15Jun 2015 by CJ

Father’s Day – more than just a Hallmark card

Life & Living, Youth
June 2015. It’s somewhat unfathomable to me that almost half the calendar year is already behind us. It doesn’t seem that long ago when we were decking the halls and screaming “Happy New Year!” and yet here it is the middle of June. With every month comes another holiday to celebrate – this month it’s Father’s Day. For some reason I always seem to overlook this holiday – that is until the advertisements begin for that “perfect gift for dad”. I’ve always believed that holidays such as Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, and yes, even Father’s Day are holiday more about commercialism than anything else. After all, will a well-written Hallmark card oozing with sentiment and the latest electronic gizmo really show dad how much you love and appreciate him? Call…
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04Jun 2015 by CJ

Enjoy the journey as much as the destination

Life & Living
“Drugs are very much a part of professional sports today, but when you think about it, golf is the only sport where the players aren't penalized for being on grass.” Bob Hope Today I did something I haven’t done in a very long time – I went to the driving range with a friend of mine. The last time I found myself holding a bucket of golf balls was back in high school – when a group of us found Friday night enjoyment trying to hit the little man driving the tractor that cleaned up all the balls at a nearby driving range. But this time was different. For starters I’m 20- something year’s older and wiser. I hoped my age and maturity would help alleviate the pressures I often…
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02Jun 2015 by CJ

Time to heal – the only way to positively move forward

Life & Living
“Just like there's always time for pain, there's always time for healing.” ― Jennifer Brown, Hate List One of humanities greatest challenges seems to be our inability to accept the drastic changes our lives are plagued with – cognitively allowing ourselves the proper time to heal. We do our best to try and suppress our injuries, disappointments and regrets within the chambers of our heart – conducting our lives in a manner which provides others with an unrealistic perception. I learned a very long time ago that you can’t run away from what you’re feeling, let alone try and deny the existence of those feelings. Some turn to drugs and alcohol, others simply “pretend” that everything is fine and a few try and engage in a lifestyle that is outside…
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29May 2015 by CJ

Impression Management – influencing what people see?

Life & Living, Youth
Some of you may be familiar with the theory of “impression management”. It’s been defined as, “the effort to control or influence the perceptions of other people. This could be their perception of a certain person (this includes you!), a material possession, or an event. The theory goes on to explain that we try to make the perception consistent with our goals.” I’m sure this is a very relevant theory for celebrities trying to balance a life of normalcy with the downfalls of stardom. But for ordinary, humble Americans, it’s not often something we think about. I’ve been told lately that I need to brag about myself more in my career. That one of the only ways to get ahead is to focus on impression management as often as possible.…
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26May 2015 by CJ

Social media posting – some things deserve a little privacy

Life & Living, Youth
Here is another example of just how crazy the world of social media has gotten. It appears that the Today show is under fire because of comments made by hosts Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb. The subject was woman posting themselves openly breast feeding their children on social media platforms. Gifford said, "There are two types of people, Hoda -- those who feel the need to share their most precious moments and those who'd like to keep it private like I prefer." Kotb responded, "I say breastfeeding is beautiful and natural, but sharing it on social media: TMI." As you might expect, breast feeding mothers everywhere became infuriated with the comments – even staging a “nurse-in” outside the studio. Sensitive subjects such as this are often taken out of…
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