15Feb 2016 by CJ

The right thing is not so simple in reality

Life & Living
“Life is not complex. We are complex. Life is simple and the simple thing is the right thing.” – Oscar Wilde While I consider myself a fan of Oscar Wilde’s inspiring writings, I’m not sure I fully agree with his quote above. “Life is simple and the simple thing is the right thing.” In a perfect world maybe. But we don’t life in a perfect world. We live in a world where people are incredibly complex, making what appears to be a simple resolution impossible to carry out. In short, logic is often superseded by one’s own pride, ego and perception of themselves, not to mention what they consider to be right and wrong. Trying to tell such individuals what’s the “right thing” often leads down a path of personal…
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14Feb 2016 by CJ

Regrets have no place in the present

Life & Living
“It’s not just other people we need to forgive. We also need to forgive ourselves. For all the things we didn’t do. For all the things we should have done. You can’t get stuck on the regrets of what should have happened.” – Mitch Albom My wife and I are in the process of planning a trip to New Jersey. New Jersey you might ask? Of all the places in the world to visit? We spent the first 39 years of our lives there. That’s where we met, got married, bought our first home and countless other memories too numerous to mention. But beyond that, when we moved to Colorado almost two years ago, the most difficult thing to leave behind were some truly amazing people we were fortunate enough…
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11Feb 2016 by CJ

Effective communication, is it really that hard?

Life & Living, Youth
“Every word has consequences. Every silence, too.” – Jean-Paul Sartre There’s a delicate balance which exists in the way we communicate. Some people lack a social filter – often saying whatever comes to their mind with little consideration of how those words might affect other people. Others are more comfortable staying silent – possessing a relevant and many times astute opinion, but refusing to share it with anyone around them. The place to be is somewhere in the middle really. Telling someone who spent much of the day preparing a meal from scratch that it wasn’t very good is not a constructive use of words (or a suggested reaction for newly married couples trying to impress their spouse). Sitting by idly with no opinion or feedback when someone is seeking…
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10Feb 2016 by CJ

Feeling down? Just grab a spoon!

Life & Living, Youth
“When I’m feeling down, I make myself a big bowl of Up Soup. The bowl only looks empty, but in reality it’s full of hope. Grab a spoon, there’s plenty for both of us.” — Jarod Kintz, A Zebra is the Piano of the Animal Kingdom Today was my “feeling down” day. That typically encompasses feelings of loss and loneliness from the past, not to mention frustration over current situations I’m simply unable to “fix” right now. I don’t wake up in the morning proclaiming that I’m going to start off my day feeling down, but people and circumstances beyond my own control often set those wheels in motion. It’s difficult to reframe your mindset – to refocus your attention on the many blessings your life’s been afforded, rather than…
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09Feb 2016 by CJ

Appreciate the simple times that make you happy

Generosity & Kindness, Life & Living
“Please notice when you are happy – and exclaim or murmur or think at some point, “If this isn’t nice, I don’t know what is.” – Kurt Vonnegut There are days when my wife and I relish simply sitting in our yard on a beautiful spring day, listening to the peacefulness of nature and basking in the amazing glow of nature’s sunlight. There are snowy nights when we sit bundled up in two or three blankets, while the glow of a nearby fire illuminates the room and two steaming cups of hot cocoa warm our souls. There are moments when the two of us are cooking together in the kitchen – me usually making a mess and cleaning it up, while she utilizes her talents to create culinary masterpieces I…
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