02Feb 2016 by CJ

Problems only get solved if you see them

Life & Living
Albert Einstein lived between 1879 and 1955 and yet this quote is probably more fitting today than on the day he originally said it: "There's been a quantum leap technologically in our age, but unless there's another quantum leap in human relations, unless we learn to live in a new way towards one another, there will be a catastrophe."  Turn on any news program, visit any related site online or step foot outside you very own door and chances are you won’t have to look far to witness the “catastrophe” Einstein is speaking of. It’s the year 2016, and I won’t argue that our society has made quantum leaps in technology – many of which I admittedly utilize on a daily basis with much satisfaction. But while technology has progressed…
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01Feb 2016 by CJ

A life of things is no life

Generosity & Kindness, Life & Living
"The best things in life aren't things." - Art Buchwald My grandmother was one of nine children living in a tiny, three bedroom apartment. Few things were truly "yours" in my grandmothers household growing up. You often shared a bed with one ore two of your sisters, not to mention clothes, toys, books and anything else which could be handed down to the next oldest child. When I used to listen to my grandmother talk about growing up, while there was no denying it was hard, the sense of family and security she felt for the people living in that tiny apartment was something few of us will ever understand. As cliche as it sounds, my grandmother would sometimes tell me, "We didn't have much, but we had each other…
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28Jan 2016 by CJ

A true connection is seen, heard, valued

Life & Living, Love & Relationships, Youth
“Connection is the energy that exists between people when they feel seen, heard and valued; when they can give and receive without judgment; and when they derive sustenance and strength from the relationship.” - Brene Brown Seen…heard…valued. In my mind they are three incredibly powerful words which are the very foundation of all great and long-lasting relationships. That connection, that energy that two people can share is not something that comes along every day. In fact, I often wonder if there’s a possibility of one day it becoming completely extinct. I learned a long time ago that relationships (be them plutonic or intimate) require a great deal of effort in order to succeed. They need attention and care in order to develop and flourish into an invaluable resource for the…
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26Jan 2016 by CJ

Forgiveness is something you do for yourself

Life & Living, Love & Relationships
“Forgiving is not forgetting; it’s actually remembering – remembering and not using your right to hit back. It’s a second chance for a new beginning. And the remembering part is particularly important. Especially if you don’t want to repeat what happened.” – Desmond Tutu Several years ago, while settling in to listen to a respected pastor give his Sunday morning sermon, I never imagined how it would help me understand a word so fundamentally basic. Forgiveness. As young children we’re taught that if we do something wrong we should immediately apologize, and in turn the person we’ve wronged will forgive us. While it sounds like an easy enough concept in theory, as we grow into adults we quickly learn that the act of forgiving charters a more complicated path. For…
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25Jan 2016 by CJ

Peace comes from a place within us

Life & Living
“Never be in a hurry; do everything quietly and in a calm spirit. Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever, even if your whole world seems upset.” – St. Francis De Sales My wife is truly an amazing person for many reasons, but the quality she possesses that I’m most envious of is her ability to continually maintain a calm spirit. Even during times of crisis or stress, she somehow manages to acknowledge her feelings and compartmentalize them constructively before they rob her earthly life of valuable time. Me? Well, I’m just the opposite. Maybe that’s why we’ve been so happily married for the last 14 years. Over the years I’ve come to realize that far too often we’re our own worst enemy. It’s easy to say that…
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