Man up, Dawg (My "Grow Up" Moment)

I had the "Grow Up" moment earlier this week. Have you ever felt that before? It's humorous in retrospect, but when it happens you feel terrible. As it occurred, I remember feeling like Martin Lawrence, on the episode when he couldn't hang with Gina and Pam exercising. The "Grow Up" moment is interesting because it catches you SO off guard and when it comes, it attacks in stages. After a long day at work, I lied in my bed attempting to relax as the weirdest thoughts popped in my head:

With everyone from my college crew on the "up and up", it
forced me to do some soul-searching.

"Look at Derrick Rose...he all rich! Can't believe he's only 23. I need to get my paper right...Oh snap, text message from Ray. Dang, Bibs is getting married, Dev and Jeff will have their master's degree soon. Garvin still fronting about his ladies, but he at least has one....I'm tripping right now."

One after another, random ideas formulate with one common denominator: What are YOU doing? Slowly your thoughts tie together, and instantly you're having a MJ moment; you're staring at the "Man in the Mirror". From what I understood, there are 4 stages: Hatin' (no "g" on there), Self-Analysis, Resolution, and Pursuit. Without all four, it is converted to a moment of procrastination, and in my best Gerald Levert voice, I ain't much on procrastination. Me and wasting time ain't never been friends. (Singing) Oh Casanova! Sorry.

Anyway, I'm thinking about D.Rose and my Y.M.e brothers making moves, and I'm "hatin". It sting to see the moves that you want (and need) to make being made by someone else. This was a different type of hate however; after mulling over these thoughts, I felt a charge, a challenge, a call...of duty! Looking around my bedroom, I said to myself, "How do obtain these things? How can I reach the success I desire, gain the knowledge...how do I take it to the next level?" As I asked all these questions the answer hit me, like I was talking about its mom.

"You gotta grow up, man."

Love, Power, Respect...It's what we aim for.

Grow up? What kind of simple answer is that? Well sometimes we make things so much harder than they need to be, and when we really, REALLY put forth the effort we realize two things: It wasn't as difficult as we assumed, and you feel a sense of pride, succeed or fail. Here's an example: fellas, you ever been at a party and you saw that one girl. She's on the floor getting it; you HAVE to have her, you HAVE to dance with her. In your mind, you're thinking, "She's going to play me," but you persevere. You build up the courage and go talk to her. When you get over, you say a few words, and she's with it! Yeah! You were all "scurred"; now look at you, you're the man!

There are a few "girls on the dance floor" I needed to address. I need to move; I'm proud of where I'm from, but the time has come to show my talent on the big stage. It's time to grow towards financial stability/comfort. The moment has arrived where I want to have meaningful relationships. I'm 25, man; it's not my desire to go out with a pretty lady, see a guy hitting on her, and say, "Hey! Ease up off my...FRIEND. She's kind of taken."

Cornball.

In conclusion, after experiencing the first three stages, I took some notes and started pursuing my definition of manhood. I researched some apartments OUTSIDE of my city, looked into investments (that's right baby, I remember the Vanguard days), and well...did some other things that aren't your business. But my idea of success seems more within my reach now. Guess it's easier to see once you grow up a little.

"What's Up, Youngblood?": A Deeper Look At The Old School Player

They are found pretty much everywhere: at the supermarket, on the second floor at your job, and especially at family reunions. Though conspicuous in nature, this species is easy to spot. No I'm not talking about roaches, you heathen; I'm talking about the "Old School Player", aka a "piiimmmmp". Now it is important to differentiate between an Old School Player and a man who is simply "old school". My father, known affectionately as Charles Perry (please say the full name), is old school; he has traditional values, rough hands, and watches westerns like "Gunsmoke". An Old School Player (O.S.P) is different; they are commonly outlandish, shifty, and laugh really weird. These well-tenured romeos carry great influence on the youth of America, specifically young males. Coming into contact with old school playas brings guys to a critical transition in life: the older men become an example for their younger counterparts. Gentlemen decide f...

The Nice Guy Rules

"Nice guys finish last." What a hogwash statement. Seriously; it's baloney, maybe even pastrami. Through entertainment, business, and romance, the belief is that a man with etiquette and morals is one with diseases, like the measles or swine flu. When you turn on your television or read your news...kindle, you witness arrogant, womanizing egomaniacs praised as charismatic men with undeniable "swagger". Men who are interested in helping others and making people enjoy themselves are undervalued. The result is young men trying too hard. These men, known as "Nice Guys", are seen as sweet people who are great to know and make you laugh, but are OFTEN over looked for men who...use less effort to receive approval. As a teen and in my early college years, I played into this. It's such a weird feeling; you become enamored with doing right by people, as if it determines whether people will like you. Half the time, if you are "too" nice, peo...

I'm a Hater (Acknowledging Your Faults and Using to Reach Prosperity)

I, Cedric Charles Perry, am a hater. Whew...though it's tough to say, admission is the first step to recovery. It's a gene that has traveled throughout my family tree; my great-grandmother has been recognized as one of the more influential haters during the civil rights movement. My sister Dee actually holds the Pennsylvania state record for most consecutive statements using the word "corny", with 46. It appears that there are numerous types of haters; my type is called "Conditional Hater", where in attempts to create humor, I will break out in uncontrollable hating. Recognizing that this trait runs in my family, I was bound to be a hater and it's better for me to acknowledge this now and help others who share this condition. To better address this addiction, which currently affect approximately 3.6 million people in America (I made that number up), let's identify what hating is. Rapper LL Cool J once stated that hating is "identifying a perso...

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