27May 2014 by CJ

Stop worrying about what you don’t have – be thankful for what you do

Generosity & Kindness
Something to think about... Did you ever stop and ask yourself what truly makes up a life? Love, laughter, sorrow, joy – all come together to form the basis of our existence. Beyond the life experiences that occur without fail, we all have dreams, aspirations, hopes for the future. But as the old John Lennon song states “life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans.” Life is rarely easy and few things ever work out as planned. There’s a world going on around us, a world filled with people and luxuries we should be thanking God above for brining into our lives each and every day. But we need to stop wasting all this time focused on the things we don’t have and realize just how much we do. So…
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28Apr 2014 by CJ

Being someone’s caregiver is one of the greatest honors

Generosity & Kindness, Life & Living, Love & Relationships
Being a caregiver is not easy. But it’s truly amazing what you’re capable of when you have no other choice – when reality is staring you in the face and you’re the one people turn to for guidance, support and attention. Tia Walker, author of The Inspired Caregiver: Finding Joy While Caring for Those You Love writes: “To care for those who once cared for us is one of the highest honors.” And while it’s not necessarily an ideal supported by American culture, many understand what a gift it is to give back to those who’ve given so much to us over the years. To accept the “role reversal” that often comes along with being a caregiver not with bitterness, but with tenderness. And while the relationship will certainly change,…
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08Apr 2014 by CJ

Charity is not about what you gain, but what you can give

Generosity & Kindness, Love & Relationships
“When you say "I" and "my" too much, you lose the capacity to understand the "we" and "our".”  Steve Maraboli, Life, the Truth, and Being Free I think perhaps the greatest shortfall of mankind is its inability to look beyond themselves with any kind of real charity. So often you hear people saying things like “my” problems and “my” needs as though they were the only people living in society. One’s ego can easily convince us that our lives, our complaints and our problems are unique – that no other human being walking the Earth could possibly understand or relate to what we’re feeling or going through. We then turn that internal understanding into an excuse – “I” am simply too busy to do this or that; you have no…
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09Feb 2014 by CJ

A simple act of kindness is often the best medicine for everyone

Generosity & Kindness
Mark Twain once said, “The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up.” Let’s face it – we all have problems, though admittedly to varying degrees. But sometimes in order to put those problems into perspective, to grow humble, requires us to do something positive for somebody else. Your time and a few kind words are often all that’s needed to lift someone’s spirits, and I promise you in return you’ll wind up feeling better too. Because doing something for others, unconditionally and from the heart, does not go unrewarded. Simply put - doing something good is also good for you! So the next time you’re feeling down, maybe stop and think if there’s something good you can do for someone else who truly…
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06Jan 2014 by CJ

Happiness may not be infinite, but sometimes you have to help find it

Generosity & Kindness, Life & Living, Love & Relationships
You learn quickly in life that happiness is not infinite. That everyone at one time or another experiences challenges and struggles that often rob a person of the ability to smile or feel great joy with any regularity. Of late I’ve been finding myself there – even though my life is filled with many wonderful blessings I should be grateful for, and I am. But lately my spirit seems to be in a bit of a funk – seemingly unsatisfied with the current state of my existence (except for my amazing wife who remains my one constant). At times I feel somewhat trapped by the complacency of my life – the routine that carries on from one day to the next. While I understand that you cannot escape your problems…
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