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Gratitude in a hat

By
Real Estate Agent with Realty ONE Group Advocates 484-237-2055 PA License - AB067198

I began a gratitude habit several years ago. In fact I have always been an optomist and in a way grateful for everything going on around me. Life is a journey and I have learnt to be grateful for that journey.

The only thing I wasn't particularly grateful for as a child were school reports, fish and brussel sprouts.

School for me was a place to have fun, meet friends and generally enjoy myself. Unfortunately teachers thought it entailed something else called learning and that could only be done if you were quiet and studious, very hard for me, it still is.

I always wanted to understand how what I was being taught could be applied. Teachers did not always know how to explain that. As a result, I never really enjoyed learning. However, as I grew, I discovered self improvement books and things that interested me. I found that reading, and as the internet developed watching videos or listening to speakers was a fine way to learn about just about anything. So, I learnt to enjoy learning and being curious and improving my skills. So, I am grateful for those new teaching/learning methods.

Fish and brussel sprouts were the only two things I did not like eating, in fact just the smell of fish was known to have dramatic results that entialed runs for the bathroom. However, I have grown to be grateful for both of these, I love cooking and fish on the grill is a favourite. Next to this paragraph is a plate of shrimp and octopus I ate last year on my Camino and it was delcious, grateful I did not miss it.

Brussel sprouts less so, but in a casserole with plenty of apples, onions and bacon, or raw in a salad are fine ways to enjoy them. So, I am grateful for discovering that things that aren't good when you are young change and maybe with some additional ingredients can become wonderful.

As I finish up I think also of cabbage, when I was young, not so great, as I have grown, I love it in so many ways, red cabbage, cabbage soup, sauerkraut, it is endless.

Times change and with them we can be grateful we also change out attitude to things too.

Posted by

 

Nick Vandekar
Nick is a Tredyffrin Easttown Residential and Commercial REALTOR selling The Main Line, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery Counties.

Giving you the confidence to make
the right decisions.

225 W Uwchlan Ave
Downingtown , PA 19335
Office 484-237-2055
SellingTheMainLine.com
Mobile: (610) 203-4543 [call or text me]
Email Me

 

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If you are buying or selling on or around
Tredyffrin Easttown or along the Main Line, 
I can help you, contact me.

Comments(37)

Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Thank you very much for sharing some of your personal experience. 

When I was a kid, I did not like spinach!

Times change and with them we can be grateful we also change our attitude to things too.

Nov 05, 2019 09:02 AM
Nick Vandekar, 610-203-4543
Realty ONE Group Advocates 484-237-2055 - Downingtown, PA
Selling the Main Line & Chester County

Roy Kelley I think peas were my favourite vegetable growing up, thank goodness we change as you say.

Nov 05, 2019 11:24 AM
Diana Dahlberg
1 Month Realty - Pleasant Prairie, WI
Real Estate in Kenosha, WI since 1994 262-308-3563

Enjoyed your post and can identify with some of the same foods ... that today are still not my favorites.  As we grow older we try more things and our attitude and gratitude become more refined.  Your story is a good example Nick Vandekar, 610-203-4543 

Nov 05, 2019 05:54 PM
Nick Vandekar, 610-203-4543
Realty ONE Group Advocates 484-237-2055 - Downingtown, PA
Selling the Main Line & Chester County

Diana Dahlberg I am still not a big lover of brussel sprouts, but will try small amounts, whilst I do like them raw in a salad, and fried with bacon and onions, but plain, no thanks.

Nov 06, 2019 06:16 AM
Diana Dahlberg

I'm with you... when I don't like something the smaller I can chop it the better.  In time as I get used to this new taste I can start to develop a liking. At least that is my goal.  Definitely add bacon to anything I don't like because I LOVE bacon. Just sayin'

Nov 06, 2019 08:00 PM
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

OH boy! Brussels sprouts was one that I hated too, Nick. In fact, I didn't grow to enjoy them until about 3-4 years ago. The funny thing, now I REALLY love them! Ray & I discovered them together and we have found that cooking them with lots of pepper, Balsamic vinegar and a little bacon...we can eat as a meal! LOL

Good to get to know a little more about you, Nick and thanks for participating in this month's challenge!

Nov 06, 2019 06:23 PM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Love your entry.  In school, you wanted to have fun  and  I'm glad to hear that learning is now fun for you.

This is what learning should be about:

''I always wanted to understand how what I was being taught could be applied.''

Nov 07, 2019 07:32 AM
Rose Mary Justice
Synergy Realty Pros - Dandridge, TN
Synergy Realty Pros

As we grow older we often see things in a different light hence "The Change"

Wishing I had studied more as well but Thank Goodness my ability to learn is still in tact and I am more willing, plus You tube makes it easy.  

The foods-I find myself liking peas now but still not onions although I do like them fried or onion rings. 

Grateful for the small things and bigger fish will come your way.

Nov 07, 2019 08:01 AM
Nick Vandekar, 610-203-4543
Realty ONE Group Advocates 484-237-2055 - Downingtown, PA
Selling the Main Line & Chester County

Debe Maxwell, CRS that sunds good, will have to try that.

Margaret Rome, Baltimore Maryland I just completed my continuing education and thoroughly enjoyed it and seeing what I can apply to my real estate life. Part of what I like about AR is the tips and things I learn every day

I am enjoying all the changes, I tend to embrace change and bigger fish will be welcome Rose Mary Justice 

Nov 07, 2019 09:07 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

Fun post and great attitude Nick Vandekar, 610-203-4543 . So have you tried Lutefisk yet? Minot ND is home to the largest Scandinavian festival in North America and Lutefisk is the big "thing" to eat at this festival. Most of us can't smell it or even the sight of it.

Nov 10, 2019 07:21 PM
Carol Williams
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Prop. Mgr, Wenatchee, WA

Hi Nick,
Your last sentence is so powerful if we consider it's absolute power:
Times change and with them we can be grateful we also change our attitude to things too.

Nov 29, 2019 10:26 AM
Georgie Hunter R(S) 58089
Hawai'i Life Real Estate Brokers - Haiku, HI
Maui Real Estate sales and lifestyle info

Loved the title!  A positve attitude can even make brussel sprouts a good thing.

Nov 29, 2019 12:50 PM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

I was never fond of brussel sprouts but funny thing - I just made them for the first time ever - for a thanksgiving dinner we went to. I trimmed, cut each in half, mixed with olive oil, salt, pepper, pecans, and roasted for about a half hour. They were delicious (at least I thought so). I also used to hate beets because I thought those slimy things in a can were beets. Real beets are actually quite good!

Positive attitude really helps our lives become enjoyable.

Nov 30, 2019 06:20 AM
Lottie Kendall
Compass - San Francisco, CA
Helping make your real estate dreams a reality

A wonderful thing for which to be grateful - that our attitudes can change.

Nov 30, 2019 07:03 AM
Nick Vandekar, 610-203-4543
Realty ONE Group Advocates 484-237-2055 - Downingtown, PA
Selling the Main Line & Chester County

Bob "RealMan" Timm if that is the case for you, I think it would make me feel very queasy.

Carol Williams with age comes some wisdom.

Georgie Hunter R(S) 58089 they have grown on me and dare I say it I may even order tham without prompting, especially if any bacon is used in their preparation.

Kat Palmiotti that sounds like a wonderful way to prepare them, yes beets I like too.

Lottie Kendall yes it is, and gives hope for all of us that we might one day all be able to live in peace and see each other equally.

Nov 30, 2019 07:15 AM
Debb Janes
Nature As Neighbors - Camas, WA
Put My Love of Nature At Work for You

Happy to see this featured in Carol Williams Second chance series. Enjoyed reading the comments too. And yes, with age comes wisdom. D

Nov 30, 2019 08:09 AM
Nick Vandekar, 610-203-4543
Realty ONE Group Advocates 484-237-2055 - Downingtown, PA
Selling the Main Line & Chester County

Debb Janes EcoBroker and Bernie Stea JD sometimes with age comes wisdom I think. Thank you for your compliment and appreciate you taking time to read it.

Nov 30, 2019 08:12 AM
Ray Henson
eXp Realty of California, Inc. (lic. #01878277) - Elk Grove, CA
Realtor

If I did not like something, my dad would always say, you just haven't had it done right yet.  It is mostly true.  I am still looking for someone that can cook calf liver right, but brussel sprouts I love!  I enjoyed your post, thank you.

Nov 30, 2019 12:20 PM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Nick:

Being able to change your attitude, and perhaps opinion, is certainly something to be grateful for! Whether it's about food, a person, or something else!

I think that wanting to know why you are learning something is a reasonable thing to ponder, or to ask about.

Jeff

Nov 30, 2019 05:08 PM
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Good morning Nick Vandekar, 610-203-4543 ,

I'm glad that Carol Williams featured your post in her Second Chance Saturday series because I missed it! Thank you for sharing I really enjoyed it as well as the comments.

Dec 01, 2019 04:57 AM
Nick Vandekar, 610-203-4543
Realty ONE Group Advocates 484-237-2055 - Downingtown, PA
Selling the Main Line & Chester County

Raymond Henson I love calves liver, growing up not so much, then learnt to eat it with bacon, like brussel sprouts anything tastes better with bacon, but the trick is not to overcook it and use lots of butter.

Jeff Dowler, CRS I thought so in school, not my teachers though, so that was a little tricky. Being able to cope with change and changing your attitude is always a good thing to cultivate.

Dorie Dillard CRS GRI ABR thank you for reading it and for your comment. Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Dec 02, 2019 11:19 AM