By Dom Cioffi My son has been working at a grocery store for over a year, and while he usually hates going, it has proven to be one of the most influential experiences of his life. I had always told my son that, whether he liked it or not, he would be required to get…

By Dom Cioffi I’ve seen some big things in my lifetime. One of the first times I stood in awe of something immense was the day I entered the gates of Walt Disney World and first gazed upon Cinderella’s Castle. The park had only been open for a few years when I traveled there as…

By Dom Cioffi Years ago, between the ages of 10 and 15, I attended a summer camp on the shores of Lake Champlain in Vermont. It was billed as a religious retreat, and while that was meant to be the crux of the experience, I was actually there for the outdoor activities and camaraderie. The…

By Dom Cioffi When my son was born, I had many dreams and aspirations for him, but two things stood out: the first was the hope that he would play sports — more specifically, basketball; the second was the hope that he would play an instrument — more specifically, the guitar. I’ll admit, both aspirations…

By Dom Cioffi Years ago (before the science started to prove the concept wrong), it was believed that carefree, creative, and emotional individuals were born with a dominating right hemisphere of the brain. These people tended to excel in artistic endeavors and language skills and often became painters, writers and designers. Conversely, left-brained people were…

By Dom Cioffi A friend who knew I had reached a major milestone in my cancer battle showed up at my door recently with a present. It came wrapped in one of those tall, thin wine bottle gift bags with tissue paper flowing out the top. I thanked her for the kind thought and then…

Last Friday, I traveled to Jacksonville, Florida, for an important appointment. I had waited five years for this day and the magnitude of the moment was not lost on me. In 2016, I was diagnosed with cancer and was told that without immediate treatment, I would be dead in a year. That’s a sobering scenario…

By Dom Cioffi As soon as I graduated from college, I took a job and went to work in the corporate world. I wore a suit every day and called on customers in an attempt to earn their business. It was not my dream situation, but I was under the impression that it was time…

By Dom Cioffi I’ve been writing this column for over 25 years and in that time, I’ve reviewed well over a thousand movies. Prior to the pandemic, I visited the theater every week to review those films. I used to wish that I could watch new-release movies from the comforts of my own home, but…

By Dom Cioffi I run every other day almost without fail. Sometimes the weather or an unforeseen issue messes with my plans, but more often than not, I get my miles in. I run because I love the way that it makes me feel and because it’s good for me. I know my body, and…

By Dom Cioffi In a couple weeks, I will drive to Jacksonville, Florida, where I’ll meet with my oncologist at the Mayo Clinic. I have been visiting this world-renowned hospital for the past five years, ever since being diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer in 2016. If this appointment goes well (fingers crossed), they will transfer…

By Dom Cioffi Exactly a year ago, my brother-in-law sent me an invite for a 50th birthday party for his wife. He sent the invite a year in advance because he was giving all invited guests an opportunity to fully prepare for the event. At the time, I thought that was overkill, but I placed…

By Dom Cioffi I wish I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard a musician say that watching the Beatles' performance on the “Ed Sullivan Show” on Feb. 9, 1964, is what inspired them to start playing an instrument. I have watched countless documentaries on famous bands and musicians and a ridiculous number admit…

By Dom Cioffi I had a meal recently that absolutely blew me away. My wife made plans to dine at a small restaurant with a good reputation and eclectic fare, and while many of our friends had visited this establishment multiple times, we had yet to stop by. I was famished when our reservation time…

By Dom Cioffi In last week’s column, I talked about the documentary “Some Kind of Heaven,” which examined the lives of several retirees living in The Villages community in Florida. I found the movie interesting not only because I knew little about The Villages and its specific catering to seniors, but also because (as the…