Jim Valentine: A time to be grateful and thankful

It’s that time of year when we pause to reflect for that which we are grateful and thankful for.

Contrary to popular experience at this Thanksgiving holiday, it isn’t just a time of familial gluttony. The bountiful foods that are enjoyed by those that have reason to be thankful for having the means to overload their dining room family for their family and friends are symbolic of the suffering of early American pioneers and their having been saved from extermination by the local Native American people. From that most important beginning it has evolved into a major family event that rarely fails to evoke lifetime memories.

Whether it’s the annual family football game, the burned muffins, or the snowy highway challenge of getting to grandma’s house for the holiday, the Thanksgiving holiday is one of many variations and traditions around a central value – be thankful. We believe it is important to be grateful for that which you are thankful for as well.

This year we are thankful for the unmasking of our world. With the exception of Halloween and scuba diving, we are free to expose our faces to the world again. There is another thankful-worthy item from the whole COVID experience, which is the tolerance for those that choose to, or need to, wear a mask due to their medical condition or sensitivity. They used to be looked at funny, but now, thankfully, there is a better level of understanding for those who are immune deficient, or simply worried.

Those with good neighbors have a lot to be thankful for. A good neighbor isn’t a given, and when you have one that isn’t of that, life can be more of a challenge. The love, support, protection, and company of good neighbors often leads to them becoming a de facto member of your family. This is such an important component of real estate ownership that we think it is a good idea if you visit with neighbors around the home you are considering buying to get an idea of what the neighborhood is like. We’ve had this make and break potential transactions and, in both situations, we were happy as the customer was well served.

We are so lucky in Northern Nevada to have great community support for our youth programs. This is often evidenced by the consistent success of much needed fundraising efforts. One example is a youth sports organization that charges $200 to participate but pays $410 for the athlete to be on the field. Fundraising is essential for the success of these programs that provide services that the cities and counties of Northern Nevada can’t provide due to their expense and the thousands of hours of volunteer hours that they donate to the youth. The communities continue to support the youth when they are successful and have the opportunity to travel to national events representing our communities and the State of Nevada. Thank you all for your support!

Sometimes our best friends or family are taken for granted yet they are the ones that are always there and supportive. Take this time of year to be thankful for their existence in, and contribution to, your life. Let them know how you feel. Surely, they will be thankful that you did, and no doubt have similar sentiments toward you.

Be thankful for what you have and don’t dwell on what you don’t have. The positivity of thankfulness will serve you much better than the bitterness of envy, greed, jealousy, or regret. You can’t control the past, but you can be very thankful for the opportunity to go forward designing and enjoying your future. It will be what you make it. Make the best of it and be grateful as you enjoy the fruits of your positive life.

Thank you, Northern Nevadans, for contributing to making this the special place to live that it is. I am so thankful that I live where I do, among all of you…

When it comes to choosing professionals to assist you with your Real Estate needs… Experience is Priceless! Jim Valentine, RE/MAX Realty Affiliates, BS.3481, 775-781-3704. dpwtigers@hotmail.com