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Holiday Balance, I don't think so!

So we are talking about Holiday Balance. Balance implies harmony. Serenity. Peace and Calmness. Not moving. Not moving!!!!! Not moving is dead. When you have problems be thankful if they are ones you can handle. Look around, everyone has problems, its just our perception that make the difference. No problems would equal perfect balance. Life in harmony. Daddy Dearest. Singing in the Rain!!

Cats and DOGS!!!! Oil and Water!!!

Balance is over rated if you ask me!

But that is perfect balance. There is nothing perfect about holidays. Holidays arrive to interrupt the slight balance that we had.

Life in general seems to require conflict. Perfect balance needs to be upset to create change. The perfect balance in the Holidays is actually perfecting the art of Imbalance. Happiness can be found out of sadness. Focus is arrived at after living in frustration. Our ability to choose is based on past battles with conflict. Out of our failures we tend to produce our finest acheivements. We need resistance to be stronger. Fighting for our goals creates satisfaction not found in just having something handed to us.

Conflict causes stress. Or stress causes conflict. Either way, our lives are moving along and here comes Pilgrims and Turkeys reminding us to be thankful for all our conflicts. If we took a minute to examine it, we might discover that the conflicts are the true measure of Balance. Ying & Yang. Black & White. Good & Evil.

We all know that we need to balance our lives with time management, but we don't get second chances at our time. There is no managing time. Once we spend two hours watching the Three Stooges, are we any further along than when we spent two hours cleaning the garage. I think whats important is that we feel good about how we spent the time, and are we now ready to do something else we will feel good about.

So maybe there is no time management, just time acceptance. Holidays come along to actually upset the normal balance that we had going. The Holidays are coming, we must adjust. The changes in our lives create a different dynamic, a series of interacting conflicts that don't have to be resolved. One of my best friends happens to be older in age and younger in spirit than me. One day he told me that retiring made him realize that all the home projects that were such a bother when he didn't have the time to do them had lost much of their importance now that he had more time to do them. He told me, You know Mike, that back porch painting will still be there next week!! We laughed and had a margarita.

Holiday balance is something that will not be achieved. Holiday Acceptance is what will lead to less stress. There will be parties, there will be shopping, there will be family get togethers. Thee will be increased traffic and lines in stores. Our bills will be the same with less time because of the holidays to create the cash. Holiday Acceptance will lead us to remember that this too shall pass, and we have choices to make. Choose wisely Grasshopper...

We can either go with the flow and find your own comfort level, or just fight it all the way!! Take the time to get caught up in the spirit of the holidays. Give in, it's OK!! Give of yourself and spread joy with gifts that only one person can give another. Help someone get thru this time and you will both be better.

Don't try for balance. Just create some sort of game plan that makes sense and keep moving toward it. Smell the roses (and candy canes) along the way. Before you know it, you might emerge from the Holidays with a different balance. If you learn that conflicts are a sign of life, it will be easier to move forward to do what you can to have a better life. This will spill over into your career as well.

I have included some pics of people who are living way out of balance. Holiday balance to them will certianly mean something different than it does to us. Reaching out to our soldiers with care packages and letters to "Dear Soldier" could add some comforting holiday balance in thier lives, if only for a few moments.

Balance is not perfect, balance is not equal. Balance is leaning forward in the face of conflict and moving toward your goals. This is my idea of balance. Moving steadily toward my goals, slow enough to enjoy the journey, fast enough to not get bored.

Happy Holidays

Posted by Mike Norvell Sr., Developers Capital Realty on 11/13/2007 09:35 PM

Comments (18)

holiday balance

18 Comments on Holiday Balance, I don't think so!

You know Mike I was going to take it east this last month of the year. Seems I have more action right now, then I had the last two months combined.

11/13/2007 09:40 PM

by John Walters (Specialized Real Estate)

Congrats... We still have time to make this a banner year. But we can do this without stressing ourselves tothe max..Thanks for stopping by

11/13/2007 09:54 PM

by Mike Norvell Sr., Developers Capital Realty (Developers Capital Realty, LLC)

Talk to me about holiday balance AFTER you've attempted to deal with my in-laws! But hey, I'm optimistic. Let's give it a try.

11/13/2007 10:24 PM

by Keisha Hosea- Realtor, Chino Hills, CA (Keller Williams Realty Chino Valley Market Center)

In My case, it would be my sons' in-laws. There is just a line I crossed a while back, I now accept there is no reason for me to ever make an effort to interact again. Holidays are handled with a Hi, How are ya. and that 's it. I don't have a need to go around them, life is easier this way. Choices Keisha, Choices..Thanks for stopping by!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

11/13/2007 10:34 PM

by Mike Norvell Sr., Developers Capital Realty (Developers Capital Realty, LLC)

A balance of time .....OR Attitudes....was the theme actually. :)

its just our perception that make the difference is what you stated.

So, with that in mind I totally agree. Some may thing balance is all business and no family. Some may thing it's all family and no business.....or like you said....acceptance.

To be truly content with whatever I do there has to be a great amount of accepting that whatever I do...that I accept the truth or consequences of my actions. The consequences can be good...or bad...whichever I am accepting to be "my truth".

Okay, I'm tired and babbling at this point...but you get the jest ...just as I understand yours. Thanks again for a very enlightening post.

11/13/2007 11:40 PM

by Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman (RA), e-PRO HAWAII Real Estate & HAWAII Relocation (Century 21 Liberty Homes -Mililani, Hawaii)

Hey There Sally and all the judges, this is what I wrote for Holiday Balance. Its just how I think, no wonder my wonderful wife just sits quietly sometimes.......Talk about learning acceptance!!! I am a lucky man

11/14/2007 08:37 AM

by Mike Norvell Sr., Developers Capital Realty (Developers Capital Realty, LLC)

Mike- this was actually kind of refreshing......I can see your points as we do not change if everything is good.The Holidays are stressful, and if we accept this as you say, then that does put us back into "balance"....

you stated: "my idea of balance. Moving steadily toward my goals, slow enough to enjoy the journey, fast enough to not get bored." Bravo.....enjoy the journey, that is what life is.......

11/15/2007 01:23 AM

by Kathy McGraw ~ Calif Broker (CELLing Realty)

Thanks Kathy, my posts are a pretty straight forward reflections of my opinions. I Thank you for stopping by and leaving comments!! C-ya soon

11/15/2007 07:00 AM

by Mike Norvell Sr., Developers Capital Realty (Developers Capital Realty, LLC)

Mike,

Your last statement says it all, the way you handle stressful times makes all the difference in the world. Thanks I enjoyed reading! :)

11/15/2007 07:09 AM

by Suzanne Sands-Somerset, MA Real Estate (Century 21 Associates Realty)

Good morning Suzanne, I'm glad it made you happy!! Did you like my cat and dog Thanksgiving Pose Too??

11/15/2007 07:34 AM

by Mike Norvell Sr., Developers Capital Realty (Developers Capital Realty, LLC)

Fun pictures!

Happy Holidays, and I hope you find at least an adequate "balance".

11/16/2007 05:36 AM

by Christine Anderson, Portland, OR Realtor (Windermere CCRG)

Well Mike this accident throws balance out with the bathwater. I will manage but it sure wont have no balance to it. Your Dog looks happy but the Cat looks to get even. :)

11/16/2007 06:07 AM

by Keith Perry - REALTOR® -West Metro Atlanta (Coldwell Banker)

Christine, I have a balance alright. If you ever looked at scales, they are in balance, just not even. I work with investors lately in foreclosures; that has helped my checkbook balance but its not the same warm fuzzy feeling you get from dealing with buyers. ....WHo am I kidding.....closing deals without all that financing BS...............BBBRRRRRRRRRRrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.....I'm afraid this is as balanced as I get.

11/16/2007 06:29 AM

by Mike Norvell Sr., Developers Capital Realty (Developers Capital Realty, LLC)

Mike,

That photo is adorable! :)

11/16/2007 07:09 AM

by Suzanne Sands-Somerset, MA Real Estate (Century 21 Associates Realty)

Glad you like it...Best Wishes

11/16/2007 07:34 AM

by Mike Norvell Sr., Developers Capital Realty (Developers Capital Realty, LLC)

Hello Keith, again so sorry about Robins accident. May I suggest the Reynolds Baking bag, since you will be doing the major cooking. If you havent used a baking bag, its one of the ten wonders of the world!!

Let me take this a step further. My wonderful wife does not cook. When its her turn to cook, we go out. Our sons grew up learning to cook, and are all good cooks now. But she did not teach them. ANyway, 2 years ago I was on an emergency trip down south to pick up my brother who had broken down on the road as he was coming up for Thanksgiving day. There was no choice, she had to do it. The turkey, much to her surprise, turned out better than her sisters, who is the big fancy cook in the Family. She now has three things she cooks thru the year. Sweedish Meatballs, Pop Tarts, and Bake In Bag Turkey.. Nuff said.

11/16/2007 08:06 AM

by Mike Norvell Sr., Developers Capital Realty (Developers Capital Realty, LLC)

Mike, thanks for entering twice into the Holiday Balance contest -- what a show of support! While nothing prohibited people from submitting more than one entry, you were the only one who did so. I appreciate the time and effort that it took to write this post and love the cat and dog photo. Happy Thanksgiving!

11/18/2007 07:12 AM

by Brian Block -- Northern Virginia & D.C. Real Estate (RE/MAX Allegiance)

Thanks Brian, I hope that all in all everyone gets a lot out of all the entries...I know I did....Thanks again

11/18/2007 10:01 AM

by Mike Norvell Sr., Developers Capital Realty (Developers Capital Realty, LLC)

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