06Nov 2012 by CJ

To improve the world, we have to improve ourselves

Information & Education, Life & Living
Robert Pirsig once wrote that, “The place to improve the world is first in one’s own heart and head and hands.” To improve ourselves. Regardless of what so many of us might believe, a perfect human being will never be created. All of us have one fault or another, and at some point will have to make the decision to either stay as is or make a positive change - to improve ourselves. Not an easy call believe me. But if we’re ever really going to change the world, shouldn’t we take the time to look at ourselves in the mirror and ask, am I doing the best I can? Am I being respectful and mindful of others or just meandering through life as though my beliefs and understandings are…
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31Oct 2012 by CJ

Hurricane Sandy sends us a warning about how fragile life truly is

Information & Education, Life & Living
It often takes something catastrophic to occur in the environments we live in for us to realize just how fragile and valuable life truly is. Hurricane Sandy has certainly been the impetus needed to remind us all of that reality. I find my mornings are now filled with an enormous amount of gratitude for the many blessings I’ve been bestowed – especially through one of the worst hurricanes the tri-state area has ever seen. I can’t help but feel that the cosmos is trying to send society a message – a message designed to rearrange what we deem so important in this life and focus on what should be our priorities. How many of us are infatuated with a materialistic lifestyle, which oftentimes leaves us in financial ruins just to…
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25Oct 2012 by CJ

Organic doesn’t mean that your food will taste any different

Information & Education, Life & Living
When my wife first told me of her interest in learning more about organic foods, I didn’t really give it much thought. An environmentalist at heart, she’s always been curious to learn about new products and services which promote a healthy lifestyle and improve the sustainability of our planet. But when I noticed a gallon of organic milk sitting on the top shelf of the refrigerator, I immediately blurted out, “That’s gonna taste weird!” I never did master the art of thinking before speaking, because if I did I would’ve understood how idiotic what I was saying truly sounded. In my defense, I don’t think I’m alone in my misconception of what it truly means to be “organic”. I think many of us simply don’t understand this popular new classification.…
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15Oct 2012 by CJ

My resignation from the hypocrites at Catholic Church

Life & Living, Youth
It’s been a long time since I’ve stepped foot inside a Catholic Church – unless of course you count the Christmas Eves when my wife and I just went to enjoy the holiday music. In truth, I’ve given up on the Catholic Church a long time ago – ever since the sexual abuse scandal in which priests were allowed to roam free, even though every day citizens would’ve been criminally charged with prison time. I don’t accept hypocrisy in anyone closest to me and I certainly don’t accept it in my religion. I recently read that the Archbishop of Newark, one John J. Myers, released a 16-page statement on the archdiocesan website - vehemently denying his churches support for civil same-sex marriage equality, sadly comparing it to incest. If you’re…
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12Oct 2012 by CJ

Healthcare is also about empathy not just medicine

Generosity & Kindness, Life & Living
Something the healthcare profession is missing is a dose of empathy. My 92 year old grandmother took a little tumble the other day. The result? A painful break in her shoulder. And yet even with that, still not a complaint from this stubborn, strong-willed Italian. Me? I’d be crying over in the corner somewhere begging for some pain medication. My wife and I went to see her in the hospital last night and her spirits were good, though I can’t say she was getting all that much attention from the nursing staff. I understand they’re busy, but for the hour and a half we were there, nurses were nowhere to be found, and when I did ask them a question they weren’t the most friendly or helpful individuals around. It’s…
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