10Aug 2015 by CJ

Relationships will never go unchanged

Life & Living, Love & Relationships
“Everything in life is temporary, so if things are going good enjoy it because it won’t last forever. And if things are going bad, don’t worry. It can’t last forever either.” Truthfollower.com Anyone who believes that relationships remain unchanged as the years go by is slightly naïve. Whether it’s a friendship, a romantic or familial relationship, or even a professional connection, if there’s one thing you can be certain of it’s that human beings are destined to evolve as they grow and mature. Relationships of any kind require nurturing and continual effort in order to be successful. They flourish when provided with enough respect, compassion and honesty to keep the lines of communication and affection alive and well. However practicing those character traits is not always easy or appealing to…
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04Aug 2015 by CJ

Leadership qualities – more about character than position

Life & Living
Be it in our government offices, our educational institutions, the places we work or even in our own homes, each day we’re presented with actors who think they’re portraying the role of a “successful leader”. The reality is that title exists in name only. Society is filled with two types of people: those who lead and those who simply “boss” people around. Sound familiar? There is a fine line between the two and as most of us come to realize as we journey through life, there seems to be more of the later. Leaders are not successful because of the skills they possess, but rather for the trust and respect they gain from others. These skills are not easily attained from a text book, seminar or through bullying techniques often…
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03Aug 2015 by CJ

Past insecurities can still plague your present

Life & Living, Youth
“Don’t fear failure so much that you refuse to try new things. The saddest summary of life contains three descriptions: could have, might have and should have.”  - Unknown For years I battled a deep sense of insecurity. Whether it was my appearance, my talents or my masculinity, I was always left with a continual road-block, which often seemed easier to turn away from than try and get over. But with the aid of a wonderful counselor, I was able to alter how I perceived myself and eventually come to appreciate the person I am in all facets of life. However, just because you learn ways to combat your personal struggles, does not mean you’ve completely overcome them. You’re provided the tools you need in order to rationalize your feelings…
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28Jul 2015 by CJ

Age is just a number – be grateful for the time you’ve been given

Generosity & Kindness, Life & Living
“Nobody grows old merely by living a number of years. We grow old by deserting our ideals. Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul." Samuel Ullman It wasn’t until this year (when I turned 40) that I began to consider myself “old”. While I’m sure those in their 70’s and 80’s find great amusement in my admission, for me it’s been difficult to accept that four decades of my life are now behind me. Even writing that makes me cringe. Lately however, the subject of age has been continually on my mind – especially given the fact that my new co-worker is only 22-years-old. While I’ve been generally surprised at how well I’ve been able to interact with someone half my age, at times…
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27Jul 2015 by CJ

Finding the positive in every situation

Life & Living
“A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort.” Herm Albright, quoted in Reader's Digest, June 1995 Though this probably won’t come as a surprise to anyone who knows me, I’m a fairly negative person. I have this uncanny ability to take the smallest of problems or issues and completely blow them out of proportion. I believe the more commonly used term would be “drama queen”. Label me if you must. But today I said to myself, “even if the situation is frustrating and aggravating, is it really all that impossible to pull a positive from it?” Case in point. Today my main sprinkler valve decided to burst – spewing water like a geyser on the side of my…
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