ActiveRain Community

When I was very young, my mother used to read to  me regularly in the evening before bed. One of my favorite books was The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe which she had also read to my older two sisters years earlier. However, for me, it must have been my enjoyment of the book which led to my parents giving me the other six books of the series as a Christmas gift when I was in first grade. We read these books together during the year, and then I often read them by myself over the next few years, eventually graduating to C. S. Lewis's science fiction series in my early teens.When I got married, I shared the Narnia series with my new husband and read them all to him, and then in turn read them all to our three children when they reached the appropriate age, usually 8 or 9.When my mother ... 12/30/2024

This is not a Rant...but it is a scratch my head and wonder what the heck are they thinking Blog.    (This blog is long and boring...so save this for another time if you do not have a few minutes to read. m)What do you (and those in your market of business) consider to be local or an area where you are comfortable selling real estate in?For example: I currently have property listings as far as 75 miles from where I live. But only 12 miles from where I have an office in my hometown. However, my listing is farmground and I will list farm ground anywhere in the state of Nebraska.Residential and commercial are totally different. I have a vacant commercial land listing that is in my hometown where I am well known.I also have 2 agents in that town and they get all the residential leads UNLESS... 12/30/2024

True peace comes from within, and no external circumstances can provide it. It is up to you to cultivate inner calm and contentment.​​Daily Tip:For a moment today, Practice self-awareness and self-compassion to create a calm, peaceful state, regardless of external situations.​​Rate App Feature of the Day:Try a quick 5-minute guided meditation to calm your mind and reset your energy. This speedy session is perfect for all levels to reduce stress and find peace. Join us on the RATE APP. https://z6u9c.app.link/1YQfJI8pByb  #FeelGoodFriday #FridayMindfulness #DailyPositivity #DailyPositivity2025 #PositivityQuote #PositivityQuotes #GuaranteedRate #Mortgage #MortgageLender #Atlanta #AtlantaMortgage #AlabamaMortgage #ArizonaMortgage #ArkansasMortgage #CaliforniaMortgage #ColoradoMortgage #Flor... 01/03/2025

2024 Is Almost Out The DoorThat week between Christmas and New Years just hits different. Hope all of my ActiveRain buddies had a wonderful Christmas this year. Are any of you working this week?I came into the office to catch up on paperwork and put out a few fires. Not doing any prospecting for new leads until the new year. Will reach out to the expired listings on the first (later in the day, nobody wants an 8am call New Years morning). The calls are mostly well received. I generally pick up at least one listing appointment, one year I got FOUR! Doing this sets the tone for what can be a quiet month. Will do a "my goals for Activerain 2025" post later this week. If you need a top agent around Destin Florida in 2025 give me a call!  12/30/2024

Pursuing new ambitions or imagining fresh possibilities is never too late in life. Age is not a limit to growth or dreaming. ​​Daily Tip:Take time to appreciate the accomplishments you’ve made over the years. This reflection will inspire you to set new goals with confidence.​​Rate App Feature of the Day:Dive into DIM and its role into detoxification from our nutrition expert. Learn how it plays a role in your digestive system and overall health on the RATE APP. https://z6u9c.app.link/1YQfJI8pByb  #MondayMinfulness #DailyPositivity #DailyPositivity2025 #PositivityQuote #PositivityQuotes #GuaranteedRate #Mortgage #MortgageLender #Atlanta #AtlantaMortgage #AlabamaMortgage #ArizonaMortgage #ArkansasMortgage #CaliforniaMortgage #ColoradoMortgage #FloridaMortgage #GeorgiaMortgage #IndianaMort... 12/30/2024

If you know about tax evasion, you can turn that information into cash by becoming a whistleblower for the IRS. They reward informants with 15% to 30% of the money recovered from enforcement actions, which can add up to thousands or even millions. While you might face risks like job loss or social backlash, protections exist under the Whistleblower Protection Act. Just remember, your information needs to be credible. By stepping forward, you not only stand to gain financially but also help uphold ethical standards in our financial system. There's much more to consider on this path.Key Takeaways Confidential informants can receive financial rewards from the IRS for reporting tax evasion, ranging from 15% to 30% of collected proceeds. The IRS reviews submitted information for credibility,... 12/30/2024

“Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.” This simple yet powerful statement is a call to embrace each day as a singular treasure, brimming with potential.   As we stand on the threshold of 2025, Ralph Waldo Emerson’s words resonate with a profound clarity: “Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.” This simple yet powerful statement is a call to embrace each day as a singular treasure, brimming with potential. It serves as a reminder that the true magic of life lies not in extraordinary events, but in the mindful appreciation of the ordinary. The start of a new year often fills us with excitement, hope, and purpose. We set goals, dream big, and envision how the coming months will unfold. But as the novelty of January fades, so too ca... 12/30/2024

When selling your home, one area that often gets overlooked is the garage. Many sellers use this space as a dumping ground for unwanted items. They start packing and moving the items to the garage, but...This is not the way to sell a home!A clean and well-organized garage can significantly enhance the appeal for potential buyers, especially in a city like Baltimore, where the weather varies dramatically from hot summers to icy winters. Imagine entering a tidy garage that effectively showcases its primary purpose: providing ample space for vehicles, tools, and other essentials. This positive first impression highlights the garage's functionality and reflects your overall care for the property. Buyers are looking for functional spaces, and an immaculate garage signals that the home is wel... 12/30/2024

Is there anyone NOT looking for a great deal in real estate?Clients call me for advice when they see what they perceive as a genuine bargain: a home in a desirable neighborhood below market price. They are ready to make an offer. Not so fast. Let's research the property, its history, and the neighborhood. If you are still interested, it's time to visit it with a contractor for evaluation. Every house can be made livable, but at what cost? Buying a home that needs a lot of work can be tempting, especially when you see those bargain prices compared to the rest of the neighborhood. However, weighing the pros and cons before taking the plunge is necessary. **Pros**- Potential for Profit: If you can successfully renovate and quickly sell the property, there’s a chance for a significant retur... 12/29/2024

As we stand on the threshold of 2025, Ralph Waldo Emerson’s words resonate with a profound clarity: “Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.” This simple yet powerful statement is a call to embrace each day as a singular treasure, brimming with potential. It serves as a reminder that the true magic of life lies not in extraordinary events, but in the mindful appreciation of the ordinary.The start of a new year often fills us with excitement, hope, and purpose. We set goals, dream big, and envision how the coming months will unfold. But as the novelty of January fades, so too can our enthusiasm. Emerson’s advice offers a powerful antidote: rather than reserving our excitement for the new year, why not extend it to each day?The spirit of the new year is inherent... 12/30/2024

The root of successful dating, relationships, marriages & friendships as well as job conduct, social acceptances & family intimacy even strangers, FAIL is mainly from a lack of NOT KNOWING about the subject AND even more importantly a NOT KNOWING of themself. What happens? The repeating of what doesn't work but hoping it does, also known as insanity dynamics. Lonely, in pain & insane? NO to this AND stop it already!GETTING TO KNOW YOUHow can YOU know what you want from others when you don't even know yourself? Why is this vital key to success not talked about. Imagine you doing YOUR homework on yourself first, finding out what works, what doesn't & where you lack, then, with a confidence driven by honesty/transparency & genuineness going out there courting for love. The song "getting to... 01/03/2025

“We can all be so much more than we believe or are given to believe.”   This Christmas, a deeply touching memory surfaced as I reflected on a gift exchanged between my son and grandson, Hudson. The gift was the book Jonathan Livingston Seagull, a timeless parable about self-discovery, personal growth, and the courage to follow one’s passions. This wasn’t just any book—it was a cherished copy that Geno, my late husband and Hudson’s beloved PawPaw, had given to my son in 1992. Inside the cover, Geno had penned a heartfelt message that sparked many conversations about the profound idea: “We can all be so much more than we believe or are given to believe.” Yesterday, during a visit to my son’s home, Hudson proudly showed me the book and shared how his dad had given it to him this Christmas.... 12/29/2024

The concept I am going to share should be readily able to be accepted using your own common sense, knowing, logic, reasoning & intuitiveness. The premise is referred to as HYPNOSIS or the power of suggestion. Sound far out? Remember Obi Wan Kenobi, Qui-Gon & Luke all being able to use the JEDI mind trick stating "you will" & "I must", "you want", to get their way using these psychological persuasion tactics?THE WORLD DOES THIS TOOCommercials, jingles, cute sayings, videos, salespeople, movie industry, world leaders & so much more all bombard the public, non-stop with commands, comments & suggestions with statements, requests & distortions of truth. Why?MANIPULATION DEFINED: to change by creative, unfair or one-sided means to get one's way, hidden or blatant purpose carried out. Bias & i... 01/06/2025

My MORE PLAN for 2025 In the coming year, I will avoid the need for more external validation, find more peace within, focus more on the journey and strive more for personal growth. Be ever more grateful and more thankful for the life that Mike and I have created together. I plan to:•  Go fishing more on local lakes •  Have more Silobrations at the Silo•  See more State & National Parks in Utah•  List / Sell more residential properties•  Do more gardening and canning•  Use work day time more wisely•  Get to the golf course more•  Spend more time with family My list is very doable and very close to what has already been implemented in the past. We are very generous, live modestly, which is preferable for us both and everything gained, is by honest means. What's your plan in the coming New... 12/30/2024

This Christmas, a deeply touching memory surfaced as I reflected on a gift exchanged between my son and grandson, Hudson. The gift was the book Jonathan Livingston Seagull, a timeless parable about self-discovery, personal growth, and the courage to follow one’s passions.This wasn’t just any book—it was a cherished copy that Geno, my late husband and Hudson’s beloved PawPaw, had given to my son in 1992. Inside the cover, Geno had penned a heartfelt message that sparked many conversations about the profound idea: “We can all be so much more than we believe or are given to believe.”Yesterday, during a visit to my son’s home, Hudson proudly showed me the book and shared how his dad had given it to him this Christmas. They plan to read it together, continuing the dialogue Geno started all t... 12/29/2024

This is to help get your brain thinking!  See if you can come up with the answer.  If you do, great!  If not, it will help you to really think about what you are reading.Answer for Saturday:If you multiply me by 6 and subtract 15, you get 45. What am I?Answer: 10Brain Buster for Sunday, Jan 12Forward, I am heavy; backward, I am not. What am I? 01/12/2025

This is to help get your brain thinking!  See if you can come up with the answer.  If you do, great!  If not, it will help you to really think about what you are reading.Answer for Friday:How many sides does a dodecagon have?Answer: 12Brain Buster for Saturday, Jan 11If you multiply me by 6 and subtract 15, you get 45. What am I? 01/11/2025

This is to help get your brain thinking!  See if you can come up with the answer.  If you do, great!  If not, it will help you to really think about what you are reading.Answer for Thursday:If you double me and add 20, you get 50. What am I?Answer: 15Brain Buster for Friday, Jan 10How many sides does a dodecagon have? 01/10/2025

This is to help get your brain thinking!  See if you can come up with the answer.  If you do, great!  If not, it will help you to really think about what you are reading.Answer for Wednesday:What is the sum of the first 10 positive integers?Answer: 55 (1+2+3+...+10=10×(10+1)21+2+3+...+10=210×(10+1)​)Brain Buster for Thursday, Jan 9If you double me and add 20, you get 50. What am I? 01/09/2025

This is to help get your brain thinking!  See if you can come up with the answer.  If you do, great!  If not, it will help you to really think about what you are reading.Answer for Tuesday:What is the smallest positive number that is evenly divisible by 2, 3, and 5?Answer:  30Brain Buster for Wednesday, Jan 8What is the sum of the first 10 positive integers? 01/08/2025