For Dreamers, Thinkers and Achievers
By Cheryl Mattox Berry Beware: Marketers and ad agencies have put a target on your back. Social media have made it easy to bombard you with sales pitches for everything from diet soda to designer shoes.* A recent study shows that U.S. teen spending (products bought by and for 25.6 million teens) totals $208.7 billion […]
Continue ReadingBy Cheryl Mattox Berry The entertainment industry has been buzzing with news about Kim Kardashian and Jessica Simpson’s pregnancies. Both women are in relationships, but they’re not married or plan to walk down the aisle soon. No doubt, the pregnancies will be a big moneymaking opportunity with plenty of photo ops for these publicity-seeking women. […]
Continue ReadingBy Cheryl Mattox Berry You’ve been ripping and running since school started in August. It’s time to chill. During the holidays, give your thumbs a rest, too. Disconnect from social media and reconnect with family, neighbors and old friends. It’s hard to believe that a mere decade ago, social media as we know it didn’t […]
Continue ReadingBy Cheryl Mattox Berry It’s inevitable: Someone will let you down. The person – a friend or family member – may not intend to do so, but things come up. Also, we’re human and make mistakes. How do you deal with the hurt and anger of disappointment? Do you lash out at the offending party. […]
Continue ReadingBy Cheryl Mattox Berry When I was in sixth grade, my class staged a Christmas pageant. It was written and directed by my teacher, the late Mrs. Bernice Harris, a much sought-after speaker and one of my mentors. I delivered the closing monologue, and the words I recited that day have stuck with me throughout […]
Continue ReadingBy Cheryl Mattox Berry If you think rules are made to be broken, just ask basketball great Michael Jordan. He was recently called out for not wearing the proper golf attire at a private country club in South Florida. Jordan wore cargo shorts instead of golf shorts or pants. When a club staffer told Jordan […]
Continue ReadingBy Cheryl Mattox Berry No. Say it. Again. That two-letter word is hard for some people to say regardless of how they feel. It could be that they don’t want to hurt the other person’s feelings or that a no response would make them look like a bad person. Sometimes, it’s okay to say no. […]
Continue ReadingBy Cheryl Mattox Berry The other day, my mother asked me if I ever got tired of harassing the children (my nieces and nephews.) “Absolutely not,” I replied. “That’s my job. If I don’t do it, no one will.” What she considers harassment, I call gentle prodding. I ask them when they’re taking the ACT […]
Continue ReadingBy Cheryl Mattox Berry One of my daughter’s friends is called “The Mom” of the group. She serves as the designated driver, plays devil’s advocate, cautions them against doing stupid stuff and looks after everyone. She’s the backbone of the group. Every circle of friends needs a mom. Does yours have one? As the holiday […]
Continue ReadingBy Cheryl Mattox Berry As you prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving with family and friends, take a few minutes to thank those who have supported you in big and small ways this year. Was there a teacher who saw that you were struggling and offered words of encouragement or extra time to complete an assignment? A […]
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