Craig Ruvere

08Sep 2017 by CJ

Grandparents Day is Sunday, September 10

Grandparents Day is Sunday, September 10. Since 1978, Grandparents Day has been a secular holiday commemorating the important contributions seniors have contributed throughout history. And no contribution is more important than the enduring relationships many have shared with their grandchildren. I enjoy looking at old pictures - especially black and white images of family members I’ve never had the opportunity to know beyond stories passed down through the generations. Unfortunately, sometimes all we’re left with are dozens of family photographs, which are missing the narrative that makes them come alive. And while history books have aptly captured prominent times in our nation’s illustrious past, once the elders in our own families are gone, so are the stories and the glories of our own legacy. My last living grandparent, my grandmother…

29Aug 2017 by CJ

Connections are hard to come by, but worth holding on to

Love & Relationships

“I define connection as the energy that exists between people when they feel seen, heard, and valued; when they can give and receive without judgment; and when they derive sustenance and strength from the relationship.” ― Brené Brown As an awkward, insecure teenager, it wasn’t uncommon for me to spend a Friday or Saturday night alone – driving around listening to music as a means to busy myself from the loneliness. Inevitably, my car always managed to find its way to my grandparent’s house. The draperies covering a large picture window in their living room seemed to almost glow – no doubt caused by the television set, which was obviously on. This was a clear sign they were home before pulling into the driveway and ringing the doorbell. The hour was irrelevant;…

21Aug 2017 by CJ

Winnie-the-Pooh is still teaching us lessons

Love & Relationships, Youth

On August 21, 1920, Christopher Robin Milne was born. For many of us, his name is immortalized in the stories of a lovable little boy and his favorite toy bear, more affectionately known as Winnie-the-Pooh. A.A. Milne was a prolific writer – books, plays, essays – but will forever be known for his creation of the beloved Winnie-the-Pooh series. History says that in 1925, Milne and his young family moved to a picturesque farm in Sussex – the 100-acre woods surrounding the property serving as the perfect magical setting for a series of children’s stories countless generations continue to admire. When young Christopher was around one, he received a present – a stuffed bear. That one stuffed animal would serve as the inspiration for a series of whimsical stories. Over…

06Aug 2017 by CJ

A scar is a reminder of healing

Life & Living

“Some people see scars, and it is wounding they remember. To me they are proof of the fact that there is healing.” ― Linda Hogan The other day at work, I bumped into the open drawer of a metal filing cabinet, causing a three-inch cut on the middle of my thigh. My first thought? This is going to scar. I’m not sure why I care all that much about a scar on my leg. After all, I’m not a leg model for Vogue magazine. Not to mention my legs are littered with scars from the abuse I often put them through while performing any number of handyman projects. Eventually I shrugged it off and went about my day. Later on, while sitting in Colorado’s grueling rush hour traffic, the discomfort of…

21Jul 2017 by CJ

No one has ever become poor by giving

Generosity & Kindness

“No one has ever become poor by giving.” – Anne Frank The other day, my wife and I found a $5 bill while out shopping. For my millennial co-worker, she would have screamed, “YES!” with a greedy growl. But for us it seemed wrong to simply pocket the money, which admittedly now represented a loss to someone else. The two of us quickly agreed that we should donate this found money to someone who needs it much more than we do. My commute home from work is littered with people standing on street corners begging for donations. We both decided that one of these individuals would be the recipient of that $5. Ironically, as soon as we made that decision, I couldn’t get rid of the money. It seemed I…