09Jul 2013 by CJ

Getting an annual physical – giving your body some regular maintenance

Information & Education, Life & Living
Today I did something I never expected to do at the age of 38 – go for a stress test. While it was more precautionary due to family history, I have to admit I was pretty nervous. We’ve all heard stories of people going in for a simple stress test and being tossed in the hospital after just a few steps on the treadmill. But thankfully everything was fine – my ticker is in tip-top-shape. Many health insurance providers allow for yearly physicals as part of preventative care, and my wife and I have been taking advantage of that for several years now. The unfortunate reality is that many people don’t often visit a general practitioner until there’s something wrong with them. We assume if we’re young that there’s no…
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06Jul 2013 by CJ

More and more retailers and restaurants are open on holidays

Life & Living
The 4th of July seemed to come and go this year with little fanfare. This celebration, which has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1941, has become more about firework displays and retail sales than anything else. For those of us who haven’t opened a history book in a while I provide the following from the History Channel’s website: “In June 1776, representatives of the 13 colonies then fighting in the revolutionary struggle weighed a resolution that would declare their independence from Great Britain. On July 2nd, the Continental Congress voted in favor of independence, and two days later its delegates adopted the Declaration of Independence, a historic document drafted by Thomas Jefferson. From 1776 until the present day, July 4th has been celebrated as the birth…
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01Jul 2013 by CJ

Many times you really need to choose your battles wisely

Life & Living
We live in a world that understands the word “respect” by its very definition, but few seem to apply it with any sincerity or regularity. This disrespectful nature often leads more considerate individuals to establish and harbor battles that wind up festering inside of them – causing endless frustration and even anxiety. Seeking retaliation is a natural reaction that typically creeps up at one point or another. But reducing yourself down to that level does little to alleviate the problem or end the battle lines you’ve already drawn in your head. Sometimes the best thing you can do is put everything in priority and free yourself of the burden you’ve placed on yourself - sometimes unnecessarily. While we can’t change those around us, we can change ourselves and our circumstances…
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29Jun 2013 by CJ

Is your comfort zone keeping you from a meaningful life?

Life & Living
What were your hopes and dreams when you were age 10, 20, 30? Chances are they’ve changed greatly from one decade to the next. After all, as we grow and mature into new stages of our lives, our desires for the future are altered by previous experiences and the realities we face along the way. I’m reminded of a quote from the cartoon strip Calvin and Hobbes: “Day by day, nothing seems to change, but pretty soon...everything's different.” And that’s where I find myself today – everything is different. My hopes and dreams from age 10, 20, 30 and now almost 40 have evolved over time, and much of what I thought I wanted for the future is no longer true. I suspect this is from many of the unforeseen…
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26Jun 2013 by CJ

Learning something from the “roads” we travel

Life & Living
Whenever I discover a new song that inspires me, I always want to share it with all my friends unknown. The song is called Roads and it’s sung beautifully by talented artist Chris Mann. Here’s a brief snapshot of the lyrics: There are roads In this life that we all travel There are scars and there are battles where we roam When we are lost Or wherever we may go They will always lead you home There are roads That have lead me to another To a friend or to a lover I have known For every turn Is a year that I have grown As I walk along these roads “For every turn, is a year that I have grown.” There’s no denying that life is filled with challenges…
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