Craig Ruvere

10Dec 2020 by CJ

The simplest things – not the great occasions – make holidays memorable

“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…

08Dec 2020 by CJ

This is not the year to get everything we want but to be grateful instead

Generosity & Kindness

I’ve seen the following quote floating around the internet lately, though it doesn’t appear to be credited to any one person or organization. “This is not the year to get everything we want, but instead the year to be grateful for all that we have.” Sentiments about gratefulness seem to run rampant around this time of year, beginning with carving the Thanksgiving turkey and concluding with a ritualistic toast on December 31. If there ever was an occasion in history to acknowledge that this is not the year to get everything we want, 2020 would certainly be fitting. Everyone from school children who’ve been unable to celebrate birthday parties with classmates, to couples whose nuptials are far from the fairy tale they dreamed of, to senior citizens who’ve become even…

02Dec 2020 by CJ

I’m too busy – it’s like telling people they’re unimportant

Generosity & Kindness

“When someone tells you I'm too busy… It’s not a reflection of their schedule; it’s a reflection of YOUR spot on their schedule.” - Steve Maraboli The other day, I learned that a co-worker’s husband had passed away suddenly. He was in his early 30’s, was healthy and yet fate dealt him and his wife a hand neither deserved. It’s been several days since learning that news and yet I still can’t rid my thoughts of this unfortunate reality. Perhaps not surprisingly, I’m thinking of my own mortality - I’m ten years the young man’s senior – and of course my wife and how awful it would be if I were to leave her too soon. I’m also thinking of something we all say far too often and far too easily.…

29Nov 2020 by CJ

The places we call home are now filled with a blessing we take for granted

Life & Living

The places we call home. Be it an apartment, a single-family house or a condominium, it’s a place of safety, solace and shelter – a place defined more by the people who live there than the dwelling itself. But the places we call home have changed drastically over the last nine months – shifting its traditional architype to something many of us never expected. With businesses and schools across the country moving their everyday operations remotely, homes are adding make-shift offices and classrooms to their overall floorplans. Others, who’ve sadly lost employment during the pandemic, are setting up dedicated quiet spaces for video interviews with organizations and recruiters, while struggling with the burden that their homes are a financial liability contingent upon employment. There’s no denying that families and spouses…

18Nov 2020 by CJ

Covid may be inconvenient but we still have a great deal to be thankful for

Generosity & Kindness

Next week is Thanksgiving – a time to be grateful for the countless blessings we so often overlook throughout the preceding months. Yes, covid may be inconvenient, but I guarantee that this year – perhaps even more than any other year – we still have a great deal to be thankful for. I use the word “inconvenient” because far too many people in the United States still choose to look at this pandemic without concern, compassion or empathy. We’re angry that the normalcy we’ve come to expect without fail - like a cherished friend or an old, loyal dog - has been so drastically disrupted. We almost don’t know how to survive with the balance in our lives so completely altered. When that happens, the anger intensifies rather than learning…