Articles written by Megan Risley

What is Helium

About me - Megan Risley

"To be great is to be misunderstood."

Iis relatively difficult to share here, in this sort of advertisement-style setting on a nebulous platter being viewed by who knows how many eyes.

Suffice it to say, for now, that I collect bookmarks, teddy bears, dried

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Creative Writing > Reflections Reflections: The passing of time: 5 of 161
You can see the past scooting along the earth; its horrors, its tears, its resolutions in little human-shaped time capsules. They tell you that you'll never have the past back, but those live-in-the-moment advocators just don't know what they're missing. Asking anyone from the oldest current generation takes you right back to... More..
Creative Writing > Memoirs Memoirs: Death of a loved one: 4 of 115
As the oldest of the seven "snowflakes" - that is, the grandchildren (my grandfather's given name was "Donald Jefferson Snow"), I got to name Pop. He apparently wanted to be called "Papi" upon my arrival but my young faculties could not manage that, and the closest he got was "Pop." This, of course, could not have been more f... More..
Parenting & Pregnancy > After School Should parents raise their children without television?: 7 of 122
Televisions are not people. And, it has been proven over and over again how important - how life-and-death vital - human interaction, especially touch, is to a child's development, ability to have relationships and to actualize into the person they were made to be. Televisions can display relationships, but they cannot offer ... More..
Creative Writing > Poetry Poetry: God: 15 of 178
"Melvin The Highway Preacher"And so it was this pastor -your normal, average man -began a prayer before a driveand hopped into his van.He hoped that God would gift himwith someone traveling, too -a hitchhiker, perhaps -so he could tell them all he knewabout this world we live in,this beautiful Book, and all,but mostly what he... More..
Sports & Recreation > Sports & Recreation (Other) How do you explain an athlete's taking drugs to your kids?: 8 of 74
"The drugs that athletes typically take are called steroids, and they are illegal in all sports. When an athlete takes drugs, they are trying to get an unfair advantage over other athletes. This is wrong and should not be done. Not every athlete does it, but those that do are not playing fair. I do think it is important to un... More..
Creative Writing > Essays Essays: Why we write: 30 of 182
I feel like I should apologize...It has come to my attention that I can be offensive. Which got me thinking...why do I write the way I do? Sometimes it's because I mishear a song lyric and turn it into a winding, post-modernesque street-lamp poem. Sometimes it's because I want to praise or worship. Mostly, I can't help it. So... More..
Relationships & Family > Friendship Drama & Issues Getting past internal issues with friendship: 2 of 12
"You can't choose your family, and I'm going to venture that you can't choose your friends, either."it seems like a radical concept - not being able to choose your friends. I guess, though, what the speaker of this quote probably meant was that you don't actually choose you friends - it's not that you can't, it's just that th... More..
Creative Writing > Reflections Reflections: The mid-twenties crisis: 3 of 13
How am I to be a good steward of all I've been given - after all, I didn't ask to be here - when I don't know what that is? My conscience is an iceberg, and, while my life still floats, I only see the top, happily bobbing along until an unexpected wave unders it. Who am I? I wonder, and down it goes. Where do I go? and under ... More..
Creative Writing > Memoirs Memoirs: Childhood memories: 79 of 308
There is a kind of safety in tradition that you cannot find even in the folds of a childhood blanket. It is a deep-hot pressed chrystal through which its participants and perpetuators are magnified, refined by repetition and hand-offs that string generations together. Tradition is faithfulness at its finest, for as long as it... More..
Relationships & Family > Marriage & Divorce (Other) Has the sacred character of marriage been lost?: 10 of 37
Traditional wedding vows: "I, (name), take you, (name), to be my [opt: lawfully wedded] (husband/wife), my constant friend, my faithful partner and my love from this day forward. In the presence of God, our family and friends, I offer you my solemn vow to be your faithful partner in sickness and in health, in good times and i... More..