Category: Love & Relationships

The news around The Ruvere House is we’ve finally embarked on a complete renovation of our kitchen – a project we’ve been discussing a plotting for the better part of a year. The kitchen is often referred to as the heart of the home, and it’s no different in our house. Who knew this project would also remind me of the value of trust. One of my wife’s hobbies is not only cooking but learning the science behind recipes and techniques. We often cook together in the kitchen – one of us leading and the other cleaning up after the other or gathering the necessary ingredients from the pantry. Our kitchen is more than just a room, but a place where beautiful memories are shared with each other, as well…

It’s been a long time since I’ve spoken to my father. A sentence no one ever expects to hear muttered from their lips, certainly not from me given the unshakable bond my father and I always maintained so religiously. But life is not a fairy tale or worse yet a Hallmark movie where irreparable circumstances are easily and painlessly resolved in under two hours. Whether the individuals in question are your friends, your spouse, or even your parents, the relationships we foster and propagate are not always enough for a sustainable or guaranteed future together. It’s been a long time since I’ve spoken to my father yet I’m often reminded of him when I’m doing the simplest of things like surfing through television channels late at night and landing on…

The other day, I stumbled upon a song by Christian singer/songwriter Ryan Stevenson. The song is called When We Fall Apart, and it’s a moving tribute to his beloved mother who passed away at age 57 from bone cancer. Explaining that the lyrics were the last words she spoke to her son he says, "Even in the face of imminent death, she was pouring out wisdom and words of healing and encouragement to me that it's OK to cry, it's OK to grieve, it's OK to fall apart. We are all going to experience loss at some point to some degree. This song has been my way of working through and navigating one of the most painful storms of my life. I hope it encourages you to do the same."…

Over the years, I’ve read countless books on what constitutes a great leader, though admittedly the characters they describe often seem elusive to me. One only has to turn on the news, surf the internet or go about their daily lives to quickly learn that while these books may very well have captured what truly comprises a great leader, the individuals who should be reading these books are not. The subject of what makes a great leader is incredibly broad - with many believing they have a firm understanding of what such a prestigious title entails based on character and behavior.  But the fact of the matter is that many so-called leaders are severely lacking and not properly trained on how to engage and communicate with others. One of my…

“When we recall Christmas past, we usually find that the simplest things - not the great occasions - give off the greatest glow of happiness.” ― Bob Hope If there’s one thing we can rely upon in life, it’s that nothing stays the same. Faces and places which were such a familiar, constant presence in our lives have disappeared only to exist in our memories. While new faces and places are certainly created to fill the noticeable void, there’s something about Christmas time which litters our mind with nostalgia. A deep reckoning for holiday celebrations we can still remember with such clarity though can no longer experience. An understanding that it’s often the simplest things - not the great occasions – which ignite such time-honored emotions. Growing up in an Italian-American…