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…
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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…
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24Jan 2025 by CJ
Impress Others with Who You Are, Not with What You Have

Impress Others with Who You Are, Not with What You Have

Generosity & Kindness, Life & Living
On days when I try to make sense of this nonsensical world, I often find myself lost in deep reflection on various topics. On this particular day, I pondered why we invest so much time and energy trying to impress others, even those we don’t know. As is often the case, I received some unsolicited wisdom that reminded me of what is most valuable in life. This time, the insight came from a daily motivational message that arrived in my inbox every morning. “The only way to impress me is by being a good person. I don’t care what you have, what you wear, where you live, or what you drive. I just have a deep respect for people with pure hearts and good intentions.” From childhood innocence to the…
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05Jan 2025 by CJ
A New Career Path Awaits Those Willing to Take a Chance

A New Career Path Awaits Those Willing to Take a Chance

Information & Education
"Your journey to a new career path is an opportunity to not just survive but thrive and create work that's meaningful to you." - Seth Godin. My grandparents married in 1941, during a time when it was customary for many couples of that generation to adopt gender roles in their marriage. My grandfather explored a new career path outside the home to earn the necessary finances for their family. At the same time, my grandmother managed the household with ingenuity and creativity before eventually caring for their two children. While their gender roles and individual contributions were clearly defined, collectively, they each enhanced their existence's overall quality and abundance. By 1965, after spending 24 years managing the household and raising her two children to be responsible and independent young adults,…
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17Dec 2024 by CJ
A Midlife Crisis is Uncertainty of One’s Life Purpose

A Midlife Crisis is Uncertainty of One’s Life Purpose

Life & Living
"I think midlife crisis is just a point where people's careers have reached some plateau and they have to reflect on their personal relationships." - Bill Murray. I have always been highly self-reflective, frequently expressing the thoughts and emotions that arise from this process in my writing and conversations with others. After all, the only way to genuinely improve oneself is to look back on our lives and reflect on our actions and decisions with complete transparency. Self-reflection is challenging and often requires us to confront uncomfortable truths about our choices, discomfort necessary for achieving meaningful results. As I explore this stage of life, I realize that aging alters our perceptions and impacts how we tolerate ourselves and our shortcomings. While I wouldn't necessarily label it a midlife crisis, reaching…
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