Craig Ruvere

25Feb 2015 by CJ

Party for boy with autism – no one shows

“And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.” Abraham Lincoln There’s nothing more magical, more exciting in a young child’s life than birthdays. It’s that one time of year when you’re the star of the day. The one time of year when you’re guaranteed a fun-filled celebration in your honor! It’s a day filled with balloons and decorations; snack foods and a cake filled with candles; family and friends singing that familiar tune, and oh yes – presents! But sadly not everyone is guaranteed such an honorary celebration. The other day I came across this story entitled, “Sheriffs Deputies Save Birthday Party For Boy With Autism After None Of His Friends Show Up.” On the morning adorable little Glenn…

24Feb 2015 by CJ

Boundaries in relationships – keep them off TV

Life & Living, Love & Relationships

I’m losing hope that the world will ever become a place rooted in decorum (if society even knows what that word means in modern day 2015). Television continues to push the limits in order to gain viewers - and ultimately increase revenue. Nowhere is that more apparent than on cable channel WE tv – where a new reality show will soon launch called “Sex Box”. So here’s the basic premise. Set in front of a live studio audience, couples go into a sound proof box without any cameras or interruptions and have sex. Yes, you’re not misreading this. When they emerge (no doubt more tattered looking than when they entered) they have an honest discussion with a panel of therapists and sex experts about what just happened and the realtionships…

22Feb 2015 by CJ

Social Media Platforms don’t often paint reality

Life & Living

“Social media has given us this idea that we should all have a posse of friends when in reality, if we have one or two really good friends, we are lucky.” Brene Brown, American scholar, author and public speaker The burdens and worries of life are infinite at times. For every day that’s seemingly “perfect” and void of any and all stressors, the next seems to bring about chaos we’re forced to delicately juggle. But if there’s one thing I can assure you I no longer worry about from one day to the next, it’s my status on social media platforms. For years I found myself stressing over how many likes I had on Facebook or how many people recommended me on LinkedIn. I would waste so much of my…

20Feb 2015 by CJ

Friendship vs. Acquaintance: more commitment & investment

Life & Living

“When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares.” ― Henri J.M. Nouwen, Out of Solitude: Three Meditations on the Christian Life Making new “acquaintances” is not difficult. This often happens with people we work with – those individuals who know…

18Feb 2015 by CJ

Death and dying – the topic no one wants to talk about

Life & Living

This post was not easy for me to write. I suspect it won’t be easy for some to read either. Death is something few of us ever really talk about – and with good reason. It’s a morbid and thoroughly depressing subject we’ll all eventually have to deal with, though it’s rarely a topic of conversation at the dinner table. I think the older we get, and the more we see death and sickness with our own eyes in our own lives, the more the subject begins swirling around inside our heads. Yet even so, we’re still reluctant and even fearful to discuss it in any capacity with anyone. There will come a time when discussions will need to occur with regards to final planning, from burial choices to sustainability…