Articles written by Mary Brotherton

What is Helium

About me - Mary Brotherton

I'm a writer, editor, photographer and public speaker.

According to my mother, I have always had a book in my hand or found a way to write. She claims that as a preschooler, I wrote with a stick in the dirt before I could form my letters and on more than one

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Health & Fitness > Medicine Development Should pharmaceutical companies develop a "stay-faithful" pill to reduce sexual desires?: 4 of 64
Some believe a pill can fix anything. Modern science has developed compounds that make life easier for people who suffer from bi-polar syndrome, schizophrenia and post-traumatic-stress-syndrome. Pharmaceutical companies have manufactured pills for physical conditions such as migraines, sexually transmitted diseases and even t... More..
Arts & Humanities > Arts & Humanities (Other) The case for audio books: 2 of 20
My son was 14-years-old when he introduced me to audio books. We were going on a road trip together, and he knew we'd have nobody else in the car to distract us. He wanted to introduce me, also to one of his favorite authors, so he chose a few novels and we've both been hooked on audio books since. He and I are avid rea... More..
Celebrations & Holidays > Christmas How to avoid spending too much on Christmas gifts?: 2 of 10
I've created my own twelve-step plan to save money on gifts.1. Know your budget's limits. It is far more important to pay your bills and keep food on the table than to impress your family and friends with extravagant gifts. Don't sell yourself short, but don't go into debt for gifts 2. Know your recipients. Don't purchase pie... More..
Creative Writing > Memoirs Memoirs: My great, true, personal garden story: 104 of 391
Mama, I'm going down to cut Grandmama's grass, okay? Okay, but be careful. Her yard is like a jungle. Yes, it was a tiny, perfect little jungle and a wonderful place for a pre-adolescent to hangout. My brothers and sisters and I took turns cutting our grandmother's small yard with her electric lawnmower; we never tried to ... More..
Arts & Humanities > Thoughts on Writing When you should take a break from writing: 5 of 17
When your Muse goes on Vacation You have a Muse, even if you've never been formally introduced. You may be thinking about the literal definition of the word "Muse," which means to think about or to reflect deeply on a subject, or the Grecian mythological Muses, the nine daughters of Zeus and "Na MISS sah nee". Mnemosyne w... More..
Jobs & Careers > Employers Motivating employees: Is money or recognition more appreciated?: 13 of 39
Every person is motivated differently. Countless books have been written to coach employers and parents how to motivate others. As with everything in life, employees have two basic needs: the need to avoid pain and the need to receive pleasure. While it's pleasurable for some to receive raises rather than atta-boys, others a... More..
Arts & Humanities > Thoughts on Writing Fiction-writing: The challenges and opportunities of using symbolism: 1 of 3
One of the biggest challenges of using symbolism in fiction is to find a way to accurately tell your story in an entertaining way, while ensuring your readers don't become bogged down in the symbols. It's not a task easily achieved by all writers, but Pulitzer Prize winner, Eudora Welty proved worthy of the challenge and r... More..
Society & Lifestyle > Family Values Curbing family spending for Christmas in favor of emotional wellbeing: 1 of 2
My family is large. With seven siblings who have an average of three children each, now married with children of their own and scattered across the United States, we learned years ago that simply being together for a shared meal provides more emotional well-being than spending too much money on too many gifts that will soon b... More..
Style & Beauty > Face Care How to look good after a bender: 2 of 3
I've always thought I was a drinking lightweight. A few beers buzz me enough to distort dreams and waking up the morning after is difficult. Sometimes, a glass of wine with dinner is enough to make me super relaxed and ready to turn in early. One girls' night, I drank a dozen margaritas without so much as a morning-after cott... More..
Computers & Technology > Computer Maintenance Five ways to speed up a slow computer: 14 of 19
Rather than buying a new computer, users can take a few steps to make their existing machines run faster and more efficiently. Often, people log on to their machines, use them and then walk way without thinking of what goes on in the background.Increasing virtual and hard memory is one of the fastest ways to increase computer... More..