Craig Ruvere

26Oct 2022 by CJ

How to Know if Someone Truly Values You in Their Life

As we grow older and wiser, relationships (whether familial, platonic, or romantic) inevitably change – that’s simply a reality of the human experience. Some of those relationships continue to improve and strengthen with time and maturity. In contrast, others seem to wither away from a lack of nurturing. However, it becomes puzzling how to accurately determine if someone still truly values you in their life. Many of us rarely entertain such a question. Understandably, we’re fearful of the answers, which challenge our often skewed perception of reality – of a true, connecting, and binding relationship having taken place. A relationship shouldn’t feel like a chore – a one-sided exercise with little return on your investment. Unfortunately, this often forces you to tolerate a handful of repetitive excuses for one’s inability…

10Oct 2022 by CJ

Families Are Too Busy and It’s Impacting Your Kids

Life & Living, Youth

I recently came across an article on YourModernFamily.com by writer Becky Mansfield which gave some enlightening information on how today’s families are too busy. She shares that after recently moving into a family-friendly neighborhood, she asked one of the mothers next door if their daughters could get together and play. She assumed the response would be immediate, and the girls could get together that same day. Instead, she was shocked when the mother pulled out her cell phone and began scrolling and scrolling and scrolling for what seemed like forever before finally responding, “She has a 45-minute opening two and half weeks from now. The rest of the time gymnastics, piano, and voice lessons. She’s just so busy.” I wish I could say I haven’t experienced the same situation in my life,…

26Sep 2022 by CJ

Expecting Different Results from People is Counter-productive

Generosity & Kindness

The following quote is as overused as a smiley-faced emoji. It is often attributed to many prominent individuals throughout history – including Albert Einstein – though no one knows for sure who actually said it. "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results." While I can understand one's frustration given its overuse in popular society, it's popular for a reason – providing a sort of roadmap on how we can best utilize our limited time here on Earth. Simply put, the quote above encourages us to remember that there comes a point in everyone's life when expecting different results from individuals and circumstances is naïve and should be better aligned with reality. In our romantic, plutonic, familial, and even professional relationships, we…

05Sep 2022 by CJ

Self-Help Books Can’t Compare to the Endurance of Humanity

Life & Living

“If the self-help books worked, it would be a shrinking industry, not a growing one.” – Steve Maraboli For much of my adult life, my reading preferences centered around self-help books and a desire to educate and improve myself based on my flaws and brokenness. I’ve read the more famous authors in the self-help genre and lesser-known authors who were just as credible. And while I learned a great deal from these readings, I noticed that these so-called “self-help” books weren’t fully helping me. Yes, there are legions of fans of self-help books and authors who’ve achieved an almost cult-like following in society. But for me, at the end of the day, a self-help book does not hold the power to be transformative. While perhaps better represented as a tool…

29Aug 2022 by CJ

What Defines a Successful Life Comes From the Heart

Love & Relationships

If you asked the average person today what defines a successful life, they’d provide you with one or all of the bullet points below. A high-paying salary from a respected career. Material possessions (an impressive house, expensive car, fancy gadgets, etc.). The satisfaction of knowing that you have more than your neighbors, friends, and even your family members. I’ve always struggled with America’s rationale of what defines a successful life. While I consider myself incredibly fortunate regarding the first two bullet points above, I’m not sure I would classify my life as a success because of them. Financial stability is essential in providing one with the necessities we all need to live and maintain our health and well-being. But surely, there must be more to defining a successful life than…