STARTING OVER

STARTING OVER

By Bill Barksdale, GRI Realtor®

A big part of my job his helping people through major transitions in their lives – starting over – change.

I’m going to wander a bit so come with me.  Many of you who know me know that I also direct theater productions and design sets.  This is something I’ve done for many years, even longer than real estate.  Oh my gosh, could It be that long?

Early this morning as I was on my walk I dropped into the Willits Community Theatre.  I’ve begun work on a new play.  Yesterday I was at the theater and the set for the show that just closed was up, a huge set.  I was assured that by today that set would just be a box of casters and some panels leaning against the wall, so I could begin rehearsals in an empty space.  “Sure” I thought to myself, but when I ducked into the place early this AM that set was completely gone except for some paint on the floor.  

I was standing in an empty theater.  I’ve stood in this same theater many times before, faced with the task of creating a new production and guiding a lot of other people along to realize the vision that creates a piece of theater.  I’ve spent literally thousands of hours in this space starting over again and again with each new production.  It’s a huge job that requires organization, perseverance and a single-minded resolve to get to the goal.

My real estate job and my theater job have a lot in common.  A goal is set before me and then it’s my job to coordinate a team of people and figure out how to get to that common goal together.  A good real estate agent is like a good theater director.  They are a caring parent, guiding, looking over, solving problems that come up, trying to understand what is concerning someone else, putting everything you have into reaching the goal.  In real estate it’s the client’s goal.  

Starting over can be stressful.  It also offer opportunity to let go of the past and imagine what could be.  If I have to start over will I choose to just do the same thing in the same place or will I have the inspiration and courage to try something I’ve never allowed myself to do before?  

When you’re working on a new show, you’re working with a new script so the story is inherently different.  When you’re moving to a new house, even a new town and culture, the change is much more personal and profound.  

Some people choose to start over, some people are forced into it by circumstances.  Health issues, jobs, affordability, aging, family,  fire, flood, earthquake, even man-made disasters like war, politics, and greedy self-serving power elites - can force people to move on, to start over.   

Just like making a good play, starting over – can be starting fresh, creating a new story.  It’s the next thought, the next moment that moves one ahead.  Like a good play, life is lived moment-to-moment, choice-to-choice.  Whether we think about it or not we can do nothing but live moment-to-moment.  The path goes where your mind, where your imagination goes.  

There’s an old saying that you’ve likely heard.  “Home is where the heart is”.  Real home, nurturing home is where you feel passion – alive, even the joy of life.  Looking for a satisfying life doesn’t necessarily mean moving someplace else.  As actress Meryl Streep said, “You pack your own bag.”  She was speaking of creating a character – what characteristics does that character have.  We choose our own thoughts, we pack our own bag.  

The ego usually speaks louder than the soul, but the ego dies with the body.  What is your soul saying to you?  Are you listening?  Find that quiet time whenever possible to truly listen to what is calling to you.  Where is peace for you?  If you truly pack your own bag, where is the joy in your life?  Kindness is one of the things that, ultimately, must go in each of our bags.