17Jan 2016 by CJ

Life’s scars – don’t let them define you

Life & Living, Youth
“To be alive at all is to have scars.” - John Steinbeck When we’re young - hosting pretend tea parties for your family or putting on plays with the neighborhood kids as a cast – we rarely contemplate the future or the realities that eventually plague our lives. We’re too busy enjoying life and the innocence and freedom which often comes along with being a child. There are times I truly miss those days. I can still feel the rush of a warm breeze upon my face as I sped down the hilltop of my block atop my Huffy bicycle. I could do that over and over again and never get bored. I remember spending hours in my backyard with my toy tractors and dump trucks – digging holes and…
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13Jan 2016 by CJ

Set goals – but don’t forget about people

Information & Education, Youth
“It’s good to have an end to journey toward; but it’s the journey that matters in the end.” – Ursula K. Le Guin Humanity spends a great deal of time with their sights set on goals. It drives our decisions, motivation and seemingly begins to take on a life of its own. But as we go about our days, striving and pining for the goals we assign a great deal of importance to, far too often we overlook the journey and the realities going on right before our eyes. Many times those “realities” come in the form of people. Perhaps it’s a spouse who supports their mates career aspirations without fail or question – standing on the sidelines hoping their efforts and sacrifices will be noticed and appreciated. Maybe it’s…
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05Jan 2016 by CJ

Perseverance is not just for kids

Life & Living, Youth
"What saves a man is to take a step. Then another step. It is always the same step, but you have to take it." - Antoine De Saint-Exupery I remember when my nephew was just learning to walk, he had his share of tumbles. It seemed every time he got to his feet and took a few steps, it wasn't long before he'd fall on his behind frustrated. What I remember most about that time is not how frequently my young nephew fell, but how many times he continually picked himself back up - almost unaffected by his recurring tumbles and his inability to master the art of walking. If there's one thing you can say about children it's how resilient they are. Regardless of their growing pains (learning to…
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04Jan 2016 by CJ

Change your mind – change your life

Life & Living, Youth
“Progress is impossible without change; and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.” – George Bernard Shaw One of the greatest lessons I’ve learned thus far in life is that as long as you’re living and breathing, you always have an opportunity to make changes in life or circumstances. But change is difficult and challenging – forcing one to step outside the comfort of one’s reality in order to adopt a new perspective and alter enduring behaviors. It requires a conscious decision to almost reprogram your mind into a new means of understanding and compassion, not only for others, but for yourself. You see a person of “progress” isn’t necessarily someone who stays on top of the latest trends (personal and professional). A person of progress is someone…
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27Dec 2015 by CJ

Change in behavior could change your life

Life & Living, Youth
“There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind.”  - C.S. Lewis Some of you might be familiar with the initials CBT. For those who are not, it stands for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy -  a common form of mental health counseling, which has been used to treat anxiety and depression for years. From the Mayo Clinic’s website: “Cognitive behavioral therapy helps you become aware of inaccurate or negative thinking, so you can view challenging situations more clearly and respond to them in a more effective way.” And while many of you may dismiss CBT based on your current mental health status, they go on to say, “But not everyone who benefits from cognitive behavioral therapy has a mental health condition. It can be an effective tool to…
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