Alone in the car with my thoughts today... DREAM BIG

I didn't know what made me choose to write about The Uncle Remus Museum yesterday, but as a firm believer in fate and "meant to be" I figured it out today in car.  I was driving to my CPAs office and on that road is also the Turnwold Plantation marker and old house and a flood of emotions hit me.

Joel Chandler Harris, the "recorder" of the Brer Rabbit African folk tales was born the illegitimate son of Mary Harris.  He started in life with a big black cloud and he overcame and was a huge success.  He worked as a columnist, editor and author.  He began his career right at Turnwold Plantation as a 14 year old "printer's devil" and when he wasn't working he would sneak off and listen to the stories the slaves on the plantation would tell to the owners son.  The "little boy" depicted in all the photos was not in fact Harris', but his employers' son.

Harris, being raising in a world where his mother was shamed and made to leave town by her family, wanted more, dreamed of more.  And today I realized how he impacted my own life.  I realized why he was on my mind yesterday.  Timing is everything, even when you don't know it.

Today is the anniversary of my separation from my daughter's father.  25 years ago today when I was 5 months into my pregnancy my husband and I separated.  I was both devastated and strong.  I was devastated for myself.  I wanted to just fall apart and curl up in a ball and cry.  But I had a baby on the way, so clearly that wasn't an option.  I don't know when I took the step to dare to dream big, but dream I did.

Just 4 years later was my introduction to Lane Realty, when I came to work here as just a secretary.  Like Harris, young and learning from someone else, I learned the real estate business.  In 1994, also in February I enrolled in real estate school.  I was licensed in the fall of that year.  In January of 1995 when my broker retired I bought his company.  It was 1997 before I became the broker.  Ten years later I dreamed big again and built a new office.  Boy has that six years flown by.

And here I sit in February dreaming even bigger.  I am in school working on getting my instructors license to teach real estate in the state of Georgia.  And further I plan to actually form a real estate school.  Dream big, go for it.  You CAN do it.  And today when driving down the old country road past a plantation where a 14 year old went to work, I realized that 12 year old little me learned it's okay to dream big and go for it from the lessons I learned about that illegitimate little boy who went to work on that plantation.

I did a great job raising my daughter with the help of my family without much input from her father.  I kept her fed, warm, clothed and taught her a wonderful work ethic.  I taught her that no one can stop you from becoming more, having more, and being more but yourself.  Dream big.  Go for it.

I hope that a year from now I will be ready to launch my real estate school and share my knowledge of dreaming big and going for it to other new agents who want to have and be more.  But I have to remember to thank all those people who helped me, taught me, encouraged me and believed in me.  Who would have thought one of them died July 3, 1908?