The concept of belonging is a big one for me. However, I believe you can’t feel this without love and a sense of safety surrounding you first. Being a realtor means that I am invited to guide people and help them find their own, unique place of belonging. The country, state, city, and neighborhood where your home resides is just as important as what is inside its walls. If it’s not in the correct location, even the most perfect, custom dream home simply becomes a shelter from the elements rather than place that reflects your essence and invites you to exhale the second you walk through the door.
The geographic location matters because of the community that chooses to live there. We won’t feel like we truly belong if we are inside our private fortress surrounded by a community that holds opposing values and truths about how we choose to live each day. I have begun to pay close attention to the “where” just as much as the “what” in advising clients, especially after the recent election that has left many marginalized, non-white people questioning their physical and emotional safety.
Some of you may know that I grew up in Sri Lanka during an active civil war. This has impacted me in a myriad of ways but particularly when it comes to determining where to live, and whom to surround myself with. Parts of the country were not safe for me given my Sinhalese ethnicity. I have yet to visit these provinces and feel a sense of trepidation when I think about it, even though we are no longer in an active conflict. Friends, being a part of a marginalized group is not something that can be explained to those who do not face this reality. For many of us, the fear, sadness, and anger are deeply rooted in our DNA and all of it has become stirred up post-election.
I take my role as a real estate advisor very seriously. It is almost sacred for me because of the magnitude of the decision. My commitment as we head into the holiday season and 2025 is to be vulnerable with my clients so they know that I see what they cannot find words for. I am committed to creating a container of love and safety during the real estate transaction, so my clients find answers to their unutterable, heart-pounding questions as they search for their unique place of belonging. Thanks to my global network of realtors, I can help make connections to others like me anywhere in the country and the world so please share this with your spheres.
Lastly, with Thanksgiving around the corner, I want you to know how grateful I am for you, my clients, friends, and colleagues. I am grateful for these Notes, which allow me to speak my truth in real estate and life. Let’s commit to creating containers of love, safety and belonging this holiday season!
