Another Monday morning, another early rise, another entry written as I sit in bed typing before the sun lights up the sky. It’s becoming a habit, albeit a pleasant one. (Oh and to complete the scene, yes, there’s a gentle flash of lightning, and the cool breeze of a night-time rain.)
Yesterday was my last tuition day, with the exams over and the kids spending the time in class chatting, playing games, and more or less having slush for brains. I took pictures with most of the kids, and posted them on instagram.
It’s a sad feeling, saying goodbye, and I’ll let myself sit with it for a little while longer… I have known these kids for at least half a year, and they’ve writen stories and shared their lives and I’ve gotten to know and appreciate them for who they are.
They’re brilliant, every single one of them.
Maybe they don’t realise it. Maybe they’re a little distracted right now with games and friends and everything else that’s exciting. Maybe their lives had twists they couldn’t control and they’re already doing their best.
We all need to find the places and people that will love us and let us shine.
And I hope they find that.
When you do something for love, you know you can do it.
Yesterday was also the day I finally sat down with a new friend.
We’ve been trying to meet and chat for weeks and the stars aligned.
It was an interesting chat, another soul I’m glad I met, and that line above is one of the things we shared (and I feel comfortable posting here).
And as the sun rises, it’s time for me to turn to real estate.
Yesterday (such a busy day,) I realised, with a slight jolt, that
real estate is a business, and that I’ve been in business all this time.
Because of the real estate course and the exams, and the learning curve, I’ve fallen back into an old mindset that there are right and wrong answers, and that my manager, trainers, facilitators and leaders knew all that I didn’t know.
Then Friday’s Super Business Orientation happened, and there was a chat or two after, which reframed my mind.
There are no correct answers in real estate. (Yes, there are laws, and there are things that must be done correctly, but that’s not what I’m talking about.) Real estate is a business. Like writing, like blogging, like even tutoring, there is no “follow this guidebook, all these instructions, and you will find gold at the end of the road”.
I know my stuff because I’ve gone exploring, gone searching, and let myself figure things out.
I’ve tried things, tested things, let things go wonky and awry and shut things down.
More importantly, I’m still here.
I’m blogging because I’ve figured out how. I write because I’ve let myself fall in love and be constanty exposed to words. And when the kids started asking questions over whatsapp, I realised I could tell them things and help because I’ve been around and paid attention long enough to quickly piece things together.
I’ve got to remember to give myself that time and exposure and love for real estate too.
Also, business has never been about gettings things right.
Business has always been about making things better.
I’m going to, as my manager says, “bang walls”. I’m going to bump around blindly until I find the light switch, and them I’m still going to carry on bumping into things because I’m figuring out the lay of the land.
I’ve got wonderful people around me who are handing me sketches and maps, and that helps. They’re helping me cross the terrain faster, to reach the next city a lot less bruised than they were when they first began their journey.
Yet it’s on me to learn my own lessons. To be a little less clumsy. To find my way of navigating the journey with an ease that will be unique to me, as their journeys and choices are unique to them.
I have strengths they do not and weaknesses they do not. Experiences we do not share. That’s why, while they show us everything they can, they’re also pushing us to go out and experience things for ourselves. That’s why they remind us that we’re not supposed to become exactly like them, just to use what we find is useful.
They learned through the actual work, through talking to people, and that’s the same thing we’ve got to do — that I’ve got to do as well.
The classes and sessions and coffee chats are to become the base. A home to return to after we’ve gone out exploring. The camp in which we sit by the fire and share stories.
The real life is out there.
❤️🌧️
Image of a fire by a lake in the forest by Henning Sørby from Pixabay.
I’m reminded of Ariel’s “what’s a fire and why does it — what’s the word — burn?”
It’s now my turn.
