Winter 2018: President’s Perspective

My daughters continue to be the greatest teachers in my life. They’ve been reinforcing the same lesson for the past 6.5 years. This past year was no different. My six-year-old daughter Henly, three-year-old daughter Mosely (Momo) and one-year-old daughter Mayer remind me daily the meaning of gratitude on a granular level by showing their gratitude for everything. Literally. Everything. Fro-yo, gum, tic-tacs, vitamins, nail polish, EVERYTHING. My big a-ha was that at six, three and one years old, this was their default setting. That’s how they were naturally wired. It really is a beautiful thing that all children posses. However, I realized something happens between ages six and 37 that changes the wiring of our default setting. As adults, I feel like sometimes we forget about the little things. We put the focus on the bigger ticket items. “I’m thankful for my family, my friends and my health.” Duh. Of course I am. Those are the most IMPORTANT things in my life. The past couple of years, with the help of Momo, Henly and Mayer, I started to be more aware of being more grateful for the little things. Trivial things. The things that have become a part of the background. Venmo, GrubHub, Shake Shack, ApplePay, Uber. I’m serious. What I’ve discovered in doing this, is that my increase in gratitude has led to an increase in happiness. My everyday appreciation led to an everyday smile. I even applied this to my business life. My team starts every day by sharing what they are grateful for. Ask them. If we’ve ever collaborated on a deal together, you know that I end every negotiation conversation by letting the other broker know how grateful and appreciative I am of their hard work at every step. Why? Because I do feel that way and because It’s important that they know that. As we approach the holiday season, we are surrounded by daily Hallmark reminders of thankfulness and gratitude. This holiday season, I empower you to change gratitude from a seasonal recognition to a daily celebration. I’m thankful for the most important things in my life that are in front of me. I’m also equally as thankful for the gratitude that I’ve learned through my daughter’s eyes that have me smiling more every day! Happy Holidays! Eat, drink, be merry and be grateful for sweatpants. Best, TOMMY CHOI 2018-2019 President Chicago Association of REALTORS®