A Word About This Blog Series

As the holiday season rapidly approaches here in Eastern Middle Tennessee, gratitude has a way of pulling us back to what matters most: the people in our lives, our purpose as REALTORS, and the places we call home as we live, work, play, and serve in our communities.

As EMTAR members know, in real estate, “home” isn’t just our business—it’s our very heartbeat. It’s “who we R.” Every broker’s conversation, every agent’s call to a prospective client, every buyer’s dream, every seller’s next chapter, every closing, every aspect of every transaction—it all matters, and it all hinges on a simple but powerful idea: belonging.

This November, we at EMTAR are sharing a four-part Thanksgiving Gratitude Series — reflections on gratefulness from different corners of our real estate industry. Whether you’re a REALTOR, a buyer, a seller, or simply someone who loves the feeling of “home,” there’s something for you over these next few weeks leading to Thanksgiving.

Here’s what’s on tap:

• (Today, Wednesday, Nov. 5) Part 1 — The Realtor’s Gratitude: Finding joy, purpose, and fulfillment in serving clients with excellence, expertise, and ethical integrity.
• (Wednesday, Nov. 12) Part 2 — The Buyer’s Gratitude: Thankful for a fresh start, a new threshold, and a cherished place to call home.
• (Wednesday, Nov. 19) Part 3 — The Seller’s Gratitude: Thankful for memories to savor, friends to keep in touch with, and new beginnings to embrace.
• (Wednesday, Nov. 26) Part 4 — Our Industry’s Gratitude: Thankful for community, collaboration, communication, and continuing growth.

Each piece is a small reminder that gratitude doesn’t just change our mindset—it changes the way we work, connect, and live here in Wilson, Smith, and Dekalb counties.

As we head toward Thanksgiving, we hope these reflections inspire you to pause, look around, and give thanks for all the ways “home” shows up in your life—in your business, your relationships, and your heart.

And now, let’s begin with Part 1 of our series . . .

Gratitude: a Top Priority

The season leading to Thanksgiving has a way of bringing us back to what matters most as Tennesseans and Americans: gratitude, connection, and reflection. For those of us who work in real estate—our EMTAR members and fellow brokers and agents across the Volunteer State and the USA—this time of year offers the perfect pause to look around and realize just how fortunate we are to do what we do.

It's no secret that real estate isn’t always easy. It can test your patience, your perseverance, and sometimes your sanity. But underneath the long days, market shifts, endless phone calls, and transaction details from offer to closing and beyond lies something deeply rewarding: the privilege of helping people find their place here in Eastern Middle Tennessee.

1. Thankful for Purposeful Work

Every transaction tells a story. It could be a newlywed couple buying their first home in Mt. Juliet, a family upsizing for more room in Lebanon, retirees ready to downsize and simplify in Carthage, or an adventure seeker in the market for a vacation home in Smithville—just to name a few. As REALTORS, we don’t just help clients buy or sell properties; we guide life transitions. We get to play a trusted role in some of the most meaningful chapters of people’s lives.

That’s something to be grateful for every single day.

2. Thankful for Human Connection

Our business is built on relationships, right? We meet people from all walks of life, and for a short time, we become part of their story—their hopes, fears, dreams, and aspirations. The trust clients place in us is something sacred. When you think about it, few professions allow you to impact lives so directly while forming such genuine connections.

3. Thankful for Freedom & Opportunity

Let’s be honest: Not everyone gets to build their own business, choose their schedule, and define success on their own terms. Real estate offers a level of independence most careers can’t match. That freedom comes with responsibility, challenges, and setbacks, sure—but also with possibility. Gratitude reminds us to see the flexibility and autonomy of this business as a gift, not a grind.

4. Thankful for Growth & Resilience

Every market shift, tough negotiation, or challenging client teaches us something. Real estate keeps us on our toes: learning, adapting, growing stronger. Gratitude helps us reframe the hard days as opportunities to develop new skills, refine our mindset, and remember that every “no” brings us closer to the next “yes.”

A Simple Thanksgiving Practice for REALTORS

Here’s an idea you might consider putting into practice: Take five minutes this week to jot down three things you’re thankful for in your real estate career. Maybe it’s a loyal client, a mentor who believed in you, or the satisfaction of helping a first-time buyer finally get their keys.

Then—share it. Post it on social media, mention it in your next client newsletter, or simply tell someone in your office. (Feel free to tag EMTAR as well!) Gratitude is contagious, and your words might just remind another agent why they fell in love with this business too.

One More Thought . . .

With Thanksgiving 2025 just around the corner, let’s take a moment to appreciate the unique calling we share—to help people in Eastern Middle Tennessee to find home. Because in doing so, we not only build stronger communities; we also build better versions of ourselves.

About EMTAR: Chartered in 1969, our Association’s 1,200+ REALTORS are a proud part of the 36,000+ members of Tennessee REALTORS and of the 1.5 million+ members of NAR, all working to serve the public and protect the rights of America’s property owners. EMTAR members are known not only for their unmatched real estate excellence and high ethical standards, but also for being generous, hospitable, others-focused, loyal, hardworking, and eager to help wherever and whenever help is needed.