Am I Going Crazy!

Thoughts are flowing in and out of our brains every few seconds. Some days we can manage them and others it feels like we are out on an island of crazy…all alone! Think how many times in your life you thought you were the only one with anxious moments and dread of the future. You and I both know you are not alone. Especially when it comes to our home and our future.

Consistency and comfort in knowing what tomorrow will bring is what we all strive for. But is that realistic? My old boss use to say, “you can make your plans, but you can’t plan the results!” How true. Life can be a collage of thoughts, consisting of hopes, dreams, fears, sadness, and happiness. As we age, the world can look much differently than it did in our 20’s and 30’s. We become more set in our ways and less apt to take on new concepts and technology. Remember our grandparents when we were young saying unequivocally, “the world is going to hell in a hand basket!” Guess what, now that we are the grandparents that statement doesn’t always seem so dissimilar from that of our predecessors.

This article is not meant to focus on the dark side of life but to engage you in some realistic thinking about where you stand with your current lifestyle, your home, and your future desires. We all want to stay independent and not rely on others to tell us what we should think or when we should make a move. That is a good thing. Being self-reliant is so important to our well-being. However, many of us do rely on others to help us maintain our health and happiness to the best of our ability.

Being realistic means discussing our lives and plans with those we trust and count on. It means allowing others into your life that truly know you and your tendencies. Those trusted advisors can be like a mirror to show us who we truly are now, in this time. Our health and financial situations are constantly changing and along with that comes our need to maintain the lifestyle we so desire. Know thyself is one of those axioms we have heard throughout our lives but is that attainable as we are constantly changing.

This is a great time of year to investigate, gain knowledge, and gather facts about issues at the forefront. When it comes to your home, we can be so disconnected from reality as fear of change trumps all other emotions. That is why it is best to talk with friends and professionals about your future. Do not wait for change to force your hand. Be proactive by gathering information such as downsizing your treasures, how to prepare your home for a future sale, and knowing exactly where your current financial situation stands and what choices you can make based on that information. Lack of knowing leads to anxiety, fear and the result being procrastination.

I want to wish you a very happy and healthy new year with the hope that you maintain your independence, health, and happiness. That is a recipe for a good life no matter what your situation. Making lemonade out of the lemons coming our way is the same for all of us. You are never alone as we are all connected in ways we do not understand. Therefore, when feeling like you are the only one procrastinating and held back by fear of the future, know that you have many folks on your team all striving for that same goal…true happiness.

Bruce Nemovitz is a Senior Real Estate Specialist, a Certified Residential Specialist, as well as Certified Senior Advisor. He has started a company to help agents across the country understand the unique perspectives of seniors and their families as they transition from their long-time homes. Bruce sells   residential homes in the four county Milwaukee-Metro area and has done so for over 35 years.

He has published a book called “Moving in the Right Direction”, A Senior’s Guide to Moving and Downsizing. Bruce has written a second book for the children of seniors, “Guiding Our Parents in the Right Direction”, Practical Advice about Seniors Moving from the Home They Love.   His website (Bruce’s Team) information centers on the challenge of moving from a long-time home into a senior apartment or community. Bruce received the 2010 “Realtor of the Year” from the board of the GMAR (Greater Milwaukee Association of Realtors with almost 4,000 members).

Bruce created a program for agents wanting to specialize in the senior niche market called, “Brick by Brick”, Building a Successful Senior Based Business.  

He has been listed in Milwaukee Magazine’s 5-Star Agents list for the last seven years in a row. As such, he’s one of only a handful of Realtors who are continually included in the top 7% in client satisfaction in the Milwaukee Metro area. He’s rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau, and was a finalist for Concordia College’s Ethical Business Leadership Award.He works with his wife Jeanne at Realty Executives Integrity.