Nashville Tennessee Living

Trust

One word with lots of impact for only 5 letters.

Where does it start? At birth? Aren't we born with a trustful nature? I just ran over to the contest post to make sure I knew the rules and I noticed the baby being tossed in the air.

Have you ever seen a baby NOT like being tossed like that? They Know, without doubt, that you're going to catch them. It's the purest form of trust that I can think of.

What causes us to not trust? Is that too much of a blanket statement? Is Trust All or nothing? I can't imagine going through life trusting nothing. 

Recently an incident here in the Rain created a huge conversation about trust. It involved someone we ALL knew and probably trusted. When the facts were made known to me I thought about them for a day or two.

Then, I went to my list of subscriptions and unsubscribed myself. I didn't see any need to keep reading someone who was now on my "not to be trusted" list. Such a small thing that really had no bearing on my life. We were just blogging friends. It didn't hurt me personally, but it was about being truthful.

I grew up in a home where being untruthful was 100% unacceptable. Because of that, it has always been my deepest desire for my clients to know that they can trust me. They can count on me to do what I say I'll do and to tell them from my heart what I think, when they ask.

I want them to be able to tell their friends, and hopefully future referrals, that they can trust me to put their interests above all others. That they're in good hands!

It IS how we're suppose to do business anyway.

This post is a submission to the ActiveRain / Adobe EchoSign Trust Contest. I could possibly win a prize. You can find out about the contest by clicking here

Friday Funny - Words for Women

If the shoe fits, Buy them in every color!

By the time a woman realizes her mother was right, she has a daughter who thinks she's wrong.

Go on the 30 day diet. I'm on it and so far I've lose 15 days.

Lead me not into temptation, I can find it myself.

Don't get your knickers in a knot; It solves nothing and makes you walk funny.

Forget about the perfect man. He's living in San Francisco with his boyfriend.

Let you're greatest fear be that there is no PMS and this is just your personality.

I know I'm in my own little world, but it's ok, they know me here.

And finally, I've learned that pleasing everyone is impossible, but pissing everyone off is a piece of cake!

Remember Yesterday, Dream about tomorrow but live for today.

Good friends are like stars. You don't always see them, but you know they are always there.

Have a Great Weekend Everyone!

Free Speech

Does that mean you can say whatever you want in the comments of MY post?

This week I did a short localism post about the Circus Coming to Town. Seemed harmless enough. Good family fun.

It's the first time I've gotten several comments or emails from people outside of AR about a post. One left a nice comment. One emailed me that I had and incorrect fact, which I promptly fixed.

Then, the next morning there was another email from someone who does not support any Circus that has Elephants as part of their entertainment. This person wrote a very lengthy email with several links to stories or videos to backup her position.

I emailed her and thanked her for emailing my privately and told her that I appreciated her not blasting me in the comment section. I then told her that I had not yet decided what I would do with the post.

I did NOT tell her that I was actually thinking of taking it down or Updating it after I followed her links and verified the information she sent.

She responded nicely and I thought we were good.

Then late yesterday she popped in to the post and left her hate message twice.

I'm not saying she didn't have valid points about Elephants being abused. I really was going to check it out and act accordingly.

But she didn't give me time.

What would you have done?

Are you Training to run the Country Music Half Marathon?

This weekend you can purchase your gear and help raise money for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee.

The Brentwood store of Fleet Feet will donate 10% of their sales on Saturday, January 28th to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee!

If you have not signed up with a training team, it's not too late to join Team Rio!

Team Rio raises money for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee. 

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee finds mentors for at risk children in Middle Tennessee. The organization is Volunteer and Donor driven. They match Children in need with positive Adult Role models. Their goal is to change a child's perspective for a better future.

View Larger Map

The Group Run is this Saturday, January 28th at 8am. The Team will be starting at Fleet Feet, 330 Franklin Road, Brentwood, TN 37027

Country Music Half Marathon It's not too late to Start Training!

Team Rio is still accepting runners to train for the Country Music half Marathon in April of 2012! Each Saturday we meet at a different location and do a Group Run. The team is made up of all different levels of Runners, Walkers and those that Run/Walk! So if you're a beginner, or experienced, there's a place for you!

Team Rio raises money for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee finds mentors for at risk children in Middle Tennessee. The organization is Volunteer and Donor driven. They match Children in need with positive Adult Role models. Their goal is to change a child's perspective for a better future.

Diamond Rio has worked with Big Brothers Big Sisters since 1996 and are National Spokespersons for the organization.

This is the 8th year for Team Rio. We have trained with their Team Rio for 5 years and love the support they provide through the trainers and other incentives. Each member of the team agrees to raise $300. Raising money for Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee is an easy way to give back.

Join us Saturday January 28th at Fleet Feet in Brentwood at 8am for a quick run.

Donate to Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Join the Team!

937 Patio Drive 

Nashville TN Real Estate - Absolutely Adorable!

$74,900

The one Bedroom one Bath condo has many updates.

The great room is open to the kitchen giving it an open airy feel. Wood burning Fireplace shows off the vaulted ceilings.

The bathroom has been gutted and redone changing the combo tub and shower to a wonderful walk-in tiled shower that's sure to please anyone!

Fenced backyard and great landscaping. The association cuts the yard except inside the fenced area.

The 937 Patio Drive location is great! 5 minutes to Nashville International Airport and 10-15 minutes to downtown.

Nashville's Real Estate Trends looking better for 2012

Real Estate trends for the Nashville area for the winter of 2011/12 are certainly looking better than the past few years.

There are a number of different factors that could end up driving potential buyers into the market during the first half of 2012. Mortgage rates are low, apartments in Nashville are experiencing record high rental rates and most of all, the local housing market seems to finally be taking steady strides towards a recovery.

December 2011 closings were up 18.2 percent from the same period in 2010. There were 1,773 closings this past December compared to 1,500 in December 2010, reports the Greater Nashville Association of REALTORS. Closings increased in residential, multifamily and farms/land/lots categories.

Only in condominiums did the number drop. As December closed out, the number of pending sales stood at 1,652, compared to 1,273 for the end of December 2010.

Prices are lower than a year ago, despite a drop in available inventory, indicating many opportunities for buyers in the greater Nashville area Real Estate market. The median price for a residential property was $168,500, down from $174,500 the prior year. For condominiums, the median price was $140,062, up slightly from $140,000 recorded the previous year.

Total inventory in all categories at the end of 2011 stood at 17,216, down from 19,411 a year ago. For residential properties, the inventory stands at 10,574, down from 12,146. Condominium availability is as 1,447, down from 1,799. Multifamily stocks are at 308 available, down from 370. The number of farm/land/lots presently available is at 4,887, down from 5,096.

Distressed properties decreased as part of the resale market total for January. Distressed sales include foreclosures and short sales. There were 44 price increases as opposed to 549 decreases from December to January.

What is especially significant is that 2011 was the first year since 2006 that showed an increase in closings from the prior year. This is especially significant considering that there are no tax-credit incentives or stimulus funds available, as was the case in 2010.

These figures, along with the fact that December was the sixth consecutive month of increase home sales, are reason for optimism that Nashville’s housing market may have turned the corner in this recession. 2012 should be a good year for real estate if trends continue.

Although prices are down, there are indications that they are stabilizing. This means that the market will remain competitive for sellers.

Thank you Lillian Swift, Guest Writer

Lillian Swift is a creative writer from Northern Arizona University. As an aspiring writer, she specializes in writing about travel destinations and tourism.

Dolly Parton and Gaylord Opryland to build a Snow and Water Park

That's right Dolly has teamed up with those who own the Opryland Hotel to create a new Water and Snow Park. This will be the first of it's kind in the United States. In addition, they will incorporate the ever present Music of Music City to this Theme Park!

There has been much regret since the closing of the Opryland Theme park over 10 years ago. Gaylord has purchased land on the other side of Briley Parkway along Pennington Bend.

The 114 acre site is expected to draw tourists from across the country as well as entertain those already visiting Music City.

The Water and Snow Park is scheduled to open in the Spring of 2014. Dolly Parton has already enjoyed wonderful success with her Dollywood in East Tennessee. Now joined with another great entertaining company, Gaylord Opryland we can only hope for another wonderful Theme Park.

The ActiveRain Family

Yesterday I posted that January is National Thank You month. As I was writing it I remembered reading an article about how having a Grateful Attitude is actually good for your health. Several of my readers friends commented about how much they appreciate the people here at ActiveRain who have been there for them during their time of personal/family crisis.

It reminded me of the many members I have prayed for in the past year. Some lost loved ones, others dealt with illnesses of their own or of a family member, and some were just struggling.

Mary Yonkers wrote a Thank You post yesterday updating us on her sister's health. She was especially grateful for her ActiveRain family.

That got me thinking about Family. We all were born into one. We didn't pick them. They are what they are. We can't change them, we can't control what they do.

Here in the Rain we've created a community that often feels just like family. We care for each other and reach out to offer support. To each of you who have reached out to touch me in your own way I say Thank You.

I appreciate you!

January is National Thank You month!

Did you know that having an attitude of gratitude can actually make you healthier and happier? Several studies have been done on Gratitude and what they've found is that people suffer less from depression when they're thankful. They sleep better, are less anxious and are considerably more satisfied with their lives.

How can you be more Thankful?

Each evening either at dinner, or before you go to bed, think of 5 things that happened that day that you're thankful for. It could be the person that held the door for you or how the lady taking your order at lunch didn't get made when you changed your mind!

Each day make a point of doing something thoughtful specifically for someone. Kind of the "pay it forward" thing.

Let's Celebrate National Thank You Month by reaching out to those around us and let them know how much we appreciate them and the things that they do for us!