CEDTalks

"You might see me in the streets, but homie you don't KNOW...ME!" T.I., "You Don't Know Me" The quote applies to many more people and circumstances than the popular Atlanta rapper probably ever imagined. Based on our own experiences, we often make assumptions in life, steadfast in the thought we know exactly how a situation will turn out. Likewise, we take this stance with people. When meeting or interacting with someone, we tend to draw comparisons to people that generated a similar emotion from our earlier years. The actual conversation seems like Deja Vu, which leads us to react a certain way. This also causes us to think we KNOW how a person "is", treat them accordingly, and subconsciously try to predict their thoughts and actions. By most standards experience is the greatest teacher in life, but it is a dangerous game to ever think you really know a person without being around them frequently and also getting their input. Why ...

Keeping a New Year's Resolution is not that unrealistic. A list of goals...with no direction? Plans'll make her dance.  It's a pressure-filled demand to overhaul an aspect of your life. Is it impossible? Hell nah! Saying it's time for a "New Year, New You" does cause concern, however. We should not deny the positives that rose from the previous year; some of our greatest blessings have surfaced during our darkest moments.  Making upgrades to our life does offer a beneficial alternative; my frat brother termed it "A New Year,  Better  You". If iPads and iPods can add features every year, so can we. So what do we work on? Here's a new look on some common areas. Finance. It is a goal of most to make that "papuh", but how many of us are properly utilizing and maintaining the money we already have? For the last year, I've worked to apply the "Charles Perry Financial Game Plan". Dad's advice is simple....