16Oct 2013 by CJ

All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy

Life & Living
For the better part of a decade, I was a contributing editorialist for a respected and admired weekly newspaper with a long history and very loyal following. Though I was only in my mid-twenties when I began writing for The Leader, my more mature-minded writing (not unlike this blog) seemed to appeal to a wide range of readers. I’ve always been much older in terms of thought and behavior than my age might suggest. I’m not sure how or why that happens to certain individuals journeying through life, but I’ve always been one of them – still am. I credit this character trait for my many successful years with the newspaper. During my affiliation with The Leader, my columns were a popular part of the weekly publication. They were filled…
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19Mar 2013 by CJ

Learn to say “thank you” to those who deserve to hear it

Generosity & Kindness
Regardless of your age, we’re all still students in the classroom of life. The learning process is never over, unless of course you choose to ignore the lessons that are often presented to us on a daily basis. Something I’ve learned of late is that society has a very difficult time showing their appreciation – sharing a simple “thank you” to those who’ve unconditionally offered their kindness. While there might be an unwritten code that the actions we take in life should be for our own personal fulfillment, and not because we hope to reap something in return, every human being wants to feel appreciated for their generosity. G.B. Stern once said that, “Silent gratitude isn’t much use to anyone.” Too many times we assume that people know how much…
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18Nov 2012 by CJ

Thanksgiving Day, don’t leave out a portion of gratitude

Generosity & Kindness
“Thanksgiving Day is a jewel, to set in the hearts of honest men; but be careful that you do not take the day, and leave out the gratitude.” ~E.P. Powell Growing up as a boy, my Thanksgivings were always large family gatherings filled with relatives we often only saw but once a year. I guess you could say there’s a lot of catching up to do with such limited face time. Truthfully, many of my holidays as a kid were just the same way – an abundance of food, lots of family and an abundance of food (what can I say, I’m Italian!). But nothing stays the same in life – families increase, people move away and eventually divide. Suddenly your traditionally Thanksgiving, filled with so many family members, is…
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