Personal
Authentic personal narratives, life lessons, and reflections on growth, relationships, and the human experience
Personal Stories & Reflections
This category features honest, vulnerable, and thought-provoking personal content including:
- Life-changing moments and what they've taught me
- Relationship insights from successes and failures
- Personal growth journeys through challenges and triumphs
- Philosophical musings on meaning, purpose, and happiness
- Memoir-style writing about formative experiences and their impact
These personal narratives aim to connect through shared human experiences, offering both entertainment and insight. While subjective in nature, these stories may resonate with your own journey and perhaps offer a new perspective on life's complexities.
A Val Farewell: How Val Kilmer Shaped My World
I still remember sitting cross-legged on the floor of my childhood living room, completely mesmerized as Madmartigan swung his sword across our family TV screen. Yesterday, on April 1, 2025, when I heard that Val Kilmer had passed away at 65 from pneumonia, it felt like losing an old friend who had been with me through every chapter of my life.
A Journey Towards Self-Improvement: My Threefold Mission
Hello everyone! Ris here. As we embark on a fresh year, I've decided to share some personal goals I'm setting for myself. This isn't just a New Year's resolution; it's more of a roadmap for personal growth and fulfillment. My mission revolves around three core objectives: writing more frequently, enhancing my overall health, and being a better father and partner.
Twitter Updates
For the past few years, I've been active on Twitter. However, the past few months have been a bit of a roller coaster, and I've been thinking about how I want to use Twitter in the future and how I want my online presence to reflect my personal values.
A new start
It's official: I'm starting a new job with General Dynamics (@GDMS). I have loved working for Barkley (@BarkleyUs, @BarkleyREI) for the past seven years, but it's time to move on.
Advice to a former self
Stay curious! And other things I learned too late
You have the right to be yourself
As long as you do not harm others, you have the right to stand up for yourself and defend your rights. On the other hand, if you bring harm to others, you may forfeit these rights.
Good Doctors Matter
They told me that my son was a gift to science. They told me that I should abort. They told me to donate his remains to the hospital for research so that some good could come from his condition.
The Five Tenets
An abridged guide to life, the universe, and everything
What do you want more of in your life?
This series will focus on answering direct questions. I do not promise to answer every question received, but I do promise that every answer will be honest, sometimes brutally so. When applicable, I will provide links to resources, but most of the responses will be derived directly from past experiences, and stories.