I had quite the morning. Finally got power back after 5 days without water or electricity. 2 hours to drive 23 miles(little bit of a storm), beeped at and had the finger thrown at me as I allowed some people to sneak ahead of me. Waited at the bank as some guy reamed two tellers, 20 minutes to mail my New Hampshire Real Estate License renewal. Overall a good day.
I am 43 years old married to a wonderful lady with two boys 2 1/2 and 5. I am a partner in a real estate office in a tough real estate market. Life is good. I didn't realize how good it was until I almost lost it all.
I've had a series of events in my life the past year that has had a dramatic impact on me. I look at life differently. I've replaced, anger, anxiety, resentment, unforgiveness and ungratefulness with mercy, compassion, forgiveness, gratefulness, peace and joy. It has changed my outlook on life.
Instead of flipping off the guy who flipped me off, I wondered what had him so stressed out and uncompassionate. We all were waiting to get in line to the highway, we were all in the same boat. Instead, in my head I wished that what was ever stressing him out would work itself out, I showed hom mercy and foregiveness, because yes I have been that guy so stressed out flipping people off. I empathize with him.
I had compassion for the two tellers who were getting yelled at by a customer, they handled themselves wonderfully. I am sure they had nothing to do with his problems. I hoped and prayed the customers day would go better and he would find peace and joy.
As people stood in the line at the post office, I was grateful I had a job that gave me the fexibility to do my errands and felt bad for those who were on a time constraint and didnt realize the line might be long the week before christmas. (handed out a few business cards too)
I was grateful I got to take a shower this morning.... I was getting a bit stinky(just kidding). There are many people surrounding who may not have power for weeks. Glad I am not them but also feel compassion towards them recently being in the same situation.
Yeah the real estate market kind of sucks, but im grateful I can cover all my bills and give my family a good christmas, when all I seem to be selling are short sales and people are filing for bankruptcy and having there houses foreclosed on. I have cut my hours back to a 40-50 hour work week finding time with my kids brings me great joy. I need to embrace and love my family and be grateful for what I have. My son recently asked me are my clients more important than him every time I took a phone call in front of him.... Guess what, I now use voicemail and return the calls when he is not around.
The holidays have not brought this change in me and I will continue after the holidays. I hope something strikes a chord in you and brings some changes in your life. When you start to practice mercy, compassion, forgiveness, gratefulness, peace and joy, it is hard to be anxious or angry. It hard to be upset with some one when you show them mercy or have compassion for there situation.
Good Luck, Happy Holdays and lets all try harder!!
