10/22/2019
Fear of Change
Many people have a fear of change. Sometimes so much so that it debilitates them. Many times, it’s hard for people to adapt to new surroundings, make new friends, learn new technology, and they get stuck in their comfortable ways of doing things. It’s okay to be like this if that’s what makes you happy.
My husband, Charlie, has a little bit of fear of change. It’s safe for me to confess this here because he’s well aware of it. Although his biological parents are divorced, they separated when he was just a toddler and both parents quickly found love again, so Charlie has been raised with those two sets of parents for almost his entire life. He was born and raised in East Orlando – the majority of his life raised in the same homes. His parents and stepparents had the same jobs for many decades and many times they lived a “scheduled” life. He had a very stable childhood growing up and his parents have been role models to him for continuing that stability into adulthood. Change can be difficult for him.
I, on the other hand, had a very different childhood. As an adolescent, my mother raised me as a single parent while she was in the Army. I can remember in Kindergarten, my mom would have to leave me in the early morning for PT to wake myself with an alarm, get dressed, eat breakfast, and wait for the bus all by myself (granted I did miss the bus a few times). We moved around a lot, about every year or so – Alabama, Mississippi, Germany, South Florida – until we finally settled in Orlando in 1996. Moving afforded me the comfort in change and a high sense of independence. I learned to make new friends easily, I quickly adapted to my new bedroom, and would look to every new experience as an adventure.
Well they say opposites attract. Charlie and I met in high school and began dating in 2002. Over the years, I’ve helped him become a little more adventurous and he’s helped me stay a little more grounded. It did take us 11 years to finally tie-the-knot – we were both so comfortable not being officially married and he feared the commitment would change our relationship. We now know why marriage is a blessing and are so grateful for that little piece of paper. Both of our childhoods (neither of which is the “correct” or “right” childhood, by the way) bring us each a set of traits and values that balance one another out.
Apparently eleven years is a special number for us. Today I am celebrating my 11th year anniversary of being in business as a Realtor and also the opening of my new brokerage, Finch Real Estate Company! That’s right, you read that correctly… I’ve officially taken the leap of faith and branched off on my own. You could say I’ve had a little bit of fear of change myself for this huge change in my business, but I’ve learned recently that if you want something, just do it. The timing will never be perfect, but I’m confident in my abilities to lead and be adaptable to what challenges lie ahead.
I hope this letter inspires you to do something you’ve been wanting to do. Don’t wait for the right time. The right time is now! As always, thank you so much for your ongoing support and encouragement. I need you now more than ever and hope I can help you or someone you know fulfill their real estate dreams.
Your (Brave and) Caring Realtor,
Amber Finch – Your Central Florida Realtor
