. Information is a hot commodity. Data is equal to cash in today’s world. It’s the currency our world functions on because we all work together, trading, buying, and selling data. We need to ensure our active listening skills work. Data is transferred between people, from their heads into your ears. If they…
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“I don’t appreciate what you said about my friends.” Her voice was tense, borderline hostile. What I didn’t know then was that this conversation would change the trajectory of both of our lives, hers and mine. Between the abuse at home and the constant teasing at school, I was fed up. Mostly, I was tired…
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DISCLAIMER: If there is something I will NOT do, it’s give anyone credit for the physical and emotional trauma they caused me. Therefore, you will not hear me name my biological mother for that reason. Like J.K. Rowling says in Harry Potter, the name only has power if you give it the power. So, if…
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Walk a mile in their shoes. See what it feels like. So, first of all, eww, no. That’s gross! Second of all, what about all the athlete’s foot possibilities? Yuck! It’s like putting on bowling shoes – even though I know they spray them with disinfectant. It’s just, well, your feet. (The sarcasm is strong…
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High school. Acid-washed jeans. Polo shirts, more specifically, Ralph Loren. Bright, loud colors. Mini-skirts. Teased-out hair, if long enough, coated with enough Aquanet to freeze it permanently in place. Jelly shoes, no socks. The Don Johnson Miami Vice look. And more than enough drama to write four seasons of Saved By the Bell or 90210.…
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Struggling. It’s an understatement to use that term at work. Not that anyone would notice or care. Certainly not those working for a large organization that supports mental health. It’s ironic to think the same people who advocate for others to get help with their own mental health fail to recognize it in their own…
Stories. Enjoy!
