18Jan 2013 by CJ

What will matter is not your success but the significance of the contribution

Life & Living
In society today, “you success” is inevitably linked to some monetary equivalent or fame. We measure the success of a business, initiative or person by their arsenal of cash in the bank, rather than their impact on the world around them. Seems a little backwards if you ask me. Poet Michael Josephson once wrote, “What will matter is not your success but your significance...” And that’s how I look at this blog. Yes it costs me money to run this site year after year, but honestly the individuals I’ve been able to inspire with my writing has been invaluable and utterly rewarding. Individuals from all around the country, and even around the world! It’s truly amazing how the advent of the internet has allowed us to connect with individuals we…
Read More
16Jan 2013 by CJ

Regardless of your age, no one likes to be called fat

Life & Living
When I was a prepubescent, I was pretty chubby – though the clothing manufacturers of the time called the larger size “husky”. Did they really believe such a term would make a little fat kid feel better? I assure you, it didn’t. For me sweets were the enemy – and the fact that I’d rather be sitting inside watching game shows on television, than outside exercising. When I finally hit puberty though, and battled a case of Mononucleosis, I had lost a considerable amount of weight. I vowed right then and there to never fight the battle of the bulge again. So much for that. My wife and I are still on diets, which seem to stretch the length of our marriage. Why does food have to taste so damn…
Read More
14Jan 2013 by CJ

Exercise can actually help with your overall mood

Life & Living
It’s no secret that a regular exercise routine will have positive effects on one’s body. But what you might not know is that beyond weight control or battling health conditions, exercise can actually help with your overall mood. From the Mayo Clinic: “Physical activity stimulates various brain chemicals that may leave you feeling happier and more relaxed. You may also feel better about your appearance and yourself when you exercise regularly, which can boost your confidence and improve your self-esteem.” For the majority of us, our occupations keep us bound to our desks for the majority of the day. While we might get up for another cup of coffee, to use the restrooms or an occasional meeting here and there, for the most part we rarely take time to refocus…
Read More
10Jan 2013 by CJ

I’m all for convenience, but at what cost to the environment?

Information & Education, Life & Living
In the almost 12 years that my wife and I have been living in marital bliss, she's gotten me to understand the importance of caring about the environment. Admittedly at first, I was hesitant to fully embrace her earth-saving ways. It’s funny really, so many of us deny our role in destroying the planet for the simple reason that we really have no desire to change the way in which we live – I was just as guilty. But when you sit down and educate yourself on just about anything you knew little about before, you begin to understand how your constant state of denial only adds to a growing problem – especially in the case of the environment. But American’s laziness is often the culprit when it comes to…
Read More
08Jan 2013 by CJ

What was inside my lunch box was often cause for excitement

Information & Education, Life & Living, Youth
As children, many of us enjoyed eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches we pulled from our lunch box. I know I did. If you ever opened my Batman and Robin lunch box, there was a pretty good chance you’d find a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on Wonder Bread, wrapped in aluminum foil – next to my thermos filled with grape juice to wash it all down. Ah the simplicity of childhood – I miss those days sometimes. Days before the realities and responsibilities of life often weigh heavy on one’s spirit. I know it sounds crazy, but this 37 year old still enjoys a lunch of peanut butter and jelly, though my tastes have changed a little - as has my lunch box. Instead of grape jelly I use…
Read More