07Jul 2014 by CJ

Our hopes and dreams for tomorrow have no expiration date

Generosity & Kindness, Life & Living, Youth
As a little kid I liked to dream—big, whether it was believing my red-Huffy bicycle would one day turn into a Transformer or convincing myself that as an adult I’d be spending much of my time in Hollywood hosting “The Price is Right.” As I said, I liked to dream big. I still do sometimes. If we think back to our childhood, we all can remember when our dreams didn’t seem that far away from us. I remember spending countless hours in my basement pretending I was a rock star on my make believe stage. There I’d be holding my microphone (nothing more than the cardboard tube from the paper towel roll) belting out song after song from a collection of 45’s. Truthfully, I never really did sing as much…
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02Jul 2014 by CJ

Life is all about timing – but you’ve got to have patience

Life & Living
The last time I posted I was still living in New Jersey – the place I called home for almost 40 years. But today I’m posting from some 1,800 miles away in Colorado – the place my wife and I have decided to start the next chapter of our lives together. The weeks leading up to our official move date on the 24th of June were difficult – both emotionally and logistically. But as of today we’ve been residents of Colorado for exactly one week, and truthfully are finding the adjustment period somewhat difficult. For starters we’re living with family. And while we enjoy their company and appreciate the hospitality and generosity they’ve given us, it’s not “our” home. Our home is now packed up in storage crates back on…
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17Jun 2014 by CJ

Home is not a place, but a series of moment you take with you

Love & Relationships
Almost twelve years ago to the day, my wife and I moved into our first house - a traditional, side-hall colonial from the mid 1920’s. While beginning your career or solidifying your relationship with the exchange of vows certainly qualifies as being a full-fledged adult, I feel that buying your first home is tops on the list. Beyond the financial burden, it’s a huge personal responsibility that really doesn’t come with a foolproof handbook, no matter what the experts might say. You learn as you go – from the mistakes and the successes – allowing you the esteemed title of “homeowner” that so many of us take pride in. I remember my wife and I practically LIVED on Chips Ahoy sandwich cookies with Oreo cream inside for the first few…
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11Jun 2014 by CJ

Do you put relationships on your to-do-lists?

Life & Living, Love & Relationships
Take a look at your life and ask yourself, what’s on my to-do-list? Our lives are often filled to capacity with an excess of errands, chores and commitments – pulling us in different directions and robbing us of the more memorable moments life has to offer. We prioritize our lives based upon what we believe to be important and inadvertently forget about the people we always assume will be around when our to-do-lists are finally complete. It’s funny how our lists seem to focus so much on taking care of responsibilities, yet pay little attention to taking care of the people who provide our lives with infinite meaning. Imagine turning off all the distractions of life to interact with that special someone who’s been sitting right next to, yet somehow…
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