Craig Ruvere

06Jun 2014 by CJ

It’s not always the place that matters, but the person you’re with

As some of you might already be aware, after 39 years of living in the Garden State – New Jersey for those unfamiliar with the designation – my wife and I have decided to move west and begin a new chapter in our lives with family in Colorado. It’s been in the works for a while now, but still seemed surreal until the other day when I looked at the actual calendar. Our official move date is June 24th – 18 short days from now. Are we scared and anxious? Oh yeah! Are we hopeful and excited for the future? Absolutely! As our time here in New Jersey winds down, we’ve been crossing off things on our bucket list, which includes scenic and iconic destinations, as well as restaurants we’ve…

05Jun 2014 by CJ

Respect is a two way street

Life & Living, Youth

Fred Rogers once said, “All we’re ever asked to do in this life is to treat our neighbor exactly as we would hope to be treated ourselves. That’s our ultimate responsibility.” Interesting how Rogers thinks it’s the human race’s “responsibility” to be kind to others. While I have a great deal of admiration for the man, I have a feeling many find being mindful and respectful of others more of a chore than a responsibility. Today you’d be hard pressed to identify those willing to buy into Rogers’s notion that it’s “our ultimate responsibility” to do unto others. The statement however does bring to mind a virtue that lately has vanished quicker than your average pop princess – the art of respect. Respect is about understanding and accepting the differences…

03Jun 2014 by CJ

Learning a history lesson – your own

Life & Living, Youth

Many of us aren’t all that interested in hearing stories of the past recanted by our relatives. But for me, I always enjoy hearing how life was drastically different so many years ago. And while progress has certainly made our lives easier and medical advances have allowed us to live longer, I’m still not convinced that our lives are better all around. My grandmother often told me the following story, which became known as “the food on a rope story”. My grandmother came from a family of nine brothers and sisters. Her mother stayed home to raise the children in their modest North Bergen, NJ apartment, while her father earned a living as a furniture refinisher. Money was always tight for this large family, as were the sleeping quarters –…

30May 2014 by CJ

Everyone deserves to hear the words “thank you”

Life & Living, Love & Relationships, Youth

My wife is one of the eternal givers of this world. Be it personally or professionally, she possesses an admirable compassion – always giving much more than any one situation might require. Having known her for some 15 years now, I can tell you with great certainty that she is the epitome of humility – more concerned with offering support and care, than obtaining praise for her actions. I consider myself truly blessed that I get to wake up each day and share my life with such an amazing individual. But regardless of her humble nature, I believe she deserves to hear those few little words every now and then – “thank you”. It’s so easy to take people for granted – to assume that someone’s actions are simply expected…

28May 2014 by CJ

Separating what is fact from fiction

Life & Living, Youth

Phil Collins’ popular song entitled, Both Sides of the Story contains the following lyrics: And the lights are all on, the world is watching now. People looking for truth, we must not fail them now. Be sure, before we close our eyes, Don’t walk away from here, till you hear both sides. Today, more than ever, Americans are searching, longing for the truth. But in our quest for answers we often forget that every story, much like a coin, has two sides to it. Sadly, we’ll listen to whoever might be speaking the loudest at any given moment. Does that mean their story is factual and relevant? No, it simply means they realize that in order to deflect blame from themselves they have to publicly blame someone else. It’s a…