Hope Leitner, Realtor®, CRS

I consider myself to be fairly successful in life. I've worked hard, been smart, and pushed when the going got tough. I know that success isn't a straight road, and that along the way, there can be a lot of bumps and potholes. But I believe that pushing through is what leads us to success. Sure, I know that sometimes there are detours. But we need to keep going towards our destination rather than turning back or quitting. I believe that failing at something is merely a set-back, and that failing is not the same as quitting! You might be familiar with the quote by Thomas Edison, Inventor of the light bulb, who said: "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." I think some of the greatest gifts we can give our children are the capacity to endure failure, the strength to persevere, and the occasional tough love they need so that they aren't allowed to quit...so that they learn to recognize the capacity for resilience within themselve...

How often have you heard someone say this: "I wish my kids (grand babies) were closer?" While technology has made it easier to connect with loved ones remotely, we've also become far more fragmented and disconnected - feeling more isolated and alone. A changing economy has left more families living apart in different time zones than ever before. Many of us barely know our extended family at all. It use to be the norm to grow up with grandsparents, aunts, cousins, and uncles nearby. They were very present in our lives. In many ways we've not only lost memories for a lifetime, but a true support system right down the street. If you know someone who lives too far away or hear someone mentioning that their loved ones are too far away, take out your cell phone, look up my number (858-382-3763) and call or text me immediately. I belong to a national network of realtors and lenders and I can help them find a new home that reunites them with their loves ones!