06Feb 2013 by CJ

Nothing stays the same in life so cherish every minute

Life & Living
“Whether it's the best of times or the worst of times, it's the only time we've got.” - Art Buchwald. If there's one thing we can say about life, nothing stays the same. I remember as a little kid, time seemed infinite and waiting for holidays, birthdays or summer vacation seemed like an eternity. But now as a 37 year old adult, things seem to move at an alarming pace – maybe they always did, I was just too naïve or innocent to notice. I came across a wonderful song by singer/songwriter Darius Rucker entitled, “It Won’t Be Like This For Long”. It’s a moving ballad about just how fast children grow and how nothing stays the same. It's a wonderful example of how important it is to cherish every…
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05Feb 2013 by CJ

Not taking time to read things – another breakdown in communication

Information & Education, Life & Living
While I understand that we’re a highly advanced society – technologically and intellectually – I’m not so sure the latter is always as evident as it should be. Case in point – did you ever notice that lately people don’t always take the time to read things? Society has become so familiar with short, to the point text messages that many of us simply will not read things longer than a few sentences. The problem with that is oftentimes we’re missing out on important, relevant information that could answer a question, present us with an opportunity or simply ask us for a courteous response. This leads to a fundamental breakdown in communication, and can easily be avoided if people would just stop and take the time to read things, rather…
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30Jan 2013 by CJ

Making life worth living for requires having a little hope

Life & Living
A life worth living for doesn't always require something grand, it just requires a little hope. Case in point. Some of you might be familiar with the HGTV Dream Home Giveaway. If not, Home & Garden Television is giving away a prize package which includes a brand new home (fully furnished), cash and a car to one lucky winner. My wife is determined. Beyond researching the homes location and travel times from popular destinations, she’s educated herself on the contest rules and regulations – reading the fine print that most entrants probably never even look at. She diligently enters the contest each and every morning without fail – talk about determination. And while she understands that our chance of winning this over-the-top prize is slim at best, she always says,…
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23Jan 2013 by CJ

Our lives are measured by the memories we store in our hearts

Life & Living, Youth
"Memories are photographs taken by the heart to make a special moments last forever." (Unknown) This week a dear friend of mine had to deal with the loss of a cherished uncle – her father’s brother and the last remaining window into the history books of her legacy. Regardless of age or circumstance, the death of someone you care about is never an easy thing to process. In fact I’m a firm believer that we never really get over that loss, but rather find ways to cope through it. But if you’re a person possessing an unselfish character, chances are that you’ve been left an invaluable gift upon someone’s passing, and my friend is certainly one of them. Memories we store are a series of cherished moments that can be…
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21Jan 2013 by CJ

Cancer survivor offers a wonderful resource for patients and caregivers

Generosity & Kindness, Life & Living
Up until recently, the only thing I knew about Jeannine Walston was her mother – whom I had the great pleasure of working with for the better part of a year.  I’m happy to say that we’ve stayed in contact since my departure from the organization we shared in common, and that’s how I eventually came to learn about her daughter Jeannine and her incredible cancer journey. Mary Lou Kownacki once said that, “There isn’t anyone you couldn’t love once you’ve heard their story.” Isn’t it true that far too often our relationships are very superficial? We exchange pleasantries, but otherwise we shield ourselves from having to console or advise others on the struggles they deal with personally. Many times it’s those unheard stories which help us re-evaluate our own…
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