21May 2015 by CJ

Let go of your age – hold strong to your ideals

Life & Living, Youth
“Age is a question of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter.” -Leroy "Satchel" Paige This April I turned (gasp) 40. The event passed with little fanfare, mainly due to my reluctance to acknowledge that number with a unique celebration often fitting this milestone. And though it’s been over a month since my 40th birthday, today was the very first time I actually admitted my age to the people I work with. The words seemed strange being uttered from my mouth. My age is something I try and keep to myself – not because I’m ashamed of the number (or the gray hairs littering my scalp), but rather what I haven’t yet been able to achieve in my career at this stage in my life. For anyone…
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15May 2015 by CJ

Tell people you care – never assume they already know

Life & Living, Love & Relationships
This is a post from a year ago, but I feel it needs repeating in this world of uncertainty.   Regardless of your age, we’re all still students in the classroom of life. The learning process is never over, unless of course you choose to ignore the lessons that are often presented to us on a daily basis. Something I’ve learned of late is that society has a very difficult time showing their appreciation – sharing a simple “thank you” to those who’ve unconditionally offered their kindness. While there might be an unwritten code that the actions we take in life should be for our own personal fulfillment, and not because we hope to reap something in return, every human being wants to feel appreciated for their generosity. G.B. Stern…
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13May 2015 by CJ

Trusting others is never easy – no matter your age

Life & Living, Love & Relationships, Youth
"Whoever is careless with the truth in small matters cannot be trusted with important matters." --Albert Einstein When I was in my early 20’s, I was far too trusting of people – sharing personal emotions, experiences and opinions with little concern about the credibility of the person I was revealing them to. But once that trust was violated, I eventually grew to become incredibly guarded – remaining superficial when it came to interacting with acquaintances around me. At this stage in my life, I trust few people with the internal workings of my heart and mind – protecting myself from those who have a difficult time simply being a listener. But the other day I let my guard down. As we form new relationships in life, we all possess and…
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05May 2015 by CJ

Characteristics of those with down syndrome – they know how to live

Life & Living, Love & Relationships, Youth
Life at times can be daunting. An endless journey filled with one insurmountable challenge after another. From our homes to our businesses to the world going on all around us – it’s often hard to stay focused on the proverbial “big picture” when faced with a continuous sea of unknowns. I present to you the following story – words once spoken by the late Fred Rogers as only he could. “There was a story going around about the Special Olympics. For the hundred-yard dash, there were nine contestants, all of them so-called physically or mentally disabled. All nine of them assembled at the starting line and, at the sound of the gun, they took off. But one little boy didn’t get very far. He stumbled and fell and hurt his…
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29Apr 2015 by CJ

Protesting is not an excuse for violence

Life & Living
I’m sure many of you are aware of the recent protests taking place in Baltimore, MD. Tempers have yet again been fueled by the death of a young black man in police custody. While the circumstances of his arrest and the specifics of his death will continue to be debated, thousands took to the street in protest over what is being called “police brutality”. I learned a long time ago not to make assumptions until all the facts have been revealed to me, and this unfortunate case is no different. I wish more people would do the same instead of turning to violence, which solves nothing. What I will talk about is the word protest. I looked up the word “protest” in many resources and as a noun it means,…
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