23Apr 2015 by CJ

Insecurities ruining your relationship? Make a change.

Life & Living
“Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness.” ― Martin Luther King Jr. I’m often amazed at how socially inept we as a society truly are. Be it at work or in our personal relationships, far too many of us simply have no idea how to communicate effectively with each other in a respectful and constructive manner. The problem, as I see it, is that much of society is searching, longing for acceptance. Caused by an increasingly complicated and competitive society, those who are struggling with their own perception of themselves are often burdened with insecurity and anxiety. It’s that insecurity which breeds a need to feel superior and dominant over others - all in an effort…
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22Apr 2015 by CJ

Home is not a place, it’s a feeling in the heart

Life & Living, Love & Relationships
Last night, as the sun began it’s decent into the horizon, my wife and I positioned ourselves around our fire pit as the air became cool and the dark began to fall. All around us was the fragrant smell of nature – earth, mulch, freshly cut grass. A few late-night robins were out and about singing their tune and no doubt searching for a few morsels of food to fill their hunger. As the flames danced before our eyes, we both became lost in a sense of peace and tranquility. The world seemed far away from us as we basked in the warmth of the fire and the enjoyment of each other’s company. There are so few moments like that in life. Few opportunities to enjoy the here and now…
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20Apr 2015 by CJ

Decision making is tough, but it’s better than the unknown

Life & Living, Youth
“It doesn't matter which side of the fence you get off on sometimes. What matters most is getting off. You cannot make progress without making decisions.” Jim Rohn Making choices in life is never easy. What often compounds our decision making ability is the uncertainty of those decisions and the incredible (often unpredictable) impact they will have on the course of our lives. The questions we undoubtedly ask ourselves during the decision making process can be crippling at times. They prevent us from making a firm commitment – leaving us in a constant state of limbo. While some believe living in that constant state prevents them from experiencing the negative repercussions of their decisions, all it really does is limit our opportunities. I think many of us fail to realize…
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17Apr 2015 by CJ

A birthday song can be heartbreaking not happy

Love & Relationships, Youth
When we’re children, birthdays are met with uncontainable excitement. But as we grow older, they begin to represent something quiet different. The excitement seems to be replaced with a more somber emotion – a feeling of longing and regret that seems to only increase as the years go by. People keep telling me that I should do something “exciting” in commemoration of my birthday (my 40th this year). But what those individuals fail to realize is that I’m not in need of something “exciting” – some over-the-top celebration with short-lived gratification. What I “need” is highlighted in the song below. So often on my blog I’m quoting others for their profound and inspiring wisdom. But today, I’m quoting myself. I wrote this back in 2009 (on my birthday) and sadly…
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16Apr 2015 by CJ

A Birthday Message with invaluable inspiration

Love & Relationships, Youth
There’s an unspoken expectation amongst children - that grandparents often give gifts with little fanfare attached to them. They aren’t wrapped in fancy paper or oversized packages - eliciting a feeling of wonderment and excitement in a child’s eye. No, they’re referred to as “practical gifts” – such as clothing or money – offered in small, flat boxes and ordinary white envelopes. And while parents often rightfully encourage their children to show their appreciation, no youngster really enjoys getting a shirt or a twenty-dollar bill on birthdays and holidays. The practicality of gift-giving is further refined as children grow into young adults – the small, flat boxes disappearing completely and replaced with that ordinary white envelope your grandmother typically pulls from her purse. Yes the monetary gift is appreciated at…
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