Headstands Over Accolades

The ending of a year and the beginning of a new one always is accompanied by a set of mixed emotions for me.

I think about the good, the not so good and everything in between. 

Historically, I’ve been a goal orientated person. I am happiest when I am working towards a goal. When I’m not, I feel bored, antsy and depressed. 

Recently I broke up with a great guy for no dramatic reason other than it just wasn’t the right fit. New Year’s Day I allowed myself to have a little bit of a pity party and be sad.

Like many I’m sure, from time to time I struggle with not feeling good enough, being enough, doing enough and on and on.

Per usual, walking my dog out in the fresh air did provide some relief. I always do my best thinking when walking my dog. I started thinking about a post I saw on social media that talked about when asked the following questions, how many of the answers do you know?

1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.

2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.

3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America pageant.

4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.

5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress.

6. Name the last decade’s worth of World Series winners.

And then compared it with how easy the answers came to this list of questions

1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.

2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.

3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.

4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.

5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.

As many of you know, I’m a real estate agent. I happen to think I’m decent at what I do and some other people agree. I do love my job and I’m incredibly grateful to do something I love for a living.  I’ve won awards and had many achievements I’m proud of and blah blah blah. 

However, I’m not the highest producing agent in the Seacoast nor would I want to be because with that, comes a lot of sacrifice.

For me, BALANCE, has been a huge priority for me in the last couple of years as it has dawned on me at the end of my life I want to feel like I LIVED. I want to KNOW I LIVED. 

I want to experience things, places, people. I want to experience cultures and have deep and meaningul conversations with people completely different than me. I want to spend time with those I care about and not be completely distracted by my phone (I have had plenty of those days and I’m sure there are still plenty ahead). At the end of my life, no one will ask me how many houses I sold or what numbers did I put up?

I will, however, think about (and treasure and be grateful for) how many friends I’ve made through real estate. 

The resounding thought that has kept going through my head since I’ve read that post was “How do I want to be known? How do I want to make people feel? How do I want to feel about myself?”

The thought came to me that I want to try something new every day this year. Today is day three.

The first day, I wanted to try a headstand (there are health benefits), second day I waited 90 minutes before having coffee (due to a study saying this also has benefits), today was day three where i did both an ice bath and a plunge ito the ocean, tomorrow I want to try eating vegan for a day.

Now, I see so many of my colleagues – many whom I respect deeply and consider to be very good friends posting their real estate business posts and so on. Meanwhile, I’m over here posting videos of my doing headstands. And there is an inner dialogue of “Good lord, I look completely unprofessional.”

And I know many of you are scratching your heads thinking “why is she doing this?” and several of you have actually commented just that.

The simple answer is: because I want to.

I. WANT. TO.

It’s fun. It’s fresh. It keeps me from being depressed. It energizes me. It recharges me. It not only brings me joy, but apparently it has brought several of you joy, as well. I’ve had multiple people texting me or messaging me over the last few days videos of themselves doing headstands, or recipes, or articles on cold plunges, and on and on and on. 

Part of me (all of me) laughs and wants to show my gift of sarcasm and respond to people’s why’s with “I mean, I guess I could just sit on my ass at home and wait to die? That seems just as fun.”

I also have two listings coming next week, two closings this month, two new listing appoinments next week and blah blah blah.

But people don’t care about my success with real estate.

(Except my mom, she is very proud – thanks mom!)

It’s become apparent, people care and more importantly, I care, more about headstands  over accolades.