From the series: Life on Dog Hill
Things are hopping here on the Hill. In the last few days I’ve had a new roof, skylight, gutters, and downspouts installed, and the wood floors on the main floor are being refinished as I type! Additionally, I’ve found a plumber to make faucet upgrades in the bathrooms; and now all I need is someone to help me with tile and shower door installation.
Once all this work is complete, I’ll enjoy the home looking its best. But not for long, because Texas calls. Every day. Morning, noon, and night. Literally.
These days my two favorite area codes are 830 and 210. Those land and cellular area codes belong to Bulverde, Texas, where hubby Tom works from his new home office, and my fourteen-year-old son Ryan is finishing out his eighth-grade year.
Change happens so fast!
Ever since we bought our home in Bulverde last December, we knew that I’d come back to North Carolina to manage home upgrades and prep the house for a quick spring sell. Have you ever seen North Carolina in the spring as the trees put out their new green leaves, wisteria hangs fragrant in the vines, dogwoods and redbuds splatter the once gray background with splashes of lilac and creme? Let’s not forget the rhododendron, azalea, and buttercups. All this natural beauty is typical North Carolina landscape for the hilly Piedmont Region, and Dog Hill is no exception. Spring is when the Hill comes to life, and the perfect time to sell a home.
The thought of leaving Dog Hill (and North Carolina) for Texas hasn’t been easy for me. But my uneasiness has given me the opportunity to reflect on my resistance. And in that reflection, I’ve had the chance to release the fear of…
What if I don’t like it there? We will have sold the most amazing property ever and may never find anything like it again!
That fear goes against two of the most important principles that I rely on when coaching others — that we have control over our happiness, and we live in an abundant universe!
Even coaches have to coach themselves sometimes.
Here’s how I’ve coached myself through this resistance.
- I create my reality through my thoughts and feelings. If I believe that Texas is going to be a disappointment, then it will because my mind will be looking for the “proof” of my belief. So I’m choosing to focus on the excitement of living someplace new and experiencing all that the area has to offer. During the few weeks I was there with the boys, I went out almost every day, exploring and learning my way around. My favorite spot so far? The library, of course!
- Tom and I have a big family, seven children comprising a blend of his, mine, their’s, and ours. Only the youngest remains in the home, so moving to Texas will give Ryan the unique experience of being an only child, since none of his siblings will be around. In this way, moving to Texas creates a unique bonding opportunity for the three of us, one that I truly look forward to sharing.
- I believe life offers an abundance of opportunities to live joyfully, no matter where we are. As one of my best friends told me not long ago, “It’s not where you live, but who you live with that counts.” The home we bought in Texas is lovely, and the property boasts a seasonal stream running through it. I’ve already staked out my “spot” under the cedar trees on the bank of the creek where I plan to write. I love connecting with nature, and I’m curious to see if my writing is changed through the energy of the land and the people who inhabit it.
I know it’s silly to harbor a fear of letting go of Dog Hill when I have so much to look forward to in Texas. In my process of release, I’m appreciating all the things I love about this home and property now, soaking it up every day.
But I’m ready to move on. Ready to take on Texas and turn Dog Hill over to the next big family to love and enjoy.
I just hope they have dogs. Lots of dogs.
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