27Dec 2011 by CJ

A New Year’s Resolution can really change things if you want them to

Life & Living
As the holiday season comes to a close, the start of a new year is on the horizon and it's time for our New Year's Resolution. For many of us December 31st is synonymous with gatherings in Time Square - where a star-studded ball makes its 70 foot decent before thousands of onlookers cheer “Happy New Year!” at the stroke of midnight. But the start of a new year should mean more than just purchasing a new desk calendar. It should be a time to reflect on the previous year and re-evaluate where we’re going in the future. The beginning of a new year has become one of the world's oldest holidays. It all started with the Babylonians, who first celebrated the day some 4,000 years ago. And though the…
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18Dec 2011 by CJ

Writing a grown-up letter to Santa

Life & Living, Youth
Dear Santa, I’m not sure if you remember me - it’s been about 30 years since I last addressed a letter to you. I’m sorry I haven’t written sooner but after my sister broke the news to me about your fictitious existence, I didn’t really see the need to waste the postage any longer. Though admittedly, I’ve come to wonder if she was really right at all. My family recently made the trip into New York City to visit the tree at Rockefeller Center, the famous department store windows all adorned with holiday décor and the majestic St. Patrick’s Cathedral. While meandering through the city on a chilly December’s day, a few light snow flurries danced around our heads making it almost impossible not to be in the holiday spirit.…
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15Dec 2011 by CJ

Census reveals startling statistics about poverty

Information & Education, Life & Living
Census statistics provide us with a detailed look at the composition of our country from race to children to finances. But it also can bring about some alarming figures that many of us probably never thought possible in what has been called the greatest country in the world. I'm not so sure anymore. The most recent Census finds that 1 in 2 people in America have fallen into poverty or are scraping by on earnings that classify them as low income. That's 50% of all Americans. While the folks in Washington continue to argue with each other, both Republicans and Democrats alike should be embarrassed and ashamed of themselves. It seems the only thing they care about anymore is which party has a controlling interest in government, rather than exercising…
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14Dec 2011 by CJ

Where are you Christmas – more and more we can’t find you

Life & Living, Youth
As of this writing, there are exactly 18 more days until the conclusion of 2011. It was a year not uncommonly filled with its share of highs and lows and looking back it’s difficult to imagine where the last eleven months have escaped. But as John Lennon once said, “life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans.” But before we welcome in a new calendar year, we have another time-honored holiday to celebrate - Christmas. A subject of continuous debate, and the recurring theme of countless movies, books and television specials, is what is the true meaning of Christmas. While arguments surrounding its true meaning are subjective, it’s hard to decipher a logistical explanation when December 25th is continuously shrouded in dazzling decorations and over-the-top gift giving. It…
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04Dec 2011 by CJ

Finding your way home on Christmas Day is a feeling too many share

Generosity & Kindness, Life & Living, Love & Relationships
Home on Christmas Day. That means so many different things to different people. Throughout the month of December, constant reminders of the holidays captivate our senses. We marvel at the sight of twinkling lights intertwined on festive decorations, salivate at the smell of freshly baked gingerbread men lined like toy soldiers on cookie sheets, and hum along to the sound of holiday tunes joyfully playing in the background. For me, the sounds of the season have always been my favorite. As a young child, I remember listening to songs about a magical snowman with a corncob pipe and a button nose, and wondering if it really was fun to ride in a one horse open sleigh. But as an adult, I find myself drawn to musical themes which many times…
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