Choosing Me (And Why That’s Harder Than It Sounds)
Lately, one phrase keeps coming to mind:
Choose you.
Simple words… but for some of us, incredibly hard to actually live out.
If you know me, you know I love what I do. Real estate isn’t just my job—it’s something I genuinely enjoy and feel deeply passionate about. Homes make sense to me. I understand them, I appreciate them, and I love helping people find the place they’ll call home.
But here’s the thing about real estate that many people don’t see:
It never really turns off.
This isn’t a 9-to-5 career where you clock out and leave work behind. Negotiations can happen at midnight. A house can flood at 3 a.m. A buyer can call needing to see a home within the hour because they’ve already missed out on three others and are terrified of losing another.
And when that call comes in?
I go.
Because I care. Because I want my clients to win. Because I know how important home is.
The problem is… somewhere along the way, constantly choosing everyone else can become your normal.
And that’s where I’ve had some hard realizations this year.
After tearing my Achilles last September, life forced me to slow down in a way I never would have chosen for myself. Eight months later, I’m still doing physical therapy twice a week just to regain strength and do something as basic as lifting onto my toe.
Has it been frustrating? Absolutely.
But strangely, it’s also been a gift.
Slowing down has given me time to notice things I had been ignoring.
Things like this:
I am very good at showing up for other people.
But I haven’t always been as good at showing up for myself.
That’s hard to admit.
When I went through cancer a few years ago, I made promises to myself.
I promised I’d protect my health.
I promised I’d get to the gym 3–4 times a week.
I promised I’d cook nourishing meals more often.
I promised I wouldn’t let work consume everything.
And yet… somewhere between good intentions and real life, those promises started slipping.
Not because I’m lazy.
Not because I don’t care.
Because I kept saying yes.
Yes to one more showing.
Yes to one more listing.
Yes to one more emergency.
Yes to one more person needing me.
And eventually, every “yes” to everyone else became a quiet “no” to myself.
Maybe you relate.
Maybe you’re the strong one.
The dependable one.
The fixer.
The helper.
The one everyone calls.
And maybe you’ve started realizing you’re exhausted.
If that’s you, I want to remind you of something I’m actively learning too:
Choosing yourself is not selfish.
It’s necessary.
Because if your health fails…
If your mind burns out…
If your joy disappears…
None of the success matters nearly as much.
I recently took 23 days in Italy, a trip that was incredible and life-giving.
Did I fully unplug?
Not exactly. 😅
I still worked. I still checked messages at odd hours. I built systems and had incredible team support so business never skipped a beat. Most people probably had no idea I was even gone.
And I’m proud of that.
But I also came home with 23 days of unforgettable stories, beautiful places, and meaningful moments I want to share…
And I still haven’t found the time to write about them.
That hit me.
How can I claim I value the things that fill my soul if I never make room for them?
So here I am… recognizing.
And sometimes recognition is the first big step.
I may not have this figured out yet.
I’m still a work in progress.
Still learning.
Still adjusting.
But I’m committed to doing better.
To protecting my health.
To making space for joy.
To moving my body.
To cooking more.
To creating more.
To choosing me sometimes.
Not always.
But more than I have been.
So if you’re reading this and you’ve been stuck in the same cycle… consider this your reminder:
Pause.
Check in with yourself.
Ask: When was the last time I chose me?
And if the answer has been “too long”…
Maybe today is a good day to start.
I’d love to hear from you. Do you struggle with this too?
Because if so, you’re not alone.
And maybe we can figure it out together, one choice at a time.
With love and peace,
Tiffany
