17Jul 2013 by CJ

The only sure thing in life is everything must change

Life & Living
Musician and lyricist Bernard Ighner is credited with composing the song, “Everything Must Change”. Many performers have recorded the poignant song over the years – my personal favorites coming from R&B songstress Oleta Adams and Broadway veteran Betty Buckley.   Here’s a sampling of the lyrics: Everything must change, nothing stays the same Everyone will change, no one stays the same The young become the old, and mysteries do unfold ‘Cause that's the way of time, nothing and no one goes unchanged There are not many things in life you can be sure of, except Rain comes from the clouds, sun lights up the sky And hummingbirds do fly   This song often inspires me, especially of late, for I often tend to forget that nothing stays the same in…
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11Jul 2013 by CJ

You’re never alone in life – you just have to look around you

Life & Living, Love & Relationships
This wonderful song by Meredith Andrews is truly inspiring to me. I listen to it often lately – especially after my grandmother’s passing. Whether it’s the God you worship or the spirits from our past, I truly believe that we’re not alone in this world – even though at times it might feel that way. It’s definitely worth a listen – she has an amazing voice and the orchestration is simply beautiful (follow the link). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGNr72tB5XE Here’s hoping her song provides you with some much needed peace of mind. Enjoy! You’re Not Alone (M. Andrews) I search for love, when the night came and it closed in I was alone, but you found me where I was hiding And though I'll never ever be the same It was the sweetest…
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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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