12Oct 2016 by CJ

Disappointments should not overshadow being grateful

Generosity & Kindness
"Sometimes we feel that if everything isn't perfect, we cannot be grateful for anything. We easily fall into all-or-nothing thinking. When we do, we miss the sunrise and the other forms of goodness that surrounds us." - Anne Wilson Schaef Far too often, the plans we conceive in our head never fully materialize the way we hope and dream. This leads to disappointment rather than fulfillment, and soon what once was thought to be a good idea feels more like a mistake. It’s during these times when our behaviors drastically change. We’re frustrated and saddened and it’s often difficult to be grateful when all you see are a constant stream of disappointments. My wife and I moved to Colorado a little over two years ago now, and truthfully, everything hasn’t…
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06Oct 2016 by CJ

Negativity should not be the norm in life

Generosity & Kindness
I came across this story about negativity the other day and wanted to share it. One day a school teacher wrote the following on a chalkboard. 9x1=7 9x2=18 9x3=27 9x4=36 9x5=45 9x6=54 When he finished, he looked at his class and they began to laugh. When he asked them why, one student pointed out that the first equation he had written was wrong. The teacher responded by saying, “I wrote the first one wrong on purpose to show you something very important. This is how the world will treat you. You can see that I wrote five other RIGHT answers, but none of you gave me any recognition for that. You all laughed and criticized me for the one wrong thing that I did. The world will not always appreciate…
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17Aug 2016 by CJ

Disrespectful people deserve little respect

Generosity & Kindness
“When I look at a person, I see a person - not a rank, not a class, not a title.” ― Criss Jami, Killosophy A gentleman I’m associated with – no scratch that – “a person I’m associated with” (gentleman would imply he’s well-mannered) is quite possibly one of the most disrespectful individuals I’ve encountered to date. I’m unsure how he's achieved such an inflated perception of himself, but some of the egotistical and downright pompous things that come out of his mouth are troubling and alarming to me at times. And his behaviors and actions are equally disheartening. A question of rudeness He will only socialize and exchange pleasantries with those who can "help" him, or at the very least, those who are equal to him. He will not…
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07Aug 2016 by CJ

Individuals lacking humility deserve little attention

Generosity & Kindness
“The biggest challenge after success is shutting up about it.”  ― Criss Jami Lately I find myself reacquainted with the notion that our society is comprised of individuals lacking humility. But what is humility really? British writer C.S. Lewis once said, “Humility isn’t about thinking less of yourself – but thinking of yourself less.” A powerful statement, which when I look around society today is rarely practiced with any consistency or sincerity. Here’s but one example. The other day my wife and I were outside doing some yard work, when a man approach whom we hadn’t seen before. Turns out this gentleman lived a few blocks down the road and was out taking a leisurely stroll during the cooler weather. Welcoming the break, we engaged in a conversation with this new…
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06Jun 2016 by CJ

Compassionate people will learn a lesson

Generosity & Kindness
“Although the days are busy and the workload is always growing, there are still those special moments when someone says or does something and you know you’ve made a difference in someone’s life.” - Diane McKenty, Nurse and Caregiver When a loved one is diagnosed with a debilitating and heart wrenching illness, we all process the reality differently. For some there’s incredible anger, while others go through long periods of denial. But eventually, your heart opens wide with immense compassion and unconditional love, when it becomes apparent that our time here on this earth is not infinite. Oftentimes when illness strikes, compassionate individuals will immerse themselves in information and education surrounding the situation. I suspect this is done in an effort to provide empathy towards our loved ones - so…
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