Towards the end of November, we hosted our 5th Annual Pie Giveaway Event, just when the air and the skies were becoming clear again. This year we held the event at Paul Martin’s restaurant at Hillsdale Mall. It was an amazing turn out!
I enjoyed reconnecting with old & new clients, some trusted vendors and colleagues, our community and friends. The thing that struck me the most was the connections that were being made that evening. Days before the event the air and life in general, to me, seemed eerie and dark. In fact, I wasn’t sure if we should host the event or cancel it. I wasn’t sure how people were feeling or if anyone would show up!
After sending out confirmation emails it was apparent that the majority of people still planned to attend. Slowly but surely, everyone started arriving to the event and as I greeted guest after guest, my heart began to overflow with gratitude. Pure, sincere, humble gratitude. Every person that I got to reconnect with brought back memory after memory of our time with one another. For those of you who have ever sold or bought a home, you may remember that your Realtor was very much a part of your day to day life during the entire process which, for some may be weeks, months or even years at a time (depending on the real estate market). Nevertheless, I always seem to get emotionally attached to my clients at some level. I get to know them intimately, even for just a season. We share life, hopes, dreams and vulnerabilities during that brief transaction. It is more than a transaction. It is an emotional experience that for a brief moment, my clients allow me to be a part of.
Sometimes life, especially here, can be so taxing and a little unrewarding yet, that night, I was sweetly reminded of one of the reasons I do this business! Relationships. I love people! I love helping them, I love getting to know them and I love being able to build community with them beyond helping the real estate process! And, that night, that joy transcended my own experience. My clients were engaging, sharing and creating community among one another! What an incredible blessing it was to witness relationships being formed and others being nurtured & cultivated.
For another brief moment in time, we all came together in community to share experiences, food and laughter. A welcome reprieve from the days prior. Although there are some people who don’t appreciate or value relationships, loyalty or integrity the way I do, that night I was beyond blessed to be among a unique group of people who actually share my same values and, in so doing, made new friends and created a new community that I intend to help nurture!
This may not be the way you view real estate, however, it’s the way I believe God intended for me to do real estate. Wishing you and yours a life filled with meaningful friendships, more laughter than your heart can hold, a little sorrow to keep us grateful & humble, a passion to help those in need and love for life and others to make your hearts full!
Love & gratitude, Rica Ruiz