Character SHINES When the $#IT hits the Fan!

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Grants Pass, OR 199909023

Character ShinesI've often said... character doesn't shine when things are going hunky-dory.  Who needs refining around the edges when business is booming, money is plentiful, love is ever abounding, and toilet paper is in huge supply?  Everyone, said no one!

Character SHINES when the $#IT hits the fan!

Are you gracious?  Check out the comment box on Facebook, where you'll often find a tally of wrongs coupled with not-so-gracious name-calling and finger-pointing.  Do you participate, or quell social bullies?  

Are you kind?  Do your words pack a bite bigger than your neighborhood doberman...  when the waitress gets your order wrong, or that person cuts you off in traffic, or someone grabs the last roll of toilet paper in the midst of a global pandemic?  THESE are perfect scenarios to 'demo' your character.

In a day and age when civility (and TP) are in short supply, let us seize opportunities to RISE and SHINE.  It only takes a spark to get a fire going... the kind of fire that you wanna sit around, roasting marshmallows to Kumbaya.  We can make a difference, one by one, by demonstrating love and good deeds. Call me Pollyanna, but I'd rather hang out around a camp fire sharing rolls of TP with my fellow humans =)

Posted by

Melinda Peterson

Melinda Peterson, ABR, CRS

Oregon Principal Broker

@TheBlessedRealtor

Real Estate Cafe LLC

541-659-1620

Serving Central and Southern Oregon

Inspired by her love for dreamy homes and lattes, Mel specializes in creating relationships of land and life... with a latte laughter =)

BuyinOregon.com

LandandLatte.com

TheOregonDream.com

©2022

Discover Central and Southern Oregon 

Comments (24)

Debb Janes EcoBroker and Bernie Stea JD
ViewHomes of Clark County - Nature As Neighbors - Camas, WA
REALTORS® in Clark County, WA

I'm with you 100%, it really is time to ( rise) and shine, Mel. It is so disheartening to read the nasty comments and commentary on social media. Good grief, this is when our character really shows. Shine on...

Mar 15, 2020 04:14 PM
Melinda (Mel) Peterson

Rise and Shine... I love it Debb!  This is a crisis, no doubt, and a perfect time to spread love and compassion with our fellow humans.  

Mar 15, 2020 04:18 PM
Debb Janes EcoBroker and Bernie Stea JD

It really is - we can turn this into a redefining moment in time when love and compassion begins to reign again. 

Mar 15, 2020 04:19 PM
Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can!
Red Rock Real Estate (435) 632-9374 - St. George, UT
St. George Utah Area Residential Sales Agent

Love and compassion reign and so does having a sense of humor Mel! Being a good neighbor shows more about the true character of a person than giving lip service on social media, making judgements about what people really should be doing or how they should be acting.

Mar 15, 2020 04:48 PM
Melinda (Mel) Peterson

Totally agree Wanda!  We could all take a page out of Mr. Rogers book in being a good neighbor during these tumultuous times! 

Mar 15, 2020 05:37 PM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Los Angeles Pasadena 818.516.4393

Hello Mel AKA Pollyanna - yes, kindness matters.  In good and not-so-good times.  It makes memories memorable for the right reasons.  

Mar 15, 2020 05:33 PM
Melinda (Mel) Peterson

My Mama would agree with you Michael... Kindness matters in good, and not-so-good times. 

Mar 15, 2020 05:38 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Hi Mel- Life becomes easier when we practice good and kindness. We have let our inner good come out when times are tough. 

Mar 15, 2020 05:51 PM
Melinda (Mel) Peterson

You know it Kathy!  I can still remember to this day (some 50 yrs later) the kind souls who provided our family with food and shelter in times of need. 

Mar 15, 2020 05:56 PM
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Hi Mel,  Thanks for sharing this thoughtful post, and reminding us to be conscious of the feelings of others.

Mar 15, 2020 10:49 PM
Melinda (Mel) Peterson

Thanks for stopping by, and you're welcome Bob!  Be kind!

Mar 16, 2020 11:17 AM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Melinda (Mel) Peterson Thanks for the reminder to be aware of "kindness impaired" people. Just left you a message.

 

 Carol Williams this might be a good one for SCS!

Mar 16, 2020 09:37 AM
Melinda (Mel) Peterson

What a wonderful surprise to receive a call from Margaret Rome!  Thank you kind lady... you made my day! 

Mar 16, 2020 11:18 AM
Carol Williams
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Property Manager

Hi Mel,
You are so right!  In these crazy times, we need to be the light and not allow ourselves to sink into the mire of the negativity in the news. 

Mar 16, 2020 10:10 AM
Melinda (Mel) Peterson

So true Carol.  Fortunately, I turned off my TV 7 years ago.  But, I'm still in touch on social media, which at times, can be a curse.

Mar 16, 2020 11:21 AM
Patricia Feager, MBA, CRS, GRI,MRP
DFW FINE PROPERTIES - Flower Mound, TX
Selling Homes Changing Lives

Melinda (Mel) Peterson - I am wishing Irish Blessings to my my favorite Blessed Blogger!

Mar 17, 2020 11:13 AM
Patricia Feager, MBA, CRS, GRI,MRP

Melinda (Mel) Peterson - Thank you for the blessings! Truly, I appreciate it very much!

Mar 18, 2020 02:35 PM
Melinda (Mel) Peterson

Thank you kindly Patricia!  Blessings to you as well my Friend! 

Mar 18, 2020 02:20 PM
Grant Schneider
Performance Development Strategies - Armonk, NY
Your Coach Helping You Create Successful Outcomes

Good morning Melinda (Mel) Peterson - this is the time when we need to have our character shine.

Mar 21, 2020 05:14 AM
Melinda (Mel) Peterson

Couldn't agree more Grant!  It only takes a spark to get a fire going! 

Mar 21, 2020 12:50 PM
Sheila Anderson
Referral Group Incorporated - East Brunswick, NJ
The Real Estate Whisperer Who Listens 732-715-1133

Good morning Melinda and well done. It isn't easy now but civility and kindness matter a lot.

Mar 21, 2020 05:40 AM
Melinda (Mel) Peterson

This is the moment when civility and kindness matters most Sheila

Mar 21, 2020 12:51 PM
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

Good morning, Melinda (Mel) Peterson the true colors always show through when the chips are down.... common sense and THE GOLDEN RULE always win....

Mar 21, 2020 05:44 AM
Melinda (Mel) Peterson

The Golden Rule is timeless and very apropos for this moment Barbara

Mar 21, 2020 12:53 PM
Kat Palmiotti
406-270-3667, kat@thehousekat.com, Broker/REALTOR® - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

Last night on a local facebook group, a worker at a local grocery store posted that people needed to get a grip - she was tired of the nastiness. Many many responders told her how much the community appreciates everyone who is still working. The stores are very low on many items and things like eggs, t.p., frozen veggies, tuna, etc are non-existent. It's not the cashiers fault. I agree everyone needs to be kind. Especially when SHTF.

Mar 21, 2020 06:08 AM
Melinda (Mel) Peterson

I hear ya Kat!  I feel for those grocery store clerks who are dealing with the gamit of tudes, not to mention the close proximity they have to people who may be sick. 

Mar 21, 2020 12:55 PM
Thomas J. Nelson, REALTOR ® e-Pro CRS RCS-D Vets
Big Block Realty 858.232.8722 - La Jolla, CA
CEO of Vision Drive Realty - Coastal San Diego

A great reminder. Adversity reveals our true character. I suppose we'll mee t the real us in the coming weeks. Home it's a good introduction. Good job!

Mar 21, 2020 06:52 AM
Melinda (Mel) Peterson

Meeting the real us is truly a "Come to Jesus Moment" for some.  Thanks for stopping by Thomas

Mar 21, 2020 12:57 PM
Christine Wade
Christine Wade - Townsend, MT
Operations Strategist / Online Business Manager

You have a fun way with words! All we can control in this world is ourselves...time for everyone to step up and become really good at that.

Mar 21, 2020 08:50 AM
Melinda (Mel) Peterson

Thanks Christine!  I'm all for stepping up our game and getting really good at that! 

Mar 21, 2020 12:59 PM
Sharon Lee
Sharon Lee's Virtual Assistance - Jonesborough, TN
Retired and loving life

Mel. It would be wonderful to sit around a campfire with you and friends. These kind of times bring out the best and worst in people.

Mar 21, 2020 10:00 AM
Melinda (Mel) Peterson

I should provide a disclaimer, that we would all have to sit about 6ft apart around that campfire Sharon

Mar 21, 2020 01:00 PM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Mel:

Thank you, thank you for this wonderful post. These are challenging times indeed, which are bringing out many frustrations, anxieties and worse, but at the same time I have personally witnessed lots of kindness and thoughtfulness in person and online...people helping people and putting others before them. Being rude, unkind and thoughtless accomplishes nothing.

Jeff

Mar 21, 2020 11:10 AM
Melinda (Mel) Peterson

I too, have witnessed wonderful human kindness in the midst of this crisis Jeff.  Let's believe there is still good in the world!

Mar 21, 2020 01:02 PM
Sheri Sperry - MCNE®
Coldwell Banker Realty - Sedona, AZ
(928) 274-7355 ~ YOUR Solutions REALTOR®

Hi Mel,

In times like this, the negative really stands out. I choose to look at the good that is happening. 

Mar 21, 2020 12:01 PM
Melinda (Mel) Peterson

I'm with you Sheri... choosing to see the positive is a conscious choice one can make every day!  

Mar 21, 2020 01:04 PM
Linda Metallo DiBenardo
RE/MAX Impact, Lockport, Illinois - Lockport, IL

Remaining calm is the ticket.   

Mar 22, 2020 09:19 AM
Melinda (Mel) Peterson

Indeed Linda 

Mar 22, 2020 05:09 PM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

I'll go for the campfire - but would prefer to roast marshmallows, not TP!

I wonder, years from now, if 2020 will be remembered as the year of toilet paper hoarding.

Love your humor and your attitude...

Mar 26, 2020 09:13 PM
Melinda (Mel) Peterson

Lol... me too Marte!  Life is so much better with roasted marshmallows, don't ya thing?! 

Apr 04, 2020 01:29 PM
Jan Green - Scottsdale, AZ
Value Added Service, 602-620-2699 - Scottsdale, AZ
HomeSmart Elite Group, REALTOR®, EcoBroker, GREEN

Love this blog!  There's so much hysteria over all of this that sometimes we lose that smile.  Best to get back to reality, this too shall pass.  Practicing good hygiene and being vigilant is key. 

Apr 01, 2020 07:33 PM
Melinda (Mel) Peterson

Thanks Jan!  I think I have a PhD in smiling in the face of adversity! 

Apr 04, 2020 01:31 PM