Home : Blogs : Joeann Fossland, Master Certified Coach : Joeann's Blog

How Bad is it?

Are you feeling negative about the market? Your income? It is easy to find evidence for feeling fear and scarcity. But, I'll bet there is evidence in your life for the opposite too!
I just returned from a great vacation in a little Maine beach town called Ogunquit. While there I wandered into a store that had the whole line of Life Is Good Clothes (and I deposited a good chunk to help the local economy)
But my new shirt is going to be a good reminder for me....Life Is Good

This Spring, I was fortunate to travel to Peru for a week to see the work that the humanitarian organization, CARE is doing. The trip is chronicled on the http://www.webwomengivingcircle.com/ Blog . One fact that really impacted me was the statistic that over 52% of the people in Peru are living on less than $2 a day. As we spent our week there, I gained an appreciation for little things: like toilet paper in a public restroom, and hot water that worked more than 2-3 minutes for a shower and clean water to drink and indoor plumbing! And yet, I've rarely seen happier people than the families we met living outside of Juarez who produced a feast and music and dancing and bouquets of flowers for our group: the visiting women from the USA. That trip will always be a reminder....Life is Good

My health is one of the things I am grateful for. I lost my mom to cirrhosis of the liver when I was 15 and she ws 42. My husband, Bub, and I are losing friends it seems regularly as we are turning into 60 somethings..... Every day above ground is a good one....Life is Good

I'll bet you woke this morning in a warm bed, with hot water to shower with. There was probably food in the refrigerator and a car waiting for you to use it. What else do you have to be grateful for today? Yes, I know you could make me a list of things that aren't the way you want them to be-but does focusing on those things empower you? If it pulls you into action-then focus on that and FIX it! But if it just depresses you or makes you feel powerless, why not let go and focus on what is working?

So, I'll ask again: What else do you have to be grateful for today? Could you make a list of not 5, not 10, but 100 things? I'll bet when you finish the list, you'll be feeling pretty good. Take that with you today into the world and look for what IS working! Look for the opportunities.... Life is Good! !

Posted by Joeann Fossland, Master Certified Coach on 10/09/2007 09:22 AM

Comments (33)

life is good, opportunities, peru, joeann

33 Comments on How Bad is it?

Hi Joeanne..you are right...I was just sitting here complaing to my husband and read your post...this kind of stuff (not to sound corny) brings us back to earth.....

10/08/2007 08:54 AM

by Konnie MAC Northern Virginia Real Estate (Konnie McKee )

Time for a little wake-up call!

10/08/2007 08:57 AM

by Jayne Dodgson (Prudential Preferred Realty)

Hi Joeann, A long time ago when I was going through a divorce, I did volunteer work for the Seattle Crisis Line. It really puts things in perspective. And, yes we can be happy with less.

10/08/2007 09:06 AM

by Leslie Bloss, Seattle Real Estate Professional (REALTY EXECUTIVES/BRIO )

Enjoy the days - make of them what is allowed, play as hard as you work, don't forget to DO WHAT YOU WANT TO before it's too late even if you could later do it. Old folks who have money and no memories are pretty boring company, so that should NEVER be a goal.

Who I am doesn't matter - it's who we BECOME that might one day improve the world, if only by a fraction. My "Heroes" wear the Unform of the USA, my mentors have been those whose lives have changed the world for the better. Be they good teachers, great Doctors, hard-working scientists, engineers, realtors, lenders, store owners, single Moms/Dads, if their lives somehow improved theirs AND others', I listen carefully to all they have to say

10/08/2007 09:07 AM

by Jeff Tumbarello (Network Funding Solutions, LLC)

Konnie Thanks! Me too!

Jayne Hope you find all the wonderful things today!

Leslie And our "less" is still amazingly wonderful (I must be in a real pollyanna mood today!)

Jeff A wise way to measure what to pay attention to!

10/08/2007 11:56 AM

by Joeann Fossland, Master Certified Coach (Advantage Solutions Group)

Joeann,

Great advice! Great post! Now if we could only remember that and apply it often!!! Thanks, Fran

10/08/2007 02:35 PM

by Fran 'The Title Man' Gaspari Title Insurance-PA & NJ (Patriot Land Transfer, Inc.)

...and along those lines, you can sign up for a positive thought from the universe each weekday. The web site is below.

http://www.tut.com/

The theme is "thoughts become things...chose the good ones." It's kindof a hoot to get an e mail from the universe every day!

10/09/2007 09:29 AM

by Karen Webster...Grand Rapids, MI Realtor (5 Star Real Estate, Grand Rapids MI)

I try to appreciate all the goodness we have each day...I regularly give blood for those who can't, pass on my old but still good items to the poor, and generally watch out for my fellow person. Thanks for the uplifting post.

10/09/2007 09:31 AM

by Danielle V. Lewis - DDR Realty (DDR Realty)

Thanks for the reminder of what to focus on. We can only do so much, but we can make such a difference in people we know and meet lives.

10/09/2007 09:40 AM

by Margaret O'Daniel (NM Notary Loan Signing Agent)

You are a great example; what a great outlook! Thank You.

10/09/2007 09:40 AM

by Creative Group R.E. Inc.

Being thankful, grateful and appreciative helps us focus on the real purpose for living.

It is good to reflect on the things important in your life.

I enjoyed all the comments, thanks for the blessing!

10/09/2007 09:49 AM

by Find a Notary Public | needAnotary (QEC Internet Services)

If you woke up this morning you started on a positive note! :)

10/09/2007 10:02 AM

by Ron Allen~Fayetteville NC real estate (FavoriteAgent.com)

I am grateful for the love of Christ, family and health. I recently lost my Mom and I am grateful I have not lost my mind her words of strength and wisdom lives within me and keeps me going.

10/09/2007 10:09 AM

by Frank Harris (Keller Williams Realty Centre)

Fran- I bet you are THERE more than not :>)

Karen- Thanks! I love new resources and hearing the universe speak to me LOL There was an old email that got passed around a few years ago that said something like,"This is God. I am in charge today. You don't have to worry about anything." Some days...that is just perfect <G>

Danielle-Wouldn't that make a nice list too---Things I do To Make The World a Better Place!!!! Good for you and thanks for coming by and sharing.

Margaret You are so right! And, I think few people realize the difference they make not just to themselves, but their family, their community and the world. It IS the little things that make a difference!

Nathan Thank you

10/09/2007 11:05 AM

by Joeann Fossland, Master Certified Coach (Advantage Solutions Group)

The market may be bad, but you just have to stay focused, and do what you have to do to stay in the game.

10/09/2007 11:49 AM

by New Jersey Real Estate James Boyer Morris, Essex & Union County NJ Realtor (RE/MAX Properties Unlimited, Real Estate)

Ntsike Willis Thanks

Ron- I Soooo agree :>)

Frank- I am sorry about your loss and know that I have the same experience even with my Mom dying 25 years ago. I only hopw I am making that kind of difference with people I touch .

James Yep, it's all about looking for the opportunities!

10/09/2007 12:51 PM

by Joeann Fossland, Master Certified Coach (Advantage Solutions Group)

Everything is relative. Personally, the way I lived from 17 to 42, every day is a gift when I wake up each morning. Didn't think I would make it to 25....no less 52.

10/09/2007 01:14 PM

by Richard Dmochowski, ABR, CRS, e-Pro, SRES (ERA Hemlock Sales Agency)

Joeann - What an inspiring post! It's nice to step back and just say, "Thanks" for all we do have. I believe we all get caught up in "things" vs. life itself. Thanks for the reminder! Awesome!

10/09/2007 01:48 PM

by Linda Scanlan (A Fan of AR)

Richard Rock on :>)

Linda Thanks!

10/09/2007 02:07 PM

by Joeann Fossland, Master Certified Coach (Advantage Solutions Group)

It takes a lot of work to continuously see your glass as half full, but you are right - it almost always is! Funny thing is, if you can always feel that way, your business will likely improve!

10/09/2007 03:30 PM

by James R. Gill (Coastal Financial)

It is great to be reminded about what truly matters...and it does put it all into perspective. Thanks for the great outlook and the reminder... You are right, Life is good.... ;) P

10/09/2007 04:17 PM

by Pamela STETSON (Abbott & Caserta Realtors)

A co-worker and I were discussing this just the other day. We are blessed to be here. We are blessed to be able to read, to be able to talk freely, to be able to learn, to be able to earn a living and keep it.

Great post Joeann. We need it more than we may want to admit.

10/09/2007 05:10 PM

by Virginia Halter Broker, ABR, CRS (RE/MAX Signature Properties)

That was just what I needed right about now. Thanks for the reminder :)

10/09/2007 05:19 PM

by Katie Marchione ~ Community First Financial (Community First Financial)

I love your post... I'm so grateful for my life now..... When we give to others I do believe that it will come back to us again....

10/09/2007 05:23 PM

Joanne, it's all a matter of perspective. There are sooooooooooo many good things happening around us if we just open our eyes to see.

10/09/2007 06:28 PM

by Missy Caulk-Ann Arbor- Realtor(R)- Ann Arbor Real Estate (Keller Williams-Ann Arbor)

Joanne,

Thanks for the inspiration and yes, Ogunquit is a lovely town...at least it was in the early 90's when I last visited. Coastal Maine is really one of our American treasures. Places like that remind us that life truly is good; especially when eating a lobster roll.

10/09/2007 08:32 PM

by Edward

Joanne,

Thanks for another wonderful and positive post.

So very much to be thankful for each day.

Life is Good...and we also have that shirt.

10/09/2007 08:44 PM

by Margaret Rome- Baltimore, Md.-HomeRome.com (TREC-Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome)

Great post and great reminder! It's easy to get caught up in the woes of our everyday life...but life is great...and I for one am very blessed. Have a blessed week!

10/09/2007 10:19 PM

by Cori Sharp (Keller Williams Realty)

thank you for keeping it simple and reminding us what to focus on. I really needed to read this today.

10/09/2007 10:55 PM

by CJ Walton, CNE (Keller Williams Realty)

Joeann,

I have made it a point to start writing what I am thankful for on a daily basis. It does help change your attitude and how to greet each day and events as they arise.

10/10/2007 01:00 AM

by Terry Osburn, Broker Associate (Alain Pinel Realtors)

You are right. We have it pretty darn good in this country...even on a bad day.

10/10/2007 06:36 AM

by Al Maxwell - Real Estate Agent - (Coldwell Banker)

Howdy, Joeann! You are right. I can sometimes get really discouraged about things, but for some reason, I always think that someone has it way worse than I do. I can look back at things I worried about two weeks ago or a year ago and think, "I made it through that somehow, so I'll make it through this, too." Things have a way of working out, so maybe we should just stop worrying so much and appreciate all the good things around us! They're everywhere!

Great post! I hope all is well your way!

10/10/2007 11:57 AM

by Amber Riviere (Cenla Moves, LLC)

I was lucky, I almost lost my dad to a liver failure 20 years ago this year, but he got a new lease on life with a new liver. He is my best friend and we talk everyday! Just to see how things are going and whatever. But, I can say I am grateful for my dad, mom, wife, kids and I do let them know everyday what they mean to me, because I have learned they may not be around tomorrow. Thank you for the reminder, is is something that we should be thinking about always.

10/22/2007 10:19 AM

by Todd Clark (Realtor), GRI (Your Washington Co. Real Estate Expert) (Kastings & Associates)

Leave a response…

Name:

Notify me of new comments:

Comment:

What does the graphic say?