May your holiday be filled with love, laughter, gratitude — and pie!
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The personal stories of one Realtor’s battles and triumphs in the highly-competitive Bay Area Real Estate Market, seeking to illuminate and humanize the very real ups-and-downs of homeownership.
The holidays are upon us and the timing couldn’t be more apropos. After the election, I’m feeling more than a little disappointed by the results and more disturbingly, what they say about our nation as a whole. Thus, the opportunity to take a break, gather with family and friends, and give thanks for ALL I’ve earned and been granted seems more important and necessary than ever (and I have a TON to be thankful for).
Even so, as a woman who strongly believes in female agency and autonomy, it’s hard to escape feeling both wary and anxious. Since I can’t control the bigger picture, I’ll have to settle for what I can . . . which is my own little corner of the world.
This week I dropped off coats at COMPASS for the “One Warm Coat“ drive, granted a child’s wish list for Christmas, and gave money to Planned Parenthood, and the Alameda Food Bank . . . (we each do what we can). Then I attacked my house in earnest, cleaning shelves, replacing the furnace filters, changing batteries in the smoke detectors, and clearing out closet and drawers. (I can get pretty micro.)
With the help of Cliff and Tristan, we winterized the backyard, which included covering the outside furniture, clearing the gutters of debris, and fixing the sprinklers before shutting them off for the season. Next up: holiday decorations.
In the meantime, there’s still a business to run, and here too, I’m feeling beyond grateful. With each of our listings now firmly in contract and set to close before Christmas, Sarah and I can now focus on what lies ahead in 2025.(Lots of exciting opportunities.)
In the last five years, Sarah and I have enjoyed tremendous success, and her partnership, along with the support of both Jill and Kate, has allowed me to find some balance, and travel a good deal (which my husband appreciates). By and large, we’ve worked with absolutely lovely people, and more importantly, are in the position to say “no thank you” when they’re not so lovely. (Life is WAY too short.)
I begin most mornings with a brisk walk on the nearby trails with my dogs in tow, and I am reminded daily that the Bay Area is an extraordinary place to live and raise a family. Our boys have grown into thoughtful young men who are relatively healthy and happy. In fact, they’re in charge of this year’s Thanksgiving menu which makes ME very happy. (Thank you, boys.) And finally, I lay down at night with my partner of 34 years and best friend. What more could a girl ask for?
So with the clear recognition that indigenous people may have a completely different take on Thanksgiving (and justifiably so), I hope it’s not politically incorrect to still be grateful for my many blessings; sharing the holiday with family and friends, participating in the turkey trot, watching football with the boys, sitting down to a fantastic meal, and then playing parlor games after dinner before digging into pumpkin pie. It’s normal run-of-the-mill stuff, but also pretty bountiful.
If I keep my focus on what’s immediately in front of me, take strength from others, live in gratitude, and walk through the world with good intentions, empathy and kindness, I have a much better shot at worrying about tomorrow – TOMORROW(!) (Gratitude is a powerful tool.)
On that note, thank you for your support and readership through the years, and Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours. May your holidays be filled with love and laughter (and pie)!
(The Perspective will take next week off to enjoy the holiday. I’ll see you in two weeks.)
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Julie Gardner & Sarah Abel | Compass Realty
Not just Realtors, but consultants in all things house and home, we’re here to educate, explore, examine and refer . . . In short, you may count on us to take care of your home as if it were our own and anyone who knows us, knows we take pretty darn good care of our homes.
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