Yesterday I was in Seaside at Mercantile, a very cool store with excellent customer service. I was buying Jennifer a pair of boots for Christmas. While at the front counter, I noticed a large blackboard full of wonderful sayings. The clerk allowed me to snap a picture. One stood out:

It’s Not Happy People who are Thankful. It’s Thankful People who are Happy.

It is two days before Christmas. I’ve decided to share the truth of this statement in my blog. Because it might help someone who is struggling. You see, in 2001, Jennifer and I had no clue we would eventually settle on real estate as our final career. We had both recently divorced and were starting our new life together. We were struggling in every way living in Savannah, GA.

Things got so bad we were 11 days from foreclosure. Over 1.5 million in debt. The chaos of blended families. A $33,000 tax bill. And our water front property had been on the market for quite some time. About $100,000 in equity would be lost if we couldn’t sell. Life sucked. No offers. When suddenly, a miracle happened and our property sold. Wow. So Thankful.

During this “dry season’ of our lives, I wrote over 100,000 words documenting our struggles. By struggles, I mean financially, physically, mentally, spiritually, emotionally and family. It was like being held underwater indefinitely.

After six long hard years, we finally emerged victoriously. Because we had faith things would eventually turn around, we worked very hard, educated ourselves, and retooled the engine so to speak. We also believe so deeply in our faith and America, the land of opportunity. The spirit of optimism, work, and restoration.

As a result of the struggles, I became a changed man. Prior to the ‘dry season’ I was like a Chihuahua. Nine feet tall and bullet proof. After the struggle, I was simply Thankful. Because I realized how vulnerable I really was relative to this world. And I stumbled upon the truth of what really matters.

I’m Thankful for our home. I’m Thankful for food, clothing and shelter. I’m Thankful for clean water. Thankful for my eyes, ears, and limbs. And to those who sacrificed theirs for my freedom. Thankful for air conditioning. Thankful for a front parking space at Publix. Thankful for true love. Thankful for family and great neighbors. Thankful for my health. Thankful for every client. Thankful that I know who I am.

Naturally, this doesn’t mean every day is a holiday. And life sucks when you have problems and no money. Life is better when you have problems, but have money. And when you think about it, shouldn’t life really be 90% vacation and 10% struggle? Quality of life matters.

So if you’re someone who is struggling in real estate and you feel like you’re underwater, or you’re frustrated, depressed, or have suffered an injustice, please be encouraged. Hold on. The levee will break and your struggle could lead you to your true destiny. Don’t focus on what you don’t have. Be thankful for what you do have. Particularly friends and family. And be thankful that in 10 days a new year begins!

I’m Bob the Appraiser. Bob the Broker. Bob the Instructor. Bob the Expert Witness. Bob the Consultant. Bob the Project Manager.

And Bob is very Thankful.

BBQ: Success is going from failure to failure without any loss of enthusiasm -Unknown

BLT: When the Levee Breaks by Led Zepplin