Suddenly, the Skies Had Cleared!, The Piedmont Perspective, Vol 31
What's New?
I woke up Saturday morning and suddenly the skies had cleared. I should preface this statement by admitting that I had been struggling with a melancholy mood as of late. Hanukkah was not the unbridled success I’d envisioned (teens evidently aren’t allowed to like anything their mothers give them) I have put on just enough holiday pounds to make all of my pants uncomfortable (I refuse to give into elastic just yet) and my work as a Realtor, has been a challenge in the last two quarters of 2007. (In a nutshell, buyers are cautious and sellers are anxious. That makes for an interesting market to say the least.) To top it all off, an invitation to an annual Christmas luncheon was lost in cyberspace and I missed an afternoon with dear friends I rarely get to see and often miss. Although one learns to shake off disappointment, truth be told, I was carrying a rather large cloud over my head.
But after meeting my husband last Friday evening for a rare date at a festive holiday fete, I jumped out of bed bright and early on Saturday and met one of those beautiful crystal clear mornings that we lucky Bay Area residents enjoy on a fairly regular basis (in stark contrast to Chicago winters - brrr!). I whistled for our ever-faithful Labrador Buck (who never seems to have a blue moment) and off we went. Some dark mornings, this walk can seem like an endless uphill trek (not unlike my circumstances as of late) but instead, it gave me the chance to shed my old skin and start anew. The few miles to Montclair Village and back provide just the right amount of time to sort things through. As I walked – Buck’s wagging tail beside me - I thought, "what if, instead of looking at the opportunities I missed last year, I turned things around and thought about the opportunities that await . . ."
What if, instead of forcing myself to exercise because I should, I embraced the movement and was grateful for the two strong legs good health provides? What if I enjoyed the beauty of the day and the fact that when I crest the hill just as the sun does, the view of Lake Merrit and the bay beyond, is staggeringly beautiful? What if I could find the simple joy my dog delights in each time we head out the door and through the gate on our daily journey?
What if, instead of wrestling with the buttons on my pants, I decided that I look rather nice in dresses and went out and updated my wardrobe with a few sophisticated ensembles that drape elegantly? (You caught me.)
What if I could remind myself that I didn’t like my mother’s gifts any better when I was 16 and I still managed to grow into a caring, empathetic, reasonable and successful adult?
What if I could reassure my clients that markets are cyclical and real estate, like all sound investments, improves and matures over TIME? What if I could show them that our current market actually offers real opportunity (it does) and that building equity in a home (any equity) requires one to find a starting point?
What if this year, I brought you the home of your dreams? Helped you get your current property ready to sell? Introduced you to a new community? Welcomed you to home ownership? Took you on a tour of the East Bay? Helped you plan ahead? Assisted you in your quest to own vacation or investment property? Educated you on available options? Kept you fully informed? Provided a trusted resource when you needed one, and introduced you to others who offer important counsel in your journey? What if I could provide all of the answers you seek?
What if I put your goals first and foremost, in my every deed and action? What if you enjoyed my e-missives, my irreverent humor, and my pearls of wisdom and referred me to a friend, a coworker or a relative in the coming year? What if your forwarded The Piedmont Perspective onto a friend who is just beginning his/her search for a trustworthy representative?
Now that would be a real opportunity.
Happy New Year! Thank you to all of you who have taken the time to write back and share your thoughts and comments with me throughout the year. I have enjoyed getting to know so many of you. (It is truly a kick having 800 pen pals!) Thank you for your reviews, your encouragement and your enthusiasm. I wish you all a safe, prosperous, and engaging 2008.
See you in January!
What's Coming?
"The Piedmont Portal!" Many of you have written in with requests to rent out your Tahoe condo, with inquiries about babysitters, or in desperation, looking for a used station wagon. Why not create our own neighborhood bulletin board so we can share openly? Details to come . . .
Feel free to visit my website at JulieGardner.com for more information as well.
I woke up Saturday morning and suddenly the skies had cleared. I should preface this statement by admitting that I had been struggling with a melancholy mood as of late. Hanukkah was not the unbridled success I’d envisioned (teens evidently aren’t allowed to like anything their mothers give them) I have put on just enough holiday pounds to make all of my pants uncomfortable (I refuse to give into elastic just yet) and my work as a Realtor, has been a challenge in the last two quarters of 2007. (In a nutshell, buyers are cautious and sellers are anxious. That makes for an interesting market to say the least.) To top it all off, an invitation to an annual Christmas luncheon was lost in cyberspace and I missed an afternoon with dear friends I rarely get to see and often miss. Although one learns to shake off disappointment, truth be told, I was carrying a rather large cloud over my head.
But after meeting my husband last Friday evening for a rare date at a festive holiday fete, I jumped out of bed bright and early on Saturday and met one of those beautiful crystal clear mornings that we lucky Bay Area residents enjoy on a fairly regular basis (in stark contrast to Chicago winters - brrr!). I whistled for our ever-faithful Labrador Buck (who never seems to have a blue moment) and off we went. Some dark mornings, this walk can seem like an endless uphill trek (not unlike my circumstances as of late) but instead, it gave me the chance to shed my old skin and start anew. The few miles to Montclair Village and back provide just the right amount of time to sort things through. As I walked – Buck’s wagging tail beside me - I thought, "what if, instead of looking at the opportunities I missed last year, I turned things around and thought about the opportunities that await . . ."
What if, instead of forcing myself to exercise because I should, I embraced the movement and was grateful for the two strong legs good health provides? What if I enjoyed the beauty of the day and the fact that when I crest the hill just as the sun does, the view of Lake Merrit and the bay beyond, is staggeringly beautiful? What if I could find the simple joy my dog delights in each time we head out the door and through the gate on our daily journey?
What if, instead of wrestling with the buttons on my pants, I decided that I look rather nice in dresses and went out and updated my wardrobe with a few sophisticated ensembles that drape elegantly? (You caught me.)
What if I could remind myself that I didn’t like my mother’s gifts any better when I was 16 and I still managed to grow into a caring, empathetic, reasonable and successful adult?
What if I could reassure my clients that markets are cyclical and real estate, like all sound investments, improves and matures over TIME? What if I could show them that our current market actually offers real opportunity (it does) and that building equity in a home (any equity) requires one to find a starting point?
What if this year, I brought you the home of your dreams? Helped you get your current property ready to sell? Introduced you to a new community? Welcomed you to home ownership? Took you on a tour of the East Bay? Helped you plan ahead? Assisted you in your quest to own vacation or investment property? Educated you on available options? Kept you fully informed? Provided a trusted resource when you needed one, and introduced you to others who offer important counsel in your journey? What if I could provide all of the answers you seek?
What if I put your goals first and foremost, in my every deed and action? What if you enjoyed my e-missives, my irreverent humor, and my pearls of wisdom and referred me to a friend, a coworker or a relative in the coming year? What if your forwarded The Piedmont Perspective onto a friend who is just beginning his/her search for a trustworthy representative?
Now that would be a real opportunity.
Happy New Year! Thank you to all of you who have taken the time to write back and share your thoughts and comments with me throughout the year. I have enjoyed getting to know so many of you. (It is truly a kick having 800 pen pals!) Thank you for your reviews, your encouragement and your enthusiasm. I wish you all a safe, prosperous, and engaging 2008.
See you in January!
What's Coming?
"The Piedmont Portal!" Many of you have written in with requests to rent out your Tahoe condo, with inquiries about babysitters, or in desperation, looking for a used station wagon. Why not create our own neighborhood bulletin board so we can share openly? Details to come . . .
Feel free to visit my website at JulieGardner.com for more information as well.
posted by Julie at
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