A number of years ago my Uncle moved to Australia.  His wife is a native Austrailian, and they loved it there.  They lived in a climate that was warm to hot, and my Uncle found a new home.  When they left over 20 years ago, we had a big family party and I remember telling them one of these days, I will come down and visit.  I don't know the exact rammifications, but periodically my Uncle would have to return the United States to renew his Visa.  He didn't apply for citizenship in Australia, just residency.

Each of these visits, we would get together, sometimes for fun reasons, reunions or family parties.  Sometimes for sad reasons, another Uncle and my Grandmother's funeral.  Each of these visits ended with the promise that one of these days, I or we will come down and visit.

I am sure that most of you can see where this is going, we got word today that my Uncle passed away last night.  The sadness isn't his passing, he was 78 years old, not terribly old, but not terribly young either.  His health was getting worse, adult onset diabetes was taking it's toll on his once active body.  The sadness is that the clock ran out on one of these days.  The lost opportunities, even when, I realized that time was growing short to fulfill my promise to one day come and visit, there is where the sadness lies.

Too often, life dictates to us what and when we do.  I think that it is important to fulfill one's obligations, to work, family, country, clients etc.. I also think that it is important to plan to fulfill those one of these day promises.  I doubt now that I will visit Australia any time soon.  There are too many other locations that I want to visit, combined with the guilt of unrealized promises will most likely preclude visits. 

My hope in writing this column is not sympathy, rather an awakening for each of us to live so that this doesn't happen again.  Plan to fulfill a promise that someday, I am going to....., work your business so that success allows you the means and the time to accomplish these promises.  Find someone in our offices that we trust to handle your business for short periods of time, so that both of you can make and keep those dreams and promises.  Most importantly change the attitude that one day, I am going to be a successful Realtor, to now is the time to work to attain the success in Real Estate that I desire. 

The promise of tomorrow is just that, a promise.  The reality is that we live today and hope for tomorrow.  Let's work today so that when tomorrow comes; we can have another situation where we say one of these days, I am going to....  Then work on that promise or dream until it too is realized!