Home > Blogs > Gary Woltal > Gary Woltal's Blog

Someone Is Calling You Outside To Play

By Gary Woltal

Real Estate Agent with Keller Williams Realty 0575737

January 27, 2009 09:40 AM

Back when I grew up in the Leave It To Beaver Days, it was common for your friends to come over and rap on your front door. Mom would answer the door and if you weren't around at the time they would ask, "Can Johnny or Susie (or Gary) come out to play?" Ah, the pre-Internet, pre-video game days. Times when you could actually fall out of trees or skin your knees on the sidewalk from slipping on your roller skates that were adjustable one size fits all with a "skate key."

In today's computer age we are more connected but spending less time with our kids and other things meaningful to us. It is all about balance. There is a quadrant of time we need to spend a great deal more time in, and that is the

IMPORTANT - NOT URGENT area.

Sure there is plenty to do in Real Estate or any other profession. Anyone claiming to be a 24/7 agent really has their life out of whack.

So think for a minute in your life,

Someone Is Calling You Outside To Play.

It could be children, a spouse, your fitness routine, your self-study, your church, a friend in need, all the things that are SO IMPORTANT to you in life, but for whatever reason right now ARE NOT URGENT.

This is the sector of life that when you die will be the area you will have wanted to savor and spend more time in. Don't wait till it's too late. Make sure you GO OUTSIDE AND PLAY today!

We're gonna have a good time then

Comments(43)

Comment

Show All Comments Sort:

Anne Marie Malf

Malfi Marketing Solutions ~ for real estate professionals - Yardley, PA

Real Estate Marketing Consultant/Virtual Asst, Bucks County,PA

Hi Gary, loved your post - I not only remember having someone come to our door, but going to their door as well asking them to come out and play and then the really important part was not going home until you were called for dinner or when the street lights came on - that was the best - you couldn't get me in the house and cold weather (from Boston) didn't matter when we were kids. NOW, my daughter is almost 11 and she's texting and googling and doing things beyond me even so whenever we have the chance to play whether inside or out - we do it - she's a great reminder to me to take some time each day to play and laugh - it's good for my soul. Thanks for reminding me of the days when I was a kid :) ~Anne Marie

Jan 27, 2009 02:03 PM

Mara Hawks

First Realty Auburn - Auburn, AL

Inactive-2012 REALTOR - Homes for Sale Auburn Real Estate, AL

What a cute picture! And a really fun, imaginary idea :-) I'd stop anytime for a little person like that... thanks for the reminder===which I'll remember tomorrow!

Jan 27, 2009 02:15 PM

Kim Dean

www.GoSimplyTexas.com - McKinney, TX

Simply Texas Real Estate - Broker/Owner

Gary - I couldn't have said it better. The beginning of this year has been all about balancing my professional llife with my kids and husband - some days I look at my 16 month old's face and think about how all I want to do is stay home and play with him. I have to block some days as "Family Days" - otherwise work would suck me in 24/7.

Jan 27, 2009 02:16 PM

Bo Hussung

Bell Title /Triserv LLC - Nashvle, TN

Gary, life is only worth living when you can spend it with the people that you love and it is always better to use the time allotted to show your love back. We won't get a 2nd chance after our time has passed. Live for the moment

Thanks

Jan 27, 2009 02:25 PM

Liz Moras Migic

Chilliwack, BC

Chilliwack, British Columbia - Realtor

OH Gary how good is that??? Can you come out to play! Can we go out and play.......do we remember how to play......remember when?.......oh yeah!:-)

Jan 27, 2009 03:02 PM

Teresa Harris

Lake Real Estate, LLC - Denver, NC

Denver . Lake Norman . Charlotte

Yep, don't you just miss those My Three Son's, Petticoat Junction, Andy Griffith, Bewitched, McHale's Navy, etc, etc, days???

Jan 27, 2009 03:55 PM

Laura Cerrano

Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY

Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

Gary, I had the Father Knows Best days I think :) But I always remember asking if someone could come out and play--I still take time to play! And when my kids didn't want to leave Nintendo, they got thrown outside to play :)!

Jan 27, 2009 08:47 PM

Dorie Dillard Austin TX

Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX

NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Gary,

Boy do I remember when! I use to play outside all day long with my sister and brother. We'd build forts, dam up creeks, climb trees on our 2 acres in up state N.Y. and loved it! A unique time in my life!

Jan 27, 2009 08:53 PM

Missy Caulk

Missy Caulk TEAM - Ann Arbor, MI

Savvy Realtor - Ann Arbor Real Estate

Can I wait a few days it is soooooooooo cold and snowy.

Jan 27, 2009 10:00 PM

Sandy Shores FL Realtor®, Melbourne Real Estate

M & M Realty of Brevard Inc. - Melbourne, FL

Brevard County Real Estate, Florida's Space Coast

Hi Gary, It is so important to keep our lives in the proper perspective. Work hard and play hard. So very true!

Jan 28, 2009 02:03 AM

Sheldon Neal

Bergen County, NJ - RE/MAX Real Estate Limited - Maywood, NJ

That British Agent Bergen County NJ

... absolutely one of my favorite Gary Woltal posts ever ...

I am bookmarking and will email it to myself so I can re-read it.

This may be the biggest thing that many Realtors neglect while being so addicted focused on the daily grind ... myself included.

Great reminder Gary, and today ... I play !!!!!

Jan 28, 2009 02:18 AM

Peggy Wester

Realty Executives Integrity - Grafton, WI

Real Estate Agent Ozaukee & Washington County

I love this post, Gary. I had just gotten home from playing with my 2-1/2 year old nephew yesterday when I read it. It certainly does help to "play" sometimes -- and kids have a way of dissolving all your worries, if even for a little while, in the quickest way.

Jan 28, 2009 03:23 AM

Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker

Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA

Put 40 years of experience to work for you

In my neighborhood, nobody ever knocked on the front door except "company" and salesmen. Friends went to the back or side door. :)

Jan 28, 2009 05:44 AM

Georgie Hunter R(S) 58089

Hawai'i Life Real Estate Brokers - Haiku, HI

Maui Real Estate sales and lifestyle info

That's a cute picture, and in my life it would be my puppy staring at me... that's pretty irresistable.

Jan 28, 2009 10:27 AM

Retired Notworking

Tallahassee, FL

Good advice as long as you don't spend so much in this quadrant that work suffers.

Jan 29, 2009 04:35 AM

Laura Watts

Positive Properties, LLC - Laurinburg, NC

I love this blog...

Gary-I love this blog. It brought back memories of when I was young and my friends would come and ask my Mom if I could come out and play. I had forgotten about that until I read this blog. Thanks for the refreshing reminder of wonderful days gone by. Again, wonderful blog........

Jan 30, 2009 04:05 PM

Kelly Young

The Platinum Group Realtors - Colorado Springs, CO

Colorado Springs Real Estate ~ 719-226-0126

Gary, I grew up in Germany with minimum tv channels available (usually German) and so outside play was life. Even today I always notice when someone is asking about "this tv show" and have not learned to get into it. Hope I never do... However, until recently it was easy for me to jump into the 24/7 real estate boat. Thanks for knock on the door!

Feb 02, 2009 01:03 AM

Scott Guay

Berkshire Hathaway Home Services PenFed Realty - Ocean Pines, MD

Associate Broker. Ocean City and Ocean Pines MD

don't you just love those agents that advertise 24/7. What are they thinking. I just joined a gym last week to get some additional play time in.

Feb 02, 2009 01:10 AM

Kristi DeFazio

RE/MAX Advantage - Colorado Springs, CO

Colorado Springs Rea lEstate 719-459-5468

Gary, This song always makes me cry! My dad's life was cut short (he worked himself to death at age 42!) Balance is what it is all about. Thanks for the reminder of this.

Feb 02, 2009 03:25 AM

The Rains Team

Keller Williams Realty Atlanta Partners - Hoschton, GA

A higher standard in real estate

Great post Gary! Your points are right on--we all need balance in our lives, we can't just work 24/7 and not take some time for our families or for doing things for ourselves. Balance is one of my goals for 2009.

Thanks for sharing,

Anne Rains

Feb 02, 2009 04:41 AM