Myrtle Beach Real Estate by Mirela

With all the hoopla about how bad our Real Estate Market is, we forget that:

•1.     Everyone needs a roof over their head.

•2.     People get transferred, they move, they marry, they divorce, they die.  Each major life event triggers a possible Real Estate Transaction.

If a listing is priced competitively, if it's marketed properly and if it shows well IT WILL SELL!

Educate your sellers!  If they think their property is worth more, why don't you take them for a drive and show them competing properties that are priced correctly.  Ask them to take their owners' hats off and pretend they are buyers.  If they had these options open, which home would they choose? 

After Reality Check 101, it's time for a little "House Beautiful" Session.  When the condo didn't sell and the showing comments indicated that it was the condition and appearance that kept the offers at bay, my sellers invested some money and sweat equity and did a condo make-over.  Now that their unit is the lowest priced in their building and the most attractive one, it will sell. 

Never underestimate the power of the make-over!  Getting rid of clutter, painting the walls, changing the flooring and doing other cosmetic updates like replacing the window furnishings, some of the lighting fixtures and accessories...  All of this can go a long way with the buyers, who either don't have the time, the budget, or the imagination to do it. 

Giving their property a make-over and substantially lowering the listing price, making it the most affordable condo in the building and the most attractive one as well, will most certainly get this property sold. 

As Realtors, we can only do so much, regardless of how much education, marketing ability, professionalism and intrepidity we possess.  The Sellers have to be part of our team, in order to get that home run...

Price it well.

Stage it well.

Watch it sell!

Mirela Monte, Your Myrtle Beach Real Estate Connection                      Join The Optimist Group!

A friend of mine makes poor choices, then he incessantly beats himself up about it.  He has bouts of depression and a pattern of self-loathing, followed by making the very same mistakes all over again.

We talked about his pattern:

•1.     Doing the wrong thing.

•2.     Beating himself up about it.

•3.     Going back to #1 and starting all over again.

We discussed his pattern recently and he asked me:  Don't you beat yourself up when you make a mistake?" 

Yes, I do, but it's a simple two-step program.  I am upset with myself and I lament about it for a short while.  Then I write down what I've learned from my mistake and how I'm going to deal with the same circumstances in the future, as a result of this failure.  This way I actually use the mistake as a valuable tool, thus my pattern looks like this:

•1.     Doing the wrong thing.

•2.     Being upset about it.

•3.     Writing down my mistake, what I've learnt from it and how my future modus operandi will change as a result of this mistake.

•4.     Move on with my life (and make OTHER mistakes, NOT the same one!)

If you live, you'll make mistakes.  Cut yourself some slack and stop beating yourself up for it!  Instead, use your mistakes to perfect your ways!

Myrtle Beach Real Estate by Mirela Monte                       Join The Optimist Group!

My first read of the morning was Myrtle Beach Hotels see slow start , a blog about the Myrtle Beach Rental Market being severely depressed.   Good morning to you too!!!

I re-blogged the post and started getting comments from my fellow Rainers.  Someone asked about Biker Week and how it wasn't happening this year.  What do you mean?  Biker Week is a Myrtle Beach tradition as ingrained in the public psyche as grits and fried okra. 

People live for Bike Week.  Doctors, Lawyers and CEO's have their plans for the Myrtle Beach Bike Week prominently featured on their yearly calendars, right there with the family's trip to St. Barts.  Bike week is not a flight by night event; Bike week is a Myrtle Beach Institution. 

Apparently, Myrtle Beach officials have elected to end this tradition by adopting harsh regulation designed to keep Bikers away from the city of Myrtle Beach.   A long list of tough new rules has replaced the liberal policies extant for the past several decades.  Here is a mere sample of the new ordinance:

•·         No loud mufflers. No straight pipes. No revving of engines or excessive noise.

•·         Everyone on a motorcycle must wear a safety helmet and protective eye wear (glasses, goggles, face shield, etc.) at all times while the cycle is moving.

•·         No more than two motorcycles allowed in a public parking space.

•·         No use of parking lots or landscaped areas of any business next to road or street for chairs, coolers, parties, drinking or food service.

•·         Parties responsible for permitted or unpermitted special events that require an extraordinary public response may be held financially responsible for the cost of that response.

•·         No alcohol consumption or open container possession allowed in parking lots and garages of any business.

Here is a quick lesson in Myrtle Beach: take a map of the Myrtle Beach COASTAL AREA.  It is a 60 mile stretch of Beach known as the Grand Strand, extending from Calabash NC to Georgetown SC.  To the South you'll find Surfside, Garden City, Murrells Inlet, Pawleys Island and Georgetown.  To the North lies the sprawling City of North Myrtle Beach.   Study the map carefully and you'll realize just how little of that coastal area is taken up by the City of Myrtle Beach - only 9.5 miles of that 60 mile stretch, to be exact.   The rest of our beautiful coast is part of Horry County (pronounced "Ohry" NOT "Whorey").  Neither Horry County, nor SC have a helmet law (for riders over 21).  Murrells Inlet and North Myrtle Beach have made it clear they would gladly step in and accommodate the Bikers. 

Conclusion:  Bike Week - May 8 through May 17 - is still going on.  You can enjoy the Beautiful Myrtle Beach Area and just stay away from the City of Myrtle Beach, unless you don't mind silencing your Harley muffler, wearing a helmet, parking no more than two motorcycles per space, staying off the grass, and being quiet and proper - raise your pinkie now, like a good little Hog!

Mirela Monte, Your Myrtle Beach Connection                        Join Myrtle Beach Real Estate and Vacations!

 

Asking price:  $167,432 on a Bank Owned property in an oceanfront building where similar listings are still priced at over $200K.  My investor client asked me to put in a bid for $125,000.  The bank approved it.  SOLD!

 

Asking price on a short sale:  $190,000 in an Oceanfront building where similar condos are still listed for up to $300,000.  My investor bid $154,000 for it.  The bank finally accepted $168,000.  We closed last week.

 

I just received a request to bid on a short sale home currently priced at $549,900, the least expensive home ever sold in that neighborhood.  The lead came from Active Rain.  The investor wants to bid $260,000.  Will I write it up?  You bet!  Why?  Because the bank might actually take it! 

 

Here are some deals you could bid on:  Luxury condo on Waterway.  Asking price $299,900. 

 

Waterway community custom home, 4BR/3BA.  Originally priced at $799K.  The bank now owns it and listed it with me for $489K. 

 

Just check out our website for current REO deals at:  http://www.myrtlebeachhomes.us/Homes  or www.BankOwnedInMyrtleBeach.com

 

Go ahead:  insult the Seller!  I will be glad to do it for you!

 

Mirela Monte, Your Myrtle Beach REO Source

It doesn't matter what you need.  What matters is what the market commands.  If you need to sell your property for $250,000 and the current comps for similar properties indicate a value of $168,000, you need to price yours at $165,000.  It doesn't matter if your home is the nicest one in the development.  If it is and you price it correctly, it will sell the fastest.

Pricing has everything to do with selling.  That's usually the case.   That's true now more than ever.

Put your best foot forward:  Stage your home, keep it clean and orderly, set the thermostat on the right temperature. 

For your Realtor:  make sure your Realtor gives you a monthly report.  Any and all advertising done on your property, any and all showings and comments on your property, how it's presented to the other agents in the MLS, any fliers, cards, cross marketing, Internet exposure, etc. 

Are you front page on Google?  All my listings are presented on the first page of Google by the address and they all have their very own websites.  With a plethora of available listings, you can't afford to have an Agent who's clueless to the power of the Internet...

You also want to make sure you know what's selling in your neighborhood.  Your Realtor should keep you up to date via automatic e-mail or by monthly report, with any new listings competing with your property and any new sales.  Typically the best priced listing gets the most showings, the most interest and usually sells the fastest.  You want to stay on top of your competition.   Remember, you are not only competing with your neighbors, you are now also competing with the banks...

Mirela Monte, Your Myrtle Beach Real Estate Connection                 Join The Optimist Group!

*Note: $/Total Sq.Ft = price per square foot.  The first such section refers to the listing price; the second refers to the actual sales price. 

Villa Firenze at the Grande Dunes is a Luxury, Gated Community located in Myrtle Beach, SC.  With a top notch, private golf course, waterway and ocean access, these single-family estate homes are in a class by themselves.  With private 2 car garages, private elevators and gracious entryways that lead into the luxuriously appointed interiors, these spacious Villas have expansive verandas providing the perfect setting for relaxation, while enjoying stunning golf course, waterway and nature views.

Villa Firenze at the Grande Dunes by Mirela Monte

BR                        = Nr. Of Bedrooms

Total Sq. Ft.           = Total Square Footage

$/Total Sq.Fr          = Price per Square Foot (the first one pertains to price per square foot according to the listing price; the second one pertains to the price per square foot actually garnered.  Thus you will see a big difference - $742.80 per sq. ft in the asking price vs. $585.71 per square foot under the sold price, a difference of $157.09 per square foot).

A total of four Oceanfront Homes were sold in the last two quarters of 2008 in North Myrtle Beach. 

Here are all the Oceanfront Homes available for sale in the North Myrtle Beach Area, a total of 14 currently on the market:

North Myrtle Beach Oceanfront Homes by Mirela Monte                       Million Dollar Homes Group

Congratulations!  You're getting married.  Staying with the times, you decide to keep your last name and just add his to it.  If your last name is BEST and his last name is LAY, please don't hyphenate!

If your last name is BUSH and his last name is RASH, please don't hyphenate!   

If your last name is BEAVER and his last name is WETTER, please, just don't do it!

Here are some couples who tied the knot and hopefully decided not to hyphenate:

Mirela Monte, Your Myrtle Beach Connection                  Join me on the Optimist Group!

This Oceanfront AND Creek front (with dock) majestic 6,774 sq. ft, 6BR/6.5BA Home sold in July for $3.9MIL.

What a Steal!  This is located in my favorite area of the Beach - Tilghman Estates in Ocean Drive.  This 6BR/3BA, 2,500 sq. ft. home sold for a mere $1.5MIL.

This 4,500 sq. ft. 5BR/5.5BA Oceanfront Home sold in July for $2.6MIL.

Myrtle Beach Oceanfront Homes by Mirela Monte                                MILLION DOLLAR HOMES CLUB

If you weigh 300 pounds and you are comfortable, power to you!   There is a lot to be said about being "ample".   Although the media disseminates images of anorexic 13 year olds touting them as prime examples of beauty, most of us know better... 

As a matter of fact, what the media doesn't reveal is that to a lot of men the feminine ideal is "ample".  I used to own a lingerie store that also carried large sizes (1X, 2X, 3X).    Catering to this niche, we displayed a catalog on our main counter that used actual large size models for their lingerie.  Men used to find every excuse in the book to peruse that catalog.  If the person manning the counter wasn't careful, the catalog usually ‘walked'.  We lost so many large size catalogs that I finally came up with the brilliant idea of selling the catalog.  It became an instant best seller in our store.  Imagine that!  Big girls, now you know!  Work it, work it!

Anyway, back to the story!  The point is this:  if you are happy with being 300 pounds, enjoy it and carry your 300 pounds around like it was 300 pounds of female dynamite; which to many men, it is.

But if you are 300 pounds and keep staring at the anorexic girls in the magazines and wish you looked more like them then yourself and you lament about how fat you are while you are inserting yet another Twinkie in your mouth, then you have a problem!

The issue here is not your 300 pounds; the issue here is that you are incongruous with yourself!  If you like it, flaunt it!   If you don't, then start walking, jogging and changing your diet!  You can't bitch about your fat ass while stuffing another Twinkie in your mouth! 

Mirela Monte, Your Myrtle Beach Real Estate Connection                          Join The Optimist Group!

The Art of Being Happy

The Art of Being Happy - Part II

The Art of Being Happy - Part III - Divine Guidance:

 The Art of Being Happy IV: Define Happy!

Via Pederson Properties, Inc. (Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage):

My fellow citizens:

I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.

Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often, the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because We the People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forebearers, and true to our founding documents.

So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.

That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.

These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land -- a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights.

Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America: They will be met.

On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.

On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn-out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.

We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.

In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of shortcuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the fainthearted -- for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things -- some celebrated, but more often men and women obscure in their labor -- who have carried us up the long, rugged path toward prosperity and freedom.

For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life.

For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West; endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth.

For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sahn.

Time and again, these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life. They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction.

This is the journey we continue today. We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions -- that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.

For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act -- not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. And all this we will do.

Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions -- who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage.

What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them -- that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply. The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works -- whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end. And those of us who manage the public's dollars will be held to account -- to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day -- because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.

Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill. Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched, but this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control -- and that a nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous. The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our gross domestic product, but on the reach of our prosperity; on our ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart -- not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good.

As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our Founding Fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake. And so to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: Know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more.

Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.

We are the keepers of this legacy. Guided by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort -- even greater cooperation and understanding between nations. We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people, and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan. With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet. We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.

For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus -- and nonbelievers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.

To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West: Know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.

To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it.

As we consider the road that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains. They have something to tell us today, just as the fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages. We honor them not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service; a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves. And yet, at this moment -- a moment that will define a generation -- it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all.

For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the firefighter's courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent's willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.

Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends -- hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism -- these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility -- a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation and the world; duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.

This is the price and the promise of citizenship.

This is the source of our confidence -- the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.

This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed -- why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent Mall, and why a man whose father less than 60 years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.

So let us mark this day with remembrance, of who we are and how far we have traveled. In the year of America's birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river. The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood. At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people:

"Let it be told to the future world ... that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive... that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet [it]."

America. In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested, we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back, nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.

 

Being happy doesn't mean that you are always up and bubbling over with enthusiasm every moment of every day.  No; it simply means that your Happiness compass is working just fine and it will always help you find your way there, regardless of what happens in your life. 

In our society there seems to be an implicit message that we should feel good at all times (and at all cost...) and furthermore, that we should somehow always strive to achieve that ideal.  Holding that notion as dogma does much to usurp our eventual happiness. 

When bad things happen, it is a normal reaction to be unhappy as a result.  Melancholy should be embraced as the healer that it is.  It should not be hurried, for it does its job in due time.  As joyous as I am, I have had moments of extreme pain, when I just cried for days (the ending of my second marriage for example).  I embraced my melancholy as the grieving necessary in order to get to the other side.  Losing precious people from your life - that's another deep cause for pain.  I still cry every Father's Day.  It is not a good day for me on that celebrated occasion, for I still miss my father, and he's been gone for about a decade.  Father's Day I cry, but the next day I feel like myself again. 

Being happy is not about the facade, or the "Ra-Ra!!"   Being happy means that you eventually adjust to whatever losses you incur throughout your life and you eventually reach your way back to finding joy in every day life.  There is a miracle in living!

What are your thoughts on this?

Mirela Monte, Your Myrtle Beach Connection                       Join me on the Optimist Group!

The Art of Being Happy

The Art of Being Happy - Part II

The Art of Being Happy - Part III - Divine Guidance:

 THIS CONDO IS GREAT!  THIS MARKET IS NOT!!!

Looking for luxury? Look no further! The Edgewater resort is located behind Barefoot Landing in North Myrtle Beach, right on the Waterway. Take a stroll along the waterway or relax in one of the two luxury clubhouses. Golfers will love the convenience of four Championship Golf

Courses and shoppers will be excited about the proximity of all the specialty stores and fantastic restaurants: Greg Norman's Grill, the House of Blues, the Alabama Theater and many others.  With the largest saltwater pool in the Myrtle Beach Area, a gorgeous Marina and every amenity imaginable, you simply can not do any better than this. 

This furnished 2BR/2BA luxury condo is sensibly priced at $299,900.  It is a short sale.  Bring an offer!  Go ahead: insult the seller! 

Edgewater Resort at Barefoot by Mirela Monte

The Sellers are very flexible:  whether you just buy this beach condo, or do a lease to own, a contract of sale, owner financing, or just a lease, they are willing to entertain any proposal. 

Just bring them an offer!  Go ahead, test their flexibility!  You'll be amazed by the results!

*About the condo:  Maison Place, a small condo project in the Arcadian Section of Myrtle Beach is mere steps away from the beach (you can hear the waves from your bedroom window).  It is in the midst of all the action, yet it's tucked away in a quiet and verdant location right by the forest and marsh.  With low HOA fees, storage and golf cart parking, this immaculate, first floor 2BR/2BA furnished condo is simply the very best second home at the beach.   The price?  $150,000, but go ahead:  test the sellers' flexibility!  You'll be impressed by the results!

Mirela Monte, Your Myrtle Beach Real Estate Connection

I believe that one can learn the art of being happy.  There are several things people can do to invite joy and peace into their lives and keep them there for good.  I will explore the many facets of the art of being happy over the next several weeks, a step by step guide for getting there, a life manual for a life fulfilled. 

Just as the alphabet starts with the letter "A", the art of happiness also has a beginning, a first key concept:

Cultivating a belief in something higher than yourself is a good start. 

Religion is a very personal thing.  I don't know how to tell you to find your "Something Higher".  My journey was one of research and perseverance.  I observed.  I read.  I asked a lot of question, I listened... and then IT found me.  One day it just happened and I've never been the same since.  

Believing in something higher than myself has been a huge relief.  Learning to pray for specifics took some getting used to, but now I practice it every day.  I believe in the power of prayer as much as I believe in gravity and black and white, and anything else that one is sure of.  I have seen miracles generated by prayer. 

Praying and not believing is like eating air.  It means nothing; it does nothing.  For prayer to work, one must believe.   For the agnostics and atheists, there is ample proof in the power of visualization.  The mind is an amazing instrument...

Where are you in your journey?

Myrtle Beach Real Estate by Mirela Monte                        Join The Optimist Group!

The Art of Being Happy

The Art of Being Happy - Part II