21Dec 2025 by CJ
A Childhood Memory Reminds Us to Be Present

A Childhood Memory Reminds Us to Be Present

Life & Living, Youth
Can you recall your earliest childhood memory of your parents? A moment so clear that it lingers in your mind, yet still holds a hint of mystery in the details, given how young you were. Once you reach a certain age, revisiting the past involves sifting through decades of experiences, which are bound to overshadow your earlier memories. Given the extensive work our brains perform at any given moment, it’s not surprising that older, less specific memories can fade away to make room for new ones. I’ve asked this question of other family members and friends before, and I’m often met with confused, uncertain looks, followed by a long pause as the person struggles with a question they’ve probably never been asked. Eventually, the person admits they can’t clearly remember…
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31Aug 2025 by CJ
Grow Up With Wisdom – Not Stuff

Grow Up With Wisdom – Not Stuff

Life & Living
"Let the next generation grow up with wisdom, not just things." – Dave Ramsey. The other night, my wife and I were channel surfing when we stumbled upon a movie that had just started and seemed somewhat interesting. Unfortunately, the title eludes me now, partly because I suspected it was one of those terrible made-for-TV movies, and remembering the title would only take up valuable space in my brain. The film centered on a relatively affluent family residing in a picturesque neighborhood of a major suburban city, whom I'll refer to as the Johnson family (I'm not great with names from fictional movies). The family consisted of a father, a mother, and three children: a teenage son, a teenage daughter, and a youngest daughter who was almost seven years old.…
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27Jul 2025 by CJ
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.…
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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…
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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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