Every once in a while I run into someone that hasn't had an original thought in years. It seems every word they speak or write is someone else's. No originality, no willingness to take a stand, no attempt to understand what makes one unique. It is tragic to waste your life worried about what others may think of you. How many stifled voices, unemoted thespians, aspiring leaders are not what they should be today due to a lack of original thought. They follow blindly thinking they know and never quite understanding that they don't know. Political correctness is a curse on free speech. Must we all follow because a few have deemed a word, phrase or thought inappropriate? Turn off the pundits, think for yourself. Nurture your own thoughts, open your eyes, do your own research, form your own opinions.

Now, I'm not the brightest guy in the world, and I've taken many an unknown fork in the road. Some times those forks have been good and sometimes not so good. But those forks have shaped who I am today.

I try to be kind to those less fortunate. I have no use for the pompous or the strong bodied who refuse to help themselves. I believe in a strong, defensive military and a stronger foreign intelligence community. I believe in working hard and playing harder. I believe America is the land of opportunity for all people, it was for our forefathers. I believe you can no longer follow a true two party system. Years of deals and concessions have corrupted the system. I have a healthy distrust in government and news sources in general. I'm not saying they're all in cahoots but the news sources are told what the politicians want them to know. I believe we need a third party.  

Now on the other hand, I'm tired of celebrity worship, but I love a good train wreck. I love watching reality TV. It's not reality and I don't understand why it facinates me. OJ was and is guilty, I don't care about Anna, Nichole, Paris or Tom. I think Dick Donato played a great game. Beer is good and wine is for the more refined tastes. Barbeque should stay on the bone and mashing should be left to potatoes and not light switches.

I believe people shouldn't expect to pay off every bill they ever accumulated when they sell their house. I believe people watch too much HGTV and Flip this House. They don't realize those folks are experts and they still make mistakes. I believe good Realtors<r> care about the people they represent and aren't afraid to speak their mind when it comes to what they know is right for those clients, no matter how politically incorrect it may be. I believe standards need to be higher to obtain a license to practice Real Estate.

I believe we as Realtors must join in a united front to control those who prey upon the weakest homeowners with promises of credit repair, fast closings and low interest mortgages.

I believe it's Sunday and my wife is calling.....Have a great day and think for yourself today.

Greg Flanagan is a full time Realtor with Exit Realty Charleston Group. He can be contacted at 843-818-8867 or email gflanagan@exitcharleston.com  http://www.flanaganhometeam.com/