Craig Ruvere

02Apr 2019 by CJ

Hello, Dolly! teaches us all an invaluable lesson about charity

This past weekend, I had the great pleasure to experience Broadway legend Betty Buckley as Dolly Levi in the national touring production of Hello, Dolly! in Denver. During my senior year in high school, I participated in the hilarious comedy farce The Matchmaker by Thornton Wilder. The Matchmaker eventually inspired the Hello, Dolly! musical, so I already had some familiarity with the characters and the overall premise of the show. However, what I didn’t remember was a thought-provoking quote by Dolly Levi herself delivered in the second act. “Money, pardon the expression, is like manure. It's not worth a thing unless it's spread around, encouraging young things to grow.” I’m not sure I’d ever compare anything in life to animal dung used as fertilizer, but it certainly does get the point…

09Mar 2019 by CJ

Tea drinker – stop hurrying and enjoy a cup with someone you love

Love & Relationships

While I love my morning cup of coffee, throughout the day I’m a tea drinker (the non-caffeinated variety so I’m not bouncing off the walls while I’m trying to work). I’m not sure when I got into the practice, but it reminds me of my beloved grandmother. She was a devoted tea drinker – consuming countless cups of the caffeinated brew on any given day – all daintily prepared in her white, bone-china tea pot. Maybe it was all that tea which helped her live to be 93 years old. Who knows, right? Maybe my grandmother and I have some English breeding somewhere in our genealogy. We both love tea (and those little tea biscuits you always see people on Downton Abbey munching on). As I sit here writing this…

13Feb 2019 by CJ

Selfless acts – when was the last time you offered one?

Generosity & Kindness

“Only those who have learned the power of sincere and selfless contribution experience life's deepest joy: true fulfillment.” - Anthony Robbins What was the last truly selfless act you offered to another person? While you’re sitting there scratching your head trying to come up with one, here’s a refresher of what “selfless” actually means. To be selfless means, “having little or no concern for oneself, especially with regard to fame, position, money, etc.” But that’s not the society I know. We’re selfish with our time, our money, our blessings, our emotions, you name it. That self-serving behavior doesn’t allow much opportunity for bestowing good on anyone else but ourselves. How sad is that? For those of you still thinking about the last time you were truly selfless, here’s a real-world…

21Jan 2019 by CJ

Masculinity stereotypes are not something you’re born with, it’s something you learn

Life & Living, Youth

The APA (American Psychological Association) recently did something quite historic in my opinion. After more than 40 years of research and 127 years in existence, they’re issuing a warning against “masculinity ideology” – the misguided stereotypes parents instill on young boys during development. Entitled Guidelines for the Psychological Practice with Boys and Men, it’s the first report of its kind designed to help practitioners guide their young male patients through “social forces that can harm their mental health”. Why it’s so important Jared Skillings, a psychologist and the APAs Chief of Professional Practice says, "Masculinity ideology was important to highlight because it represents a set of characteristics that are unhealthy for men — men who are sexist or violent or don’t take care of themselves.” Before you dismiss your role in…

07Jan 2019 by CJ

Gift me a tree and inspire hope for the future

Generosity & Kindness, Life & Living

“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” – Chinese proverb The gift-giving season is finally over to the surprise (and delight) of many. The stress of trying to find something people probably don’t need is finally over. I’ll make it easy – next year, gift me a tree. With age comes wisdom (in some cases) and with wisdom comes the understanding that material possessions start to mean less and less with the realization that life is not infinite. If you gift me a tree, it’s something I can actively nurture and grow – something that will bring great joy to myself, to my wildlife and even to Mother Nature as it grows from a sapling into maturity. Yes, trees do…