I know I did this when I ran for Congress.... I had some health concerns that popped up while I ran and I really didn't think of them until after the election. I had some medical tests to make sure I could put off my action until after the election and ran for office. I spent the next year having several operations to prevent breast and ovarian cancer. After the election it had seemed as if someone else had ran for office. Someone else had traveled all over the state. Given those speeches. Debated Congressman Mike Simpson. Raised money. Put together a great group of volunteers. It took me a long time to incorporate that strong dynamic woman who stepped out of her confort level into the person who I thought as me. Perhaps going under the surgeons knife shortly afterwards didn't help. By the way I was lucky. I had precancer cells but no cancer so I know I made the correct decisions.
Now lets fast forward 4.5 years to my life at the current time.... I am not running for high political office but I am putting parts of my life into boxes.
1) I have my brother has a recurrence of cancer box. This is real scary. I only have one brother and I love him and his family very much. I am very frightened I might lose him. I feel that he has a 10 year daughter and work is not yet complete. It is funny because he is a world class scientist but it is the raising of his daughter that concerns me. As long as I can remember he has been part of my life. I shake and don't sleep when I am in that part of my life.
I will travel in two days so I can try to be of help when he has part of his lung removed. I listen and I am supportive. I do whatever I can. I pray a lot. I am Jewish but I will take all prayers because I believe there is one God and God is not petty we are. God listens to all of us or that God wouldn't be worth worshiping.
2) I have my husband and sons. They are often self managing but they still like me. I have raised some fine young men. But I enjoy spending what time we have together. I am a little bummed that my youngest has a week off from college and I will be gone. It's OK he goes to college 1/2 hour away so I do see him. I had dinner with him on Wed.
3) Then there is the real estate... As you do I work very hard, and at all hours for my clients. I give it 110%. I think I am a good agent and I am always willing to go the extra mile. I also know when to ask for help when I am confused. I have spent a lot of time recently settling some clients into a contract before my trip. That has been good for me since the busier I am with work the less I think about problem number 1. I can do nothing more than listen right now since my brother is 2500 miles away. I love helping someone find a home. Especially someone find their first home!
4) I do property management on the side. That is related to real estate but very emotionally draining. I manage 13 units. Some of them are nice... Some of them are not. I own 5 of them. My stepmother owns 6 of them. 2 I do for pay. It is the one thing I do that I need to put my distrust had on. So many of my potential tenants have problems. Many of my current tenants (in the not so nice places) have issues. I work with them. I get the rent and try to help them. My husband is convinced I should have been a social worker not a Scientist.
5) OK there is a political hat. It is a hat where I gently try to influence what happens in my state and my community. I give of my time. I give my opinions. I give some money. I help my oldest son in his endeavor to help with politics. I try to stay in the background now but I think most people in my political party know who I am. The cool thing is former Gov. Cecil Andrus knows me and recognises me :) This election I lost 5 pounds going door to door for various local politicians.
6) I also help people on loan modifications. I think a lot of us do. Some people help at the food bank I help people stay in their homes.
Somehow I put all these different parts of my life into boxes.... I am not sure if it is healthy. It is how I manage.... Now it is time to put my real estate hat on and get my contract into my broker and the loan officer. Then I shall put the property management hat on and write a lease. I also have to write instructions for my hubby the math professor who is going to have to go to my office and collect, record and deposit the rents because I will be in Northern Virginia helping my brother and his family deal with the reoccurring cancer.
This is my life in little boxes.
Comments (2)Subscribe to CommentsComment