| As the holiday season is here and the year winds down, I wanted to take a moment to reach out to you personally. My husband, Jonathan Harmon, often shares stories about the wonderful people he works with, and through his eyes, I feel as though I’ve gotten to know many of you, and consider others dear friends. Yes, he shares your stories with me, just like he shares (sometimes maybe too much) our family stories with you each week.. As Jonathan’s wife, I’ve developed a deep appreciation for the hard work, trust, and care that goes into helping people find a place to call home or feeling comfortable with an investment. One thing that truly stands out to me is how much Jonathan genuinely cares about our community. Whether it’s supporting local events, checking in on past clients, or going the extra mile when no one is watching, his commitment comes from the heart, and I know it’s something he brings to every client relationship. With that being said, we are not all like Jonathan and that is ok.. He is like the Energizer bunny that keeps going and going. I have learned over the last few years that I need to protect my energy and time. But when your sense of duty is a core pillar of your identity, failing to meet every expectation feels less like a scheduling conflict and more like a moral failing and letting people down. I have learned that I need to release this burden and to do so, I have had to reframe my priorities: acknowledge that choosing one meaningful act often requires the intentional “failure” of another. Confession, I skipped the Christmas cards and the tree this year. I chose instead to spend that time and energy on some doctors visits, orthodontist visits, other family priorities, and catching up on some past due work to start 2026 fresh. I hope you can find a good balance and if you have it, release your guilt for your intentional or unintentional “failures” We feel incredibly grateful that you chose Jonathan to be a part of your journey this year. It’s clients like you and the community who make his work so meaningful and rewarding. Wishing you a beautiful holiday! Elicia Fortner |
