Not All Real Estate and Roses

After a long hiatus from blogging and writing, I am hopping back into the proverbial saddle to start the New Year.  I have received much encouragement from friends and family to share my experiences not only in real estate, but as a mom, wife, daughter, aunt, housekeeper, do-it-yourselfer, and otherwise, jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none. Several of you kept up with my harvest logs via Facebook this fall, and seemed to enjoy the struggles of balancing a full-time real estate career with family life while lending a hand to those near and dear as they were bringing in the harvest.  Here is a sampling in case you missed it:

"Harvest Log Day 12: Through a Divine act, managed to get clothesline base installed after church. Realized it gets very little sun in new location. Must be strategic about when to tell husband it must be moved. Best to breach subject when he wants to buy expensive tools or equipment to lessen the blow. While helping brother fix fence to turn cows out on corn stalks, kneeled on a bed of sandburs. Effectively stapled jeans to knee. Ouch. Returned home approximately 8 pm to discover a tricky Smurf had planted a blue crayon in the clothes dryer. Children admiring newly tie-dyed apparel. Currently researching crayon removal techniques online."

It seems that 2018 was the year I got behind the eight ball on quite a few things.  It is time to get back to basics.  I am drawing inspiration from my youngest son.  At some point last night between bath and bedtime, he launched his "bink" (pacifier) into the air and effectively lost it amid all the Christmas clutter and toys still making a home on our living room floor.  My husband and the boys searched for a good amount of time to find it, but had no luck.  On top of that, the projectile pacifier was the last holdout in the house as we have been trying to wean our youngest for about five months to no avail.  I reasoned that he was essentially "addicted" to his pacifier, and we were working through a 12-step process to get it away from him.  At far past bedtime, we finally convinced the little guy that "bink was all gone." He simply shrugged his shoulders, hopped into bed, and went to sleep.  He slept all night. He woke up this morning and didn't even ask for it.  He was playing us all along!

The moral of the story is that we as humans can let go of those things that we think we so desperately need...technology, pop, two or three cheeseburgers at one sitting, baggage from bad relationships, lost friendships...all the "stuff" that clutters up our lives. Whatever you need to do to get rid of it, it's time.  (Take it to Rustic Treasures, those guys can sell anything!)  It's time to be a friend to someone going through a difficult time. It's time to enjoy the sound of our children playing together in a pile of snow. It's time to understand that you can squeeze in one more tractor ride before the weekend is over. Let's open our ears, our hearts, and our minds to respect all those around us.  Yes, I know you're busy.  Yes, I know it's hard.  But, I'm throwing away the bink in 2019, and I hope you will too.  After all, the world isn't just all real estate and roses.  Welcome Home.