10Oct 2022 by CJ
Families Are Too Busy and It’s Impacting Your Kids

Families Are Too Busy and It’s Impacting Your Kids

Life & Living, Youth
I recently came across an article on YourModernFamily.com by writer Becky Mansfield which gave some enlightening information on how today’s families are too busy. She shares that after recently moving into a family-friendly neighborhood, she asked one of the mothers next door if their daughters could get together and play. She assumed the response would be immediate, and the girls could get together that same day. Instead, she was shocked when the mother pulled out her cell phone and began scrolling and scrolling and scrolling for what seemed like forever before finally responding, “She has a 45-minute opening two and half weeks from now. The rest of the time gymnastics, piano, and voice lessons. She’s just so busy.” I wish I could say I haven’t experienced the same situation in my life,…
Read More
05Apr 2022 by CJ
The Evolution of Priorities and Responsibilities is a Reality We Must Accept

The Evolution of Priorities and Responsibilities is a Reality We Must Accept

Life & Living, Youth
In my early twenties, I remember spending countless hours perched upon an overstuffed chair in my bedroom, immersed in the creative process of writing poetry or song lyrics on a yellow-lined notepad. At the time, I could never dream my life would be void of this creative process, even with the evolution of priorities and responsibilities. Writing was like a cherished old friend for me during that period. Always there to listen unconditionally while allowing me to compartmentalize my feelings and discharge them between the lines of my yellow-lined notepad. Some might say it was my form of journaling, easing one’s stress during times of struggle. Yet some 25 years later, the evolution of priorities and responsibilities seems to continue, and what was once a huge part of my life…
Read More
28Feb 2022 by CJ
Our Engagement on Social Media has Come to Define Us

Our Engagement on Social Media has Come to Define Us

Information & Education, Youth
Years ago, face-to-face conversations allowed individuals to connect and determine what kind of person they were interacting with. Their personality, authenticity, compassion, political views, empathy, beliefs, even pastimes. But today, our engagement on social media has come to define us with the swipe of a finger or scroll of a mouse. Let me give you an example. I recently saw a post from a former co-worker on LinkedIn, which inappropriately mocked President Biden while praising other politicians' racist and undisciplined remarks from the likes of Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert.  While I didn't spend a great deal of time with this former co-worker, he was usually known to be very quiet, humble, and hard-working, revealing very little about himself or his beliefs, so this post was somewhat surprising to…
Read More
28Nov 2021 by CJ
The highest sense of well-being comes from being yourself

The highest sense of well-being comes from being yourself

Youth
A recent report by UNICEF, which analyzed data from 41 high-income countries, found that children in the Netherlands had the highest sense of well-being, followed by Denmark and Norway.  At the bottom? Chile, Bulgaria, and yes, the United States.  Anita Cleare, author of “The Working Parent’s Survival Guide,” told CNBC regarding the report, “I think that growing up in a culture where everyone’s unique gifts are celebrated, and children feel like they can be who they want to be, and they’re not being judged, is likely to make friendships more positive, playground culture more positive, and is going to help children’s happiness levels.”  But here in the United States, we don’t live in a society where everyone’s unique gifts are celebrated or worry about our children’s highest sense of well-being. Instead, parents force…
Read More
07Jun 2021 by CJ
Video games as adults – would you play hopscotch too?

Video games as adults – would you play hopscotch too?

Youth
Growing up, I used to love playing video games. My next-door neighbor and I would spend hours camped out in my basement for our daily competition to see who would go farther on Super Mario Bros. I also used to love digging in the dirt with my toy backhoe and dump trump, playing pretend with my Transformer action figures, and making mud meatballs out of the clay soil in the back of my garage. Ah to be young with nothing but idle time on your hands. I used to do a lot of things when I was younger - things that wouldn’t seem very appropriate if you found me doing them at 46 years old. Could you imagine what the neighbors would say if they saw me playing with my…
Read More