01Dec 2025 by CJ 1 Comment
A Fake Image to Protect is Not Authentic at Work or at Home

A Fake Image to Protect is Not Authentic at Work or at Home

Love & Relationships
“I’m grateful I have no fake image to protect. What you see is exactly who I am. Some days I shine, other days I struggle, but every single day, I stay real. I’m me, and that’s always enough.” (Motivational Life Quotes) The other day, I was updating my headshot across several social channels and professional documents that are viewable by personal friends, professional colleagues, and unknown observers I haven’t yet had the opportunity to connect with. A bit of background: I dislike having my picture taken…a lot! Whether it’s family photos, work events, vacations, or selfies, the images captured by cameras never seem to match the reflection I see in the mirror when I wake up each morning or go to bed at night. In my mind, I reassure myself…
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19May 2025 by CJ
Smile and Make You Think I’m Happy Hides What’s Really Going On

Smile and Make You Think I’m Happy Hides What’s Really Going On

Love & Relationships
“I’m going to smile and make you think I’m happy, I’m going to laugh, so you don’t see me cry, I’m going to let you go in style, and even if it kills me—I’m going to smile.”― Lonestar We all encounter individuals who embody what it means to be "happy people." These remarkable individuals exude happiness, positivity, and an unwavering calmness in any setting. Whether in the workplace or a casual gathering, their resilience seems unshakeable. They might be your close friends, friendly neighbors, familiar faces at your local coffee shop, colleagues at work, or even the parents of your children's friends. Their presence has a unique way of uplifting those around them, making their happiness truly infectious. While that may be true, I must be honest: these people sometimes drive…
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01Jun 2024 by CJ
Acceptance Is a Lifelong Struggle That Never Gets Easier

Acceptance Is a Lifelong Struggle That Never Gets Easier

Life & Living, Love & Relationships
"Acceptance doesn't mean resignation, that the circumstance goes away, or that we necessarily feel better about it. The impact and emotions it evokes is present irrespective of whether we accept it or not. The question is whether we're layering on the pain and further intensifying and exacerbating what already exists." - Michelle P. Maidenberg (psychologist and professor) The post you are about to read has been challenging for me to write, taking considerably longer to complete than any in recent memory.  While the subject matter for this post was clear from the onset, as were my intentions for writing it, I found myself staring at a blank page for hours, even days, jotting down a cluster of ideas, ultimately leading to nowhere. Anyone who writes understands there are occasions when the artistic energy…
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20Mar 2024 by CJ
Preparing Food is an Effort that Shows How Much You Care

Preparing Food is an Effort that Shows How Much You Care

Generosity & Kindness, Love & Relationships
“I think preparing food and feeding people brings nourishment not only to our bodies but to our spirits. Feeding people is a way of loving them, in the same way that feeding ourselves is a way of honoring our own createdness and fragility.” Shauna Niequist, Bittersweet: Thoughts on Change, Grace, and Learning the Hard Way The year was 1999, and a friend of mine from college had just introduced me to a remarkable young woman who, a few short years later, would surprisingly become my wife. At this point in history, my future wife and I were nothing more than acquaintances who associated with each other only in groups of mutual friends, not solely on our own.  One weekend, while my parents were out of town, I decided this was an…
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12Mar 2024 by CJ
Growing Old Makes Us Appreciate the Simplicity of Life More

Growing Old Makes Us Appreciate the Simplicity of Life More

Love & Relationships
"Growing old is a privilege, but growing old with you is a blessing beyond measure." – Unknown. Whenever I can, I like to visit my local Costco warehouse store as soon as it opens, especially if I only have to purchase a few smaller items.  With only fresh spinach on my list one morning, I was eager to be in and out of the store as quickly as possible to avoid those shoppers who filled their carts to excess and would soon be clogging up the self-checkout lines. While making a beeline toward the refrigerated, fresh vegetable area, dashing down aisles to avoid the inevitable congestion at the free sample carts (and that guy who always tries to sell me solar panels), I passed by an elderly couple, who, by…
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