Listening to ongoing grumbling about how things are bad from many Realtors and also buyers and sellers of homes I am reminded of what I have always thought
Rearview Mirrors Are NOT Your Friend!!
What I mean by that is you can't ably drive your car of life forward while always looking in the rear view mirror. The rearview mirror of course representing any regrets, your baggage from some past life or past lives you may have had, and nowadays reminiscing about "the good old days." How do you know your best "good old days" are not just around the corner in the near future?
In reality you don't. But we all have to stop looking backward as a point of reference so often. For someone like me that remembers the NASDAQ at 5,000 not all that long ago I don't "dwell" on it where it is now. It is what it is.
I think we all ought to ditch our rear view mirrors in our lives that we are driving so fast and hurtling ourselves into the future. We ought to replace them with things of hope and fun.
How about some fuzzy dice??
How about we replace our rear view mirrors with dangling chickens? That would keep your mind off the past and put a smile on your face.
My favorite comes from the lady in the picture below who obviously knows how to live life fully and going forward. Obviously had SO much fun at the disco she brought the Mirror Ball home with her. Maybe a Cowboy too. She's smiling.
You don't need no stinkin' rear view mirrors!! Remember that when the pity parties start and don't be a part of it. Remember you want to hang with the Mirror Ball crowd and live your life with your eyes forward. Stayin' alive.... Stayin' alive.....
That' right...Never look down and never look back! Charge forward!
That is a great thought...we should all try it!
Gary, sort of like once it is done, then well,..... it is done. It is passed. There is nothing that can be done about it. You can't go back and do it again. When the toothpaste is out of the tube, well that is it!
Great post
Bo
Gary this is exactly what I needed to read tonight! thank you so much.
Gary, The ability to compartmentalize bad feelings and not dwell on them is important. I used to be 120 pounds at one time too :)
Gary, It does no good to look backward. What's done is DONE!! We just need to look to the future and make lemonade out of any lemons life has dealt us.
This is why I prefer not going into my office unless I have work to do that can't be done at home. Like the girl picture with six arms, how cool is that?!?!?!?!
Love that cartoon lady---hilarious but unfortunately all too true! Good message.
Where do you find such wonderful pictures?
Dwelling on the past and/or negativity is too time consuming.
I am taking your advise from yesterday-looking in my rear view mirror would be a total waste of time!
Hey...I need one of those disco balls in my car. That would be cool!!
BTW...thanks so much for your email. I've been running wild these past few days...selling homes. Your email meant a lot to me. GBU!!
Full blast forward, pedal to the metal, kick butt, slide around the corners.... No need to look back, yesterday is gone. No dangling chickens, however fuzzy dice are nice when parked watching the submarine races.
List and Sell (new clients, new people to help tomorrow) Gary @ RentonHomefinder
Gary, Not of the popular opinion here, I always glance where I've been--to make sure I'm heading in the right direction this time :) But I do NOT apply makeup while doing it!
We all probably need an attitude adjustment of some kind, I know I do with all that's going on I can't seem to get it together. Everywhere you turn there is more bad news. I have clients calling about there listings not sell, at least 3 a day but 10 am and those great calls I feel like goingback home. Any advice besides lowering the price not taking the listing etc.
what's that saying Gary, Yesterday is History. Tomorrow is a Mystery, and Today is a gift. That's why we call it the Present (by Eugénie des Alpages). CHARGE!
Gary,
Thank you my friend for your post and your positive outlook on life. What a wonderful uplifting message and one that we can all use.
Hi Gary, Very well said. Now, I have to tell you, that animated picture at the top of the page is a very accurate relection of me.
Gary, So true, so true! Too many get caught up with regaling the past, that they forget there is a future. The past is only good for teaching us lessons that we can take into the future.
good morning Gary,
This is a wonderful message to read first thing this morning!
There are so many opinions on this and I hear different quotes and versions almost daily, however I believe that we should live each day in the present and keep great hope and vision for the future. Also, enacting plans and goals for the future helps us to be productive in the present, and brings us a bright future. The main thing, I believe, is to keep taking chances and not get bogged down by the past.
Jo
Gary - I had to back out of a very long and curvy driveway yesterday and needed those mirrors for a small portion of my day. Otherwise, my focus was on the two buyers I had been working with, finding them houses that will close in 6-8 weeks and having a Christmas payday. I don't have much time to look back when there is so much I need to accomplish today! But sometimes, I look back when I need to evaluate dangerous situations or get myself back on track to where I need to go (like backing out of a driveway).
Shake off the negativity, right Gary? When I start dwelling on the past, or something negative, I try to disconnect for a little while. Music really helps. And your final comments reminded me of one of the groups that never cease to cheer me up.. The Bee Gees. Try being upset listening to that stuff!
I just told my son that if you keep looking backwards to see who is on your tail, you can't see where you are going and might run in a wall or fall off course. Look forward and never behind!
Gary,
Where did you find that picture of me driving, while putting on lipstick and mascara? That's an old one though because now the law is hands-free phones! ;) This is great advise for everyone! We never know what tomorrow can bring, so we should always look forward and to the future! That's why I enjoy reading your posts, you are always so positive!
Great thoughts...never stop dreaming and visualizing the future...it may be 10 times better than the now or the past.
We need that approach in life more than ever. "Looking back" is a break to "going forward" and slows your life speed. Thank you for the advise... we need to remember that!
At first glance, I thought the woman in the car was TLW.
Gary - I always enjoy your posts! I love the lady putting her makeup on in the car. Pat so has it right in the comment above. :-)
Gary I must say you always have the most uplifting blogs. You inspire me to be positive and challenge me to aspire to be creative. Thank You!
Gary,
Staring at that proverbial rear view mirror too long can certainly derail anyone's efforts to make a go of it. Have the right attitude about anything and you are already halfway there.
Gary,
Great Post, I need to focus on my goals and not let others distract me. I love the girl in the car.
HI GARY!
I love this one! Your lady is so cute. She's actually me! I never use my rearview...well yes I do, to look at the children. As far as my rearview of life, I am guilty of using that a time or two. Sometimes it's hard not to especially when aspects of the past were so good. Now it's time to move forward & make new good times! Thanks for the reminder. Where do you come up w/ such juicy stuff?!?
Thank you everyone for commenting. I got half way through replying to all the comments and Active Rain crashed on me. Sometimes I just want to jump off a bridge with this company. Thanks Pat Preston for your funny lady graphic and the Frank Sinatra and BeeGees link. I think everyone got the point of watch it with the looking too hard in the past and dragging the bad stuff forward with you. Lessons learned and good memories are good to bring forward but let the other stuff go. See I even let the Active Rain system frustration go because I'm not going to give them another half hour of my life to fight with them : )
Great metaphor Gary - no we don't need to be looking back. I am looking forward every day!!
Gary- I am going to get me a chicken...LOL You are right, you can't enjoy the present if you are always regretting the past. Move on and make more memories. Great Post. I really like the chicken part...
Gary - That's another great piece you have written. For those who have difficulty moving on, there is a type of therapy available for them. It's called, Acceptance and Committment Therapy (ACT). It basically operates on the premise that "closure" is often an illusive myth, which awaits for some external thing to happen in order for "closure" to be obtained. Whereas, ACT says it's often better to accept what is, and commit to move on. The ACT approach is more self-empowering.
Gary
Yes we should focus on the future and do so in short increments.
Hi Gary,
I like your post, because it is so true, if you want to be somebody, or do something you've never achieved before, you must keep your eye on the prize.
I try not to ever look back, because when I do, I'm stopped dead in my tracks and I don't accomplish anything. So I try very hard to keep it moving. I set small goals in the plan to reach big dreams.
Keep up the good posting.
Pam
Sheesh, Gary, I am so far behind in your posts!! Where have I been while you have been cranking these out? I get a little bogged down at times with old baggage. Thanks for the reminder to keep looking forward. Who cares what is sneaking up from the past to bite you in the butt? If you keep going forward fast enough, maybe it won't catch you!