Craig Ruvere

21Dec 2025 by CJ No Comments

A Childhood Memory Reminds Us to Be Present

Can you recall your earliest childhood memory of your parents? A moment so clear that it lingers in your mind, yet still holds a hint of mystery in the details, given how young you were. Once you reach a certain age, revisiting the past involves sifting through decades of experiences, which are bound to overshadow your earlier memories. Given the extensive work our brains perform at any given moment, it’s not surprising that older, less specific memories can fade away to make room for new ones. I’ve asked this question of other family members and friends before, and I’m often met with confused, uncertain looks, followed by a long pause as the person struggles with a question they’ve probably never been asked. Eventually, the person admits they can’t clearly remember…

01Dec 2025 by CJ

A Fake Image to Protect is Not Authentic at Work or at Home

Love & Relationships

“I’m grateful I have no fake image to protect. What you see is exactly who I am. Some days I shine, other days I struggle, but every single day, I stay real. I’m me, and that’s always enough.” (Motivational Life Quotes) The other day, I was updating my headshot across several social channels and professional documents that are viewable by personal friends, professional colleagues, and unknown observers I haven’t yet had the opportunity to connect with. A bit of background: I dislike having my picture taken…a lot! Whether it’s family photos, work events, vacations, or selfies, the images captured by cameras never seem to match the reflection I see in the mirror when I wake up each morning or go to bed at night. In my mind, I reassure myself…

27Oct 2025 by CJ

Violence on the Field is a Lesson Children Shouldn’t be Learning

Youth

“I object to violence because when it appears to do good, the good is only temporary; the evil it does is permanent.” ― Mahatma Gandhi, The Essential Gandhi: An Anthology of His Writings on His Life, Work, and Ideas It was a beautiful late summer morning, and even though the first day of fall was just around the corner, lingering sunny days and mild temperatures tried to persuade us that it wasn’t the case. My wife and I were attending my thirteen-year-old nephew’s soccer game, something we try to do a few times during the season. While some might find joy in such sporting events, we often feel disheartened by the behaviors we witness on and off the field, which is why we limit regular attendance. Let me explain. We hoped that…

31Aug 2025 by CJ

Grow Up With Wisdom – Not Stuff

Life & Living

"Let the next generation grow up with wisdom, not just things." – Dave Ramsey. The other night, my wife and I were channel surfing when we stumbled upon a movie that had just started and seemed somewhat interesting. Unfortunately, the title eludes me now, partly because I suspected it was one of those terrible made-for-TV movies, and remembering the title would only take up valuable space in my brain. The film centered on a relatively affluent family residing in a picturesque neighborhood of a major suburban city, whom I'll refer to as the Johnson family (I'm not great with names from fictional movies). The family consisted of a father, a mother, and three children: a teenage son, a teenage daughter, and a youngest daughter who was almost seven years old.…

27Jul 2025 by CJ

Honesty and Integrity are What’s Missing in America

Life & Living

At some point, America has lost sight of what has made it such a wonderful place to call home: the commitment to honesty and integrity in our actions and behaviors. As my wife pulled into our driveway one late spring afternoon, I was standing at the entrance to our home, eagerly awaiting her arrival home from work. I noticed that she wasn't pulling directly into the garage, but instead, parking just outside of it, looking somewhat unsettled. This struck me as odd, as it's our usual practice to park in the garage, no matter which of our two cars we're using. When she emerged from the driver's seat, I could see a look of concern on her face. She confessed that someone had sideswiped our car in a parking lot.…