Good morning from Bainbridge!
Not sure about you, but I’m welcoming the new year in with open arms this January! 2019 was full of good and wonderful things, but lots of personal and family difficulties and challenges, too. Importantly, 2019 was the year I got my real estate license and made the big switch from a corporate legal job to real estate, and for that, for my supportive and encouraging husband, and for all my clients who helped me get my start, I’m SO grateful! I feel like I’ve hit the lottery! Every day I wake up and get to build a life I love. I’ve bought and begun renovating a handful historic homes around downtown Bainbridge this year (with LOTS of help from Wheat, our friend and partner Banks Miller, our amazing contractor, Jamie McMillan, our banking partners, and so many more!), which is a dream come true for me. I’ve learned so much about so much – I learn something new every single day! (Often several times per day.) I work with an amazing group of Realtors at Premier Group Realty, all of whom are quick to help or explain something or lend a bit of advice. I am surrounded by a group of Godly, strong, independent businesswomen who encourage and motivate and support each other. At the very top of the list, my sweet children are healthy and growing and love that I’m around much more. Adella loves to come with me to a house, and loves to ride around and look at houses, or pretend she has to drive her Power Wheels jeep to showings.
2019 was a banner year in many ways. And I moved a house, for crying out loud! Truly, one for the books, despite many family illnesses and injuries. Still praising the good Lord for the many, many blessings that rain down and hoping to do my best to improve in work and at home in 2020. I don’t make resolutions, but I do set goals for the year, and normally I have a defining word of the year. This year, my work goal is to grow my real estate business and spend more time on outreach – like this blog! Personally, I plan to focus on being able to rest and recharge a lot better. My word of the year is peace, which is much easier said than achieved with two toddlers and a lot of chaos… but it’s good to have goals, right? The past few months have been a bit of a wild ride, and a bit of self care is in order. I’m curious how many of you set goals or resolutions? Are you big picture, or very specific? Do you do a word of the year?
2019 was a great year for Bainbridge, and for the Bainbridge real estate market, as well! We welcomed several new businesses (and new friends!) to town, celebrated grand openings and grand goodbyes (most notably, personally, to dear to me Maiden South), celebrated anniversaries, welcomed new neighbors to town and friends into new homes! I am so thankful for a career based on celebrating so many of these happy milestones with old friends and new ones, too. I’m excited about the direction our little town is heading and the spirit of community and entrepreneurship that fills our downtown and beyond. If you’ve ever wanted to open your own business, or own a home in Bainbridge, now is a great time to get in on the excitement! We’ve got amazing restaurants, cute shops, a craft beer brewery, several gyms… But I’m ever curious: in 2020, what would you like to see here?
I can’t wait to hear what you all would like to see in Bainbridge this year! I’d also love to hear how you make new year’s resolutions (or don’t). And thank you to everyone who helped fill 2019 with joyful moments. I’m looking forward to many more in 2020. Happy (belated) New Year! -Natalie
