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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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…
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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…
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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…
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