As those of us in the U.S. near the Thanksgiving holiday, there is an implicit reminder to pause and take stock of what we have, and what each of us has achieved so far this year. We look toward the nearing end of 2014 and back at 11+ months of hard work, commitment to our ventures, our families and our various priorities. On the hard days, when it feels like there will never be enough time to get everything done, when personal problems impact professional responsibilities (or vice versa), it’s easy to get weighed down by the little and not-so-little things. But when we allow ourselves to stop and focus, we can all identify reasons to feel thankful. That’s what I’m doing this Thanksgiving week, and I hope you’ll join me.
Sick of the daily grind? Work is hard, and real estate professionals know that as well as anyone. When you’re working for yourself, there is no cushion. But the market has improved dramatically this year, which means your customer base is growing. And there are close to 2.4 billion people in the world living on less than $2 a day. Work may be tiring, but it’s the kind of tiring that rewards us with food to eat and a safe, comfortable roof over our heads. I’m grateful for that.
And lastly, something so simple it’s profound. I found this in a blog post by James Clear, and it’s worth reading. More than once.
“ … As adults, we spend a lot of time talking about all of the things that we have to do.
“You have to wake up early for work. You have to make another sales call for your business. You have to work out today. You have to write an article. You have to make dinner for your family. You have to go to your son’s game.
“Now, imagine changing just one word in the sentences above.
“You don’t “have” to. You “get” to.
“You get to wake up early for work. You get to make another sales call for your business. You get to work out today. You get to write an article. You get to make dinner for your family. You get to go to your son’s game.
“I think it’s important to remind yourself that the things you do each day are not burdens, they are opportunities. So often, the things we view as work are actually the reward.”
Mindfulness helps remind us of the many reasons to feel thankful that each of us has. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!