17Apr 2015 by CJ

A birthday song can be heartbreaking not happy

Love & Relationships, Youth
When we’re children, birthdays are met with uncontainable excitement. But as we grow older, they begin to represent something quiet different. The excitement seems to be replaced with a more somber emotion – a feeling of longing and regret that seems to only increase as the years go by. People keep telling me that I should do something “exciting” in commemoration of my birthday (my 40th this year). But what those individuals fail to realize is that I’m not in need of something “exciting” – some over-the-top celebration with short-lived gratification. What I “need” is highlighted in the song below. So often on my blog I’m quoting others for their profound and inspiring wisdom. But today, I’m quoting myself. I wrote this back in 2009 (on my birthday) and sadly…
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16Apr 2015 by CJ

A Birthday Message with invaluable inspiration

Love & Relationships, Youth
There’s an unspoken expectation amongst children - that grandparents often give gifts with little fanfare attached to them. They aren’t wrapped in fancy paper or oversized packages - eliciting a feeling of wonderment and excitement in a child’s eye. No, they’re referred to as “practical gifts” – such as clothing or money – offered in small, flat boxes and ordinary white envelopes. And while parents often rightfully encourage their children to show their appreciation, no youngster really enjoys getting a shirt or a twenty-dollar bill on birthdays and holidays. The practicality of gift-giving is further refined as children grow into young adults – the small, flat boxes disappearing completely and replaced with that ordinary white envelope your grandmother typically pulls from her purse. Yes the monetary gift is appreciated at…
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13Apr 2015 by CJ

Keeping up appearances for the benefit of strangers

Life & Living, Youth
When I was in my 20’s, my physical appearance was very important to me. After all, we live in a society that often judges a person based more on what they look like, rather than who they are. With puberty plumping me up like the Stay Puff Marshmallow Man, rendering me incredibly insecure, I became self-conscious when it came to my appearance – even after I eventually trimmed down. But today, at the age of 40, my perspective on so many things in life has drastically changed. The other day was the first time I actually stopped myself and said, “I’m okay with the way I look now.” Yes my hair is greying (though I’m happy it’s still up there); yes I could stand to probably lose a few pounds…
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10Apr 2015 by CJ

Technology and anxiety – an unnecessary stress

Life & Living, Youth
In the April 2015 issue of Marketing News, there ran an article entitled Digital Disruption and the Death of Storytelling. Penned by Molly Soat, it featured professor and media theorist Douglas Rushkoff, and his thoughts on human connections in our personal lives, our businesses and our governments. One question asked of Rushkoff was: Q: What are the dangers of leading people into certain behaviors with digital technology? His response is an eye-opening revelation many of us probably never think about. “A: It’s dangerous for people, for companies and for governments alike. It’s dangerous for people in that they end up in an always-on, constantly pinged reality. They end up living to catch up with their Twitter feeds and their Facebook news, and all of the e-mails and phone calls, and…
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08Apr 2015 by CJ

Time means different things depending on age

Life & Living, Youth
There are 24 hours in a day; seven days in a week; 365 days in a year. Yet quite ironically, we still never seem to have enough time for everything life demands of us. The late Malcolm Forbes once comically quipped, “There is never enough time, unless you're serving it.” I remember as a young boy, time seemed infinite. Even when I was attending college, juggling my courses, extracurricular activities and an internship, I somehow managed to find time for everything. But today with each passing year, I find it more and more difficult to find the time required for not only the things we need to do but the things we want to do. I hear myself continuously saying, “I’ll make time tomorrow.” Sound familiar? My greatest fear however,…
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