In life we make a lot of decisions but how often do we powerfully choose who to be in any given moment - or choose what life if giving us without wishing for something else?
I recently watched the movie "Happy Go Lucky". I watch a lot of movies and Sally Hawkins was nominated for an Academy Award (plus Mike Leigh directed) so I was quick to rent it when it came out on DVD. Title was upbeat and I had seen a few film clips of her happy face and maybe a bit of a ‘too good to be true' personality. I was watching it with a couple of friends - one of whom likes "happy ending" movies. I am usually in charge of deciding on the movies which means taking into consideration everyone's tastes (i.e. worried if they will like it). I figured I would hit a home run with this one.
Being a serious person and not prone to laughter and lightness, I was a bit bored in the beginning. If your bicycle gets stolen, you should get upset! At one point, I told my movie mates that I wasn't yet captivated by the movie. I like the ones that have me emotionally involved. Happy films are nice but I want to be moved, identify with it, have opinions and attached to an outcome. But this film was subtle . . . and has continued to linger in my mind.
After losing her bicycle, she takes driving lessons from the most miserable and negative person--the antithesis of her personality. I couldn't figure out why she didn't get a new instructor-I would have been gone after the first lesson. She kept coming back for more lessons even when others were warning her to move on. Finally they had a major encounter/argument which was the core of the movie. She was clearly affected by what he said-it had her reflect. I wondered: Is she hurt by this - can she continue to be "Happy Go Lucky"? Or, is she just ‘avoiding' the reality of life around her--might we call her gullible or shallow?
After all her reflection, she chose to be happy-hurt or not! What struck me was that it wasn't just an automtic, fall back into an old way of being--it was a choice. The driving instructor (and those he personified) reacts to life, caught in the endless roller coaster of likes and dislikes, opinions and worries-the life of maybe/maybe not. The character called Poppy (and those she personifies) consciously chooses, with alertness and freedom, to be happy in spite of the ups and downs.
As a Realtor, I always say the market is "challenging"-rather than it's bad or "wish it were different". I chose to be a Realtor-I love this profession. I just so happen to be a Realtor at at ime when the market is declining in value. That doesn't stop me from creating and moving forward. I work on my online presence, make videos of the community to be known as the "local expert" and educate myself so that I can encourage and inform people in the challenging decision to buy or sell a home. In the end, life is about choice and not an automatic response to circumstances.
Many people are nervous about the market, about buying, selling, foreclosures, short sales and property taxes. I totally understand. There are so many factors in making that decision--has the market bottomed out--will my home depreciate within a few months of buying--when will it get better. In the meantime, I have clients who need a bigger home to raise their family, who want to be out of an apartment and have a garden, who want a better location to cut down on travel time--and we all want to be happy the decision. After weighing the pros and cons, it really comes down to choosing.
As a Realtor, I do my best to provide all the resources and knowledge I can for my clients to consider before they make that choice. "Happy Go Lucky" made visible what it looks like to be a person who expects the worst. It takes a lot more muscles to scowl than smile. Buying or selling is not right for everyone right now. For those on the fence, I believe the market will improve sooner rather than later and there are a lot of factors that make it the "perfect storm" to buy--particularly if you are a first time buyer. I know investors believe it - I have been getting calls from Canada and out of state--there are a lot of people who are investing in property right now--a lot of people who want to invest in Michigan.
Royal Oak Realtor selling Real Estate in Southeastern Michigan. TishHouse sells Houses - selling Oakland County Real Estate with RE/MAX Showcase Homes in Birmingham, Michigan. Helping People in a challenging market by specializing in Short Sales. See what my clients have to say about my extraordinary customer service. Follow me on Twitter.
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