27Jul 2025 by CJ 1 Comment
Honesty and Integrity are What’s Missing in America

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.…
Read More
30Jun 2025 by CJ
Summer Vacations of Yesterday – When Boredom Was Okay

Summer Vacations of Yesterday – When Boredom Was Okay

Life & Living
Summer vacations are now in full swing for school-aged children across the United States. As I write this post from the shade of my covered patio on a surprisingly pleasant sunny afternoon, I can hear the cheerful, innocent laughter of the young neighborhood children splashing and playing at the community pool, and it brings me back to a time long ago. In this peaceful setting, I find myself nostalgic for the summer vacations of my youth—a time when I was too young for major responsibilities but old enough to enjoy the freedom that comes along with growing up. It has been a long time since I felt the exhilarating joy of walking out of my grammar school's side doors for the last time before the start of a new school…
Read More
19May 2025 by CJ
Smile and Make You Think I’m Happy Hides What’s Really Going On

Smile and Make You Think I’m Happy Hides What’s Really Going On

Love & Relationships
“I’m going to smile and make you think I’m happy, I’m going to laugh, so you don’t see me cry, I’m going to let you go in style, and even if it kills me—I’m going to smile.”― Lonestar We all encounter individuals who embody what it means to be "happy people." These remarkable individuals exude happiness, positivity, and an unwavering calmness in any setting. Whether in the workplace or a casual gathering, their resilience seems unshakeable. They might be your close friends, friendly neighbors, familiar faces at your local coffee shop, colleagues at work, or even the parents of your children's friends. Their presence has a unique way of uplifting those around them, making their happiness truly infectious. While that may be true, I must be honest: these people sometimes drive…
Read More
14Apr 2025 by CJ
I’ll be turning 50 this week – here’s what I’ve learned

I’ll be turning 50 this week – here’s what I’ve learned

Life & Living
I’ll be turning 50 this week. I remember celebrating my 40th and 45th birthdays, during which I felt somewhat depressed. Although my body still felt youthful, I began to realize that my opportunities to accomplish the things I still wanted in life were no longer limitless, which was a rather sobering realization. As I prepare to be a half-century old (which sounds like I’m an antique piece of furniture when I say it like that), I assumed I’d feel something significant, after all, turning 50 is a milestone that many people struggle to accept as reality. I’ve been waiting patiently to see if I would experience any signs of a mid-life crisis, feelings of disappointment about the paths I didn’t take, or nostalgia for a life that exists only in…
Read More
17Feb 2025 by CJ
Financial Freedom Takes a Back Seat to the Perception of Wealth

Financial Freedom Takes a Back Seat to the Perception of Wealth

Information & Education
"Money is a tool, not the goal. Financial freedom is the goal. Don't forget that." – Anonymous. My great-uncle spent his career as an educator, starting in the classroom and eventually becoming the Superintendent of Schools in Nutley, New Jersey, where the renowned lifestyle guru Martha Stewart spent much of her childhood. My great-aunt and uncle lived in a beautiful center-hall colonial home that exuded old-world charm and character, which had been meticulously maintained over the years, just like all the other sought-after houses on their tree-lined street. Considering the value of their property and my great-uncle's substantial salary as a superintendent, one might expect him and my great-aunt to drive around in a Mercedes, Cadillac, or another luxury car from the 1990s. Instead, they drove around in mainstream car…
Read More