Craig Ruvere

29Dec 2015 by CJ

The sick and aging deserve to be remembered

The other day I was flipping through a photo album – a window into a world when my grandparents were young and vibrant. Their smiles for the camera were true and honest - something I can still remember with such clarity, though I haven’t seen their faces for many years now. A thought popped into my head while thumbing through one page, one photograph after another. While age is a sign that you’ve had a long life, it also means that once you’ve become a pale representation of your former self, many will inevitably forget you. Humanity has a difficult time dealing with those we love when they’re nearing the end of their life – when age has made them withered, frail and feeble. I suppose it’s a defense mechanism…

27Dec 2015 by CJ

Change in behavior could change your life

Life & Living, Youth

“There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind.” - C.S. Lewis Some of you might be familiar with the initials CBT. For those who are not, it stands for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy - a common form of mental health counseling, which has been used to treat anxiety and depression for years. From the Mayo Clinic’s website: “Cognitive behavioral therapy helps you become aware of inaccurate or negative thinking, so you can view challenging situations more clearly and respond to them in a more effective way.” And while many of you may dismiss CBT based on your current mental health status, they go on to say, “But not everyone who benefits from cognitive behavioral therapy has a mental health condition. It can be an effective tool to…

18Dec 2015 by CJ

Gifts from the heart are all you’ll remember

Love & Relationships

“To perceive Christmas through its wrappings becomes more difficult with every year.” Elwyn Brooks White With Christmas only 6 days away, I find myself growing nostalgic for the holidays of my past and those individuals who helped comprise the celebration. I know I’m not alone in this feeling, as December 25th seems to be the one time of year when we all mourn the loss of relationships, which are no longer a part of our daily lives. This will be my second Christmas here in Colorado, after spending 38 years in a small New Jersey town I, and countless family members, were raised in. It’s been an adjustment to say the least. Forming new relationships is never easy, more importantly finding individuals with whom you connect with wholeheartedly and unconditionally…

10Dec 2015 by CJ

Somebody somewhere is thinking of you

Love & Relationships

“Somewhere there’s someone who dreams of your smile, and finds in your presence that life is worthwhile. So when you are lonely, remember it’s true, somebody somewhere is thinking of you." Khushi Throne There are days when my mind is alert and active – a never-ending stream of random thoughts, which swirl around my head like a violent tornado. Other days my mind is exhausted from the day’s activities – slow in its response and only too happy to succumb to the peacefulness of a good night’s rest. It’s during those times of random thoughts that I often find myself thinking of someone from my past – someone I’m no longer in communication with, but at one time was a large part of my life. One of life’s many realities…

01Dec 2015 by CJ

3 Realities of Christmas Gifts

Generosity & Kindness, Youth

December 2nd - 23 more days until Christmas. By now a slight panic has begun amongst the everyday chaos we already bare. Anxiety over how many gifts we need to buy, what and where we’re going to buy and how in the world we’re going to afford to pay for it all. Buying for a child is pretty easy, but for an adult it can be a daunting task. At some point you reach an age where all the “christmas gifts” you want you typically buy for yourself throughout the year. That leaves very few options for gift givers come December. For years I’ve felt that if giving gifts is all that stressful, then why do we keep on doing it? And so I’ve come up with three important things…