the recipe for a human being

This recipe is all the rage right now, and it is an absolute must-try. It’s probably flooding your TikTok feed for good reason. The end product is so delicate and light yet complex and dynamic. It’s a scrumptious little treat that will satisfy any palette. Here’s my own take on the hottest recipe trend: the human being.

Physical Ingredients

1 Heavy heart

2 Eyes that swell upon seeing an old lady feed pigeons in the park

2 Ears that perk up at the sound of wind rustling through tall grass

1 Nose that forever carries within it the scent of grandma’s cooking

1 Mouth that can light up a room with a few slight maneuvers

Skin that knows the true warmth of the sun

- Add a few birth marks that you’re convinced mean something OR a few scars in odd places (you’re just dying to tell everyone how you got them).

A few fingers that run through a lover’s hair

- Don’t panic if you can’t find these, replace with one index finger tracing raindrops falling on a car window.

2 Feet that tap out of rhythm to your favorite song

Non-Physical Ingredients (MOST IMPORTANT, DO NOT FORGET)

A desire to see the infinite beauty in the tiniest hidden corners of the world

A deep-rooted feeling of interconnectedness with all things, both living and nonliving

An ocean of love, gratitude, and adoration for the people closest to you

- Ironically combine with a tendency to push people away for no good reason.

1 Year of self-destructive behavior

- Combine with a few years of therapy.

A handful of guilty pleasures that you need not be guilty about

A fleeting sense of identity

- Served best when completely reinventing oneself

A steadfast appreciation for the present moment

- Combine with a pinch of rumination within self-constructed fantasies. Be sure not to add too much (will spoil the whole recipe).

A few major heartbreaks

- Whisk in with a few crises of faith and nihilistic tendencies.

One bad habit of romanticizing your melancholic solitude

A constant struggle to understand

1 Voice in your head that is convinced you’ve never done anything right, ever

- Can do without (I just prefer the added kick

And finally,

1 Indomitable human spirit.

There you have it: a divine, delicate mess of contradiction, beauty, and imperfection. Be aware that not all these steps and ingredients are necessary and feel free to add whatever you would like.

Not every human being is constructed the same way and no matter what you decide to add or how you combine the unique aspects of you, you will always come out perfect simply because you are human. Now get cooking!

By Shane Shannon