16Dec 2014 by CJ

Where are you Christmas? I think I might have found it.

Life & Living, Youth
Originally posted on December 11, 2014. As of this writing, there are exactly 15 more days until the conclusion of 2014. It was a year not uncommonly filled with its share of highs and lows and looking back it’s difficult to imagine where the last eleven months have escaped. But as John Lennon once said, “life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans.” But before we welcome in a new calendar year, we have another time-honored holiday to celebrate – Christmas. A subject of continuous debate, and the recurring theme of countless movies, books and television specials, is what is the true meaning of Christmas. While arguments surrounding its true meaning are subjective, it’s hard to decipher a logistical explanation when December 25th is continuously shrouded in dazzling…
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10Dec 2014 by CJ

Don’t worry about being generic – be proud to be yourself

Life & Living, Youth
“There are people who are generic. They make generic responses and they expect generic answers. They live inside a box and they think people who don't fit into their box are weird. But I'll tell you what, generic people are the weird people. They are like genetically-manipulated plants growing inside a laboratory, like indistinguishable faces, like droids. Like ignorance.” ― C. JoyBell C. There are times throughout our lives when we find ourselves surrounded by an endless stream of individuals who adopt what is “popular” in society – all in an effort to fit in rather than stand out. We conform our language, behaviors, preferences and prejudices based on what is deemed acceptable as a culture, whether we truly agree with it or not. Today we seem to gauge what’s…
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04Dec 2014 by CJ

Having no “presents” at Christmas – a reality we ignore

Life & Living, Love & Relationships
“The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little.” ― Franklin D. Roosevelt I grew up in an average American family comprised of hard working individuals who provided well for everyone in their household.  While I wouldn’t classify any of them as “rich” financially, their lives were never void of the necessities and pleasures many others often classify as “the American dream”. When I was a child during this time of year, I always remember flipping through the holiday catalogs – circling dozens of toys with a thick, black marker and folding the pages so my parents wouldn’t forget to mention them to Santa. And come Christmas morning,…
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03Dec 2014 by CJ

Don’t look down on others – instead find reasons to be grateful

Generosity & Kindness, Life & Living, Love & Relationships
“We judge others instantly by their clothes, their cars, their appearance, their race, their education, their social status. The list is endless. What gets me is that most people decide who another person is before they have even spoken to them. What's even worse is that these same people decide who someone else is, and don't even know who they are themselves.” ― Ashly Lorenzana What does it say about a person who continually puts down others who lack the good fortunes that they do? Now I’m not speaking about those who abuse our system or have no idea what financial responsibility truly means. I’m speaking about those who find themselves continually plagued by life’s struggles – those who have a heart of gold and a spirit that radiates hope,…
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02Dec 2014 by CJ

Remembering our soldiers during the most wonderful time of the year

Generosity & Kindness, Life & Living, Love & Relationships
“A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.” - Joseph Campbell As we all sit in the warmth, comfort and safety of our homes this holiday season, it’s easy to forget about the thousands of soldiers stationed half way across the world – making the ultimate sacrifice to protect the freedoms every one of us takes for granted daily. I thought about this recently as my wife and I were decorating our home for Christmas – the sound of holiday tunes joyfully playing in the background; a comforting glow radiating from the fire place; a steaming cup of hot chocolate with marshmallows warming us from the winter chill. Beyond the simple pleasure holiday decorations seem to bring, we had each other to…
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