Happiness is like being thin; everybody wants it, no one can have it.

I was reading an article that my mom sent to me the other day. It was an article in the International Herald Tribune entitled “What if this is as good as it gets?” I wonder that all the time as I mull over the meaning of success. What is success and what really is going to make me happy? Is it the portfolio of homes and apartment buildings and the positive cash flow that it will provide me so I won’t have to work for THE man, in a cube on the 11^th floor ever again? Or is it being happy with myself, thin, tits lifted to right under my chin rather than at my knees or is it living simply, being loved and really living life?

I know I am happiest when I have money in the bank, when I am traveling, creating, doing, seeing, spending whatever time I want with my son and NOT having to wear a watch. You know I have a vision board tucked away in some box and the one thing that I think of when I see myself as successful is sitting on an island beach front in my beach chair with sun hat on and laptop on lap. That’s it. That’s me. That’s what I see as being successful. Making money while living simply.

Anyhow, interesting thought for tonight. Here is the clip of the article. Makes a good read.

Meanwhile…

I was holding a brokers tour today for this wonderful top floor corner unit condo near Piedmont Avenue for a really wonderful woman. As I am sitting at the open having just cracked the laptop a colleague of mine sits down and gives me the low down on what’s been going on in her life, none of it good and it gave me pause for a moment. It must have been the 3^rd or 4^th story that I heard in the last day or two from another woman that is truly struggling. Hushed voices, feelings of shame and failure. Mercury must be in retrograde! Money is not coming in, relationships are shifting or breaking up, communication is off, women are losing their homes and are struggling to stay in business and we all seem to be going at it alone because we are embarrassed to speak up and ask for help. I know I have that problem myself. I hate to ask for help but you know what? It takes courage to ask for help.

The other day a woman on one of my email lists sent out a message saying, “I’m hungry.” My heart ached when I read her message. To stay tight lipped with a hungry belly rather than ask your sisters for help! To stay tight lipped about our financial situations and find shame at being honest and asking for help. I grow weary of being Wonder Woman. The other day when I was trying to figure out what the hell I was going to do with no car and a stable of clients to show homes to I asked for help and you know what I got? Help. Unconditionally. It was offered just by me speaking up an it came from someone I least expected it to come from.

I feel honored and grateful to the woman that helped me and it reminds me how much I don’t practice The Secret and how I need to practice asking for what I want and be clear on what I need. I am a skeptical believer. I believe when it works and don’t believe when it doesn’t work. Pathetic really.