22Aug 2011 by CJ

A compassionate society is able to rise above themselves for the good of others

Generosity & Kindness, Life & Living
Author Dorothy Allison was recently interviewed by "The Writer" magazine and had these very interesting words to say about a compassionate society. "I think the lack of honesty in the media in this country is killing the country. I think we are  living a culture of lies. And at this point, the winning voices are the loudest voices. I'm 60. I can look back at what has happened in this country, the fight for civil rights and justice and a genuinely compassionate culture we put in place, and now I look around and now I see a mean, desperate place. It is very frightening." Though Ms. Allison is 24 years my senior, I can relate to what she is saying. Lately I find myself wondering how things have gotten so out of…
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21Aug 2011 by CJ

I Love Lucy shows a much different household dynamic than today

Life & Living
The other day I was watching an episode of the always comical 1950’s sitcom I Love Lucy, and realized just how different the roles of men and women truly were. Lucy wasn’t speaking to Ricky because, as always, he wouldn’t let her be in the show. After realizing she hadn’t prepared his breakfast that morning, he stormed into the bedroom and demanded she get up and fix him something to eat like a drill sergeant in the military. I could only imagine what my wife would have to say if I barked such orders at her early in the morning. The days of the men being the dominant figure in a household are over for the most part. Today, women have their own careers outside the home – some working…
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14Aug 2011 by CJ

Priority lists should be filled with people not just chores

Life & Living
Take a look at your own life and ask yourself, what or who is on my priority lists? Our  lives seem filled to capacity with a plethora of errands, chores and  commitments which often pull us in different directions — robbing us of  the more memorable moments life has to offer. In short we  prioritize our lives based upon what we believe to be important and  inadvertently forget about the people we always assume will be around when our priority lists are finally complete. It’s funny how our priority lists seem to focus so much on taking care of responsibilities, yet pay  little attention to taking care of the people who provide our lives with  meaning. Imagine turning off the television and tuning out all  distractions to interact with that…
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11Aug 2011 by CJ

At work is fine as long as it doesn’t become your entire life

Life & Living
There are 168 hours in any given week and sadly we spend over 40 of them at work - or on overcrowded roadways trying to get to and from work. Didn’t you ever wonder where this working five days straight and off for two business first started? I’m sure if I did a little digging online I could find that out. But truthfully, I’m tired from working almost nine-hour days lately – maybe on my two days off I’ll find some time. I of course realize the importance of employment. It helps pay for things like a roof over your head and food in your refrigerator. But it also costs you something to – your time. These days so many of us are spending even more time at work, which…
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09Aug 2011 by CJ

Parenting is about love and care – it doesn’t matter who you are

Life & Living, Youth
People haven't yet figured out that parenting is about love and care, regardless of race or sexual orientation. Here's an example. The other day, my wife had the great pleasure of appearing at ourlocal courthouse for jury duty. What fun, right? She had a few entertaining stories from her experience, but what troubled me more was the reply of a middle aged man who was responding to thejudge's question, "if you have bumper sticker on your car, what does itsay?" The man politely responded that he worked for a soup kitchen in his church and that the only bumper sticker on his car read, "Gays are not parents". I guess he thought his affiliation with a religious institution allowed him to have such an idiotic comment posted on his bumper.…
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