With Halloween only a week away, you may think I'm referring to Frankenstein rising from the dead. But no, I'm talking about the American Dream. The Dream of owning your own home. It's a concept that needs a jolt of reality to bring it back from the dead. The American Dream of owning your own home is very real, and still very possible with a shocking bit of realty. You doubt my wisdom? I recite the condensed version of the idiom - "you get what you need, not what you want". Wise men have told us this down through the ages. Do we listen? No. It's a hard concept for us to accept. We're led to believe that we should dream bigger and bigger, and somehow that it is better. I think it's time to question our values and wants. Remember even the Stones got it........the song, "Satisfaction".
In today's world and economic condition we are now experiencing, each of us needs to let go of our negative thoughts of never having enough to enable us to enjoy what we do have and what we can achieve. Yes, we all seem to want the newest, the biggest, the best, the fanciest, the best location, and on and on..Let's get real. That 5000 square foot log home on the lake with a fantastic view of the mountains is a dream I'm probably not going to get unless I win the lottery. Oh, and don't forget the sports cars in the 8 car garage. And I mean a really big dollar lottery. Should I count on that? Probably not. To achieve a goal, I must have a realistic dream for me. One I can visualize accomplishing - even if with baby steps. What's a realistic dream for you?
My point is, there are options out there for everyone of us. You need to dream realistically, set your goals, and go for it. If a brand new home with all the frills doesn't fit within your budget, there's always HGTV. Watching the make-over shows will give you a wealth of ideas. No kidding - I've seen some great improvements accomplished for not a lot of money. I realize that not everyone is a 'do it yourselfer' - in that case, prioritize and have a plan of what you can live with now, and what you want to improve on next. Hire somebody. It's pretty amazing what a coat of paint can do. Just by changing the color of a room, you can enlarge it, make it smaller, personalize it to fit your style. You can apply this to purchasing a new home that maybe is not exactly what you were hoping for, but has potential. Maybe you have decided that trying to sell your home right now in order to buy isn't going to work in this market and it would be better to wait. You can still make your current home more to your liking without breaking the bank. Be willing to commit to a realistic goal and go for it. I don't think you will be sorry you did. All in all, the American Dream is still alive.
Climbing off my soapbox for now...Jackie Bush-Turner
Look forward to your comments.
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