17Jan 2016 by CJ

Life’s scars – don’t let them define you

Life & Living, Youth
“To be alive at all is to have scars.” - John Steinbeck When we’re young - hosting pretend tea parties for your family or putting on plays with the neighborhood kids as a cast – we rarely contemplate the future or the realities that eventually plague our lives. We’re too busy enjoying life and the innocence and freedom which often comes along with being a child. There are times I truly miss those days. I can still feel the rush of a warm breeze upon my face as I sped down the hilltop of my block atop my Huffy bicycle. I could do that over and over again and never get bored. I remember spending hours in my backyard with my toy tractors and dump trucks – digging holes and…
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10Jan 2016 by CJ
In the chaos of life, find opportunity

In the chaos of life, find opportunity

Life & Living
Sun Tzu was a high-ranking and respected general in the Chinese military around the second century BC. His book, The Art of War, has become one of the most inspiring and influential texts on military strategies and tactics ever written. But beyond its invaluable impact on the military, government and businesses, many of his teachings can be effectively and prudently applied to our ever day lives. And while his writings might seem simplistic at times, his meanings are anything but. Tzu once wrote, “In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity.” Today, perhaps more than any other generation, our lives are rarely at peace. Chaos is commonplace as we all try to stay competitive in our careers, connected with family and friends and even with ourselves. Technologies have made…
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06Jan 2016 by CJ

Every stage leads somewhere else

Life & Living
“Wherever we are, it is but a stage on the way to somewhere else, and whatever we do, however well we do it, it is only a preparation to do something else that shall be different.” – Robert Louis Stevenson My grandfather was a die cutter and machinist throughout his career. It was a trade he and his brother shared, and it provided comfortably for his family for over four decades. The job was laborious and monotonous at times – lacking any real creativity or artistry. But my grandfather was incredibly good at it – meticulous in his work down to the smallest detail. When it was time for my grandfather to retire, we all wondered if he’d be content simply sitting home watching The Price is Right after over…
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05Jan 2016 by CJ

Perseverance is not just for kids

Life & Living, Youth
"What saves a man is to take a step. Then another step. It is always the same step, but you have to take it." - Antoine De Saint-Exupery I remember when my nephew was just learning to walk, he had his share of tumbles. It seemed every time he got to his feet and took a few steps, it wasn't long before he'd fall on his behind frustrated. What I remember most about that time is not how frequently my young nephew fell, but how many times he continually picked himself back up - almost unaffected by his recurring tumbles and his inability to master the art of walking. If there's one thing you can say about children it's how resilient they are. Regardless of their growing pains (learning to…
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04Jan 2016 by CJ

Change your mind – change your life

Life & Living, Youth
“Progress is impossible without change; and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.” – George Bernard Shaw One of the greatest lessons I’ve learned thus far in life is that as long as you’re living and breathing, you always have an opportunity to make changes in life or circumstances. But change is difficult and challenging – forcing one to step outside the comfort of one’s reality in order to adopt a new perspective and alter enduring behaviors. It requires a conscious decision to almost reprogram your mind into a new means of understanding and compassion, not only for others, but for yourself. You see a person of “progress” isn’t necessarily someone who stays on top of the latest trends (personal and professional). A person of progress is someone…
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