08Oct 2015 by CJ

Caregivers are angels here on earth

Generosity & Kindness, Love & Relationships
One of the greatest challenges my family faced when Alzheimer’s disease began preventing my grandfather from caring for himself, was figuring out who would take care of him. While my grandmother was still alive, she was frail herself and unable to meet the physical demands of caring for him. And while I know she loved him, it was difficult for her to accept the demands this new role of “caregiver” presented to her. My family experimented with several home health aides – unsatisfied with many of the early arrivals. Being a caregiver is not easy and requires much more than simply being able to handle the everyday logistics - eating, dressing, bathing. It’s about treating the person you’re caring for with dignity, respect, compassion, patience, humor and above all love.…
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18Aug 2015 by CJ

Abundance should never cloud your gratitude

Generosity & Kindness
When a clerk at an Indianapolis check-cashing establishment testified that an armed robber in his early 20’s asked her to pray with him before stealing $20, everyone in the courtroom was speechless. “He said that he hated to have to do this, but times were hard and he had no choice.” For a young man to have any remorse at all for stealing a measly $20, I think it’s safe to assume that he was at the end of his rope – sadly he’s not alone in American today. I think we fail to realize just how quickly the rug of financial stability can be pulled from under us. Yet American’s continue to squander their earnings to maintain an image purely based on material possessions and brand names. This “image”…
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28Jul 2015 by CJ

Age is just a number – be grateful for the time you’ve been given

Generosity & Kindness, Life & Living
“Nobody grows old merely by living a number of years. We grow old by deserting our ideals. Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul." Samuel Ullman It wasn’t until this year (when I turned 40) that I began to consider myself “old”. While I’m sure those in their 70’s and 80’s find great amusement in my admission, for me it’s been difficult to accept that four decades of my life are now behind me. Even writing that makes me cringe. Lately however, the subject of age has been continually on my mind – especially given the fact that my new co-worker is only 22-years-old. While I’ve been generally surprised at how well I’ve been able to interact with someone half my age, at times…
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20Mar 2015 by CJ

Trusting employees leads to positive contributions

Generosity & Kindness, Life & Living
When it comes to the personal relationships we form in life, one of the most important factors we crave is honesty and trust. Without either of those two invaluable criteria, relationships falter and eventually crumble under the weight of continual uncertainty and doubt. Honesty and trust are two qualities that often encourage people to want to do more – to go that extra mile for someone. They circumvent the presence of hidden agendas and controlling personalities and typically make people feel connected – positively contributing to the relationship rather than burdening it. Anthony Robbins states, “Only those who have learned the power of sincere and selfless contribution experience life’s deepest joy: true fulfillment.” And it’s that contribution that motivates us to want to be a better person in all the…
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12Feb 2015 by CJ

Kristen Chenoweth “Latte” tune always brings a smile

Generosity & Kindness, Life & Living, Love & Relationships
“Happy is entirely up to you and always has been.” ― Janette Rallison, My Fair Godmother   I’ve always been a music buff, and have dozens of songs in my repertoire that I consider my “go-to-tunes” depending on my emotional state of the day. If I’m melancholy, I typically choose a slow, highly orchestrated ballad whose underlying theme is filled with loss and despair. I have a lot of these songs. But when I need a little cheering up, there’s one song in particular that always makes me smile. Taylor the Latte Boy was recorded back in 2005 by beloved Broadway veteran Kristin Chenoweth – from her album As I Am. This well-crafted tune can bring a smile to my face the instant she begins singing. It’s as though it…
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