This is the time of year for reflection, goal setting, remembering the good times and not-so-good times of the past year.  For me, I try to always take a positive attitude.  Even though the nation as a whole isn’t at its best right now, as individuals we have so much to appreciate every day.

Being a real estate agent, at the end of the year I always look back and reflect on each deal completed.  It’s especially fun to think about all the new people I meet through this business, many who become friends.  For example, I had dinner this week with  clients: the husband was the Sargent at Arms for the Senate and the wife is working on a new initiative with Michelle Obama on post-tramatic stress syndrome that will be announced later this month.  Fascinating stories to share!  How lucky I am that real estate brought me these wonderful new friends!

This past twelve months  I enjoyed getting to know Stephen and Tamara, Anna and Dave, Lisa and Keith, Diann and Jeff, Ron and his family..Bryant and Ruth welcomed their first baby and Brad bought another fixer-upper to work on.  Christina is at the UMKC dental school and Chris saved his first life as an ER doctor.  Think for a moment about the new people you met in 2011–some join your regular circle of friends, some are more acquaintances.  Everyone different, everyone contributes somehow to your daily life. It reminds me of the lyrics to “Seasons of Love” from the musical Rent:

“Five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes, how do you measure, measure a year?  In daylight, in sunsets, in midnights, in cups of coffee…”

I measure my year by the fun times with family and friends, the quirky cultural events everyone talks about, holidays spent in overcoats and shorts, vacation days and Facebook updates, memorable books and movies,  new music heard and meals shared… and the new friendships I’ve made.  I know 2012 will be just as memorable…a surprise of some sort every day, and thankful for it!