22Jun 2016 by CJ

Choices come with responsibilities

Life & Living
“It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.” ― J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Some people long for the meaning of life – a complex question I’m unsure any human being can answer with great accuracy. But what I can answer for you is what life is often comprised of – a series of choices. Each and every day we’re bombarded with a series of circumstances, from varying environments, and it’s solely up to us to decide how best to respond. After 41 years of experience, I can tell you with great honesty that I haven’t always made the best choices. I believe some people possess the skill to logically look at a situation, extract the emotion, and…
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15Jun 2016 by CJ

Enabling others is not helping them

Youth
“You can't save everybody. In fact, there are days when I think you can't save anyone. Each person has to save himself first, then you can move in and help.”  ― Laurell K. Hamilton, Guilty Pleasures I suspect we all are acquainted with someone whose life just seems to be broken. They make one bad decision after another with relationships, finances, careers, you name it! But let me be clear about something – these are not necessarily bad people with no morals or kindness in their hearts. No - they’re just lost, and probably used to being continually enabled by someone else as a means to exist. Beverley Glazer (MA., ICCAC) writes, “There are very fuzzy boundaries between helping and enabling. If you’re enabling, you think that you’re helping, but what you’re…
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08Jun 2016 by CJ

The news is forcing me to turn away from the world

Life & Living
“In order to understand the world, one has to turn away from it on occasion.” – Albert Camus Every day I turn to a handful of trusted news outlets, to find out what’s going on in the world. It’s something I started many years ago, after the realization that I needed to stay more informed and educated on society (economically and socially). But the more mature I become, the more jaded I grow – questioning the very motives of this daily practice. In Arthur C. Clarke’s 1968 science fiction novel, 2001: A Space Odyssey, he writes, “The more wonderful the means of communication, the more trivial, tawdry, or depressing its contents seemed to be.” I’m probably consuming more news than ever before, mainly because of its accessibility on the internet,…
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06Jun 2016 by CJ

Compassionate people will learn a lesson

Generosity & Kindness
“Although the days are busy and the workload is always growing, there are still those special moments when someone says or does something and you know you’ve made a difference in someone’s life.” - Diane McKenty, Nurse and Caregiver When a loved one is diagnosed with a debilitating and heart wrenching illness, we all process the reality differently. For some there’s incredible anger, while others go through long periods of denial. But eventually, your heart opens wide with immense compassion and unconditional love, when it becomes apparent that our time here on this earth is not infinite. Oftentimes when illness strikes, compassionate individuals will immerse themselves in information and education surrounding the situation. I suspect this is done in an effort to provide empathy towards our loved ones - so…
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02Jun 2016 by CJ

Appreciating what we take for granted

Generosity & Kindness
“We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.” - Thornton Wilder I recently vacationed to a tropical resort, where the only thing my wife and I did was relax, refocus and enjoy each other’s company – and the beautiful 85-degree temperatures. At the end of a busy day lounging around in the sun or cooling off in the pool, we often sat on our fourth floor balcony until it was time to go down for dinner. One particular evening, I found myself entranced by the goings-on happening below me. There were staff members rearranging lounge chairs and collecting towels, outdoor restaurants setting up tables and preparing for the evening rush and guests still trying to enjoy the last little bit…
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