I re-stumbled across this letter the other day and found it appropriate to share. My grandpa wrote it about my grandma. It truly captures her big heart and positive attitude! I think everyone can use this article and translate it in some form to their life. Hope you enjoy!
One Woman's Legacy: Attitude Is EVERYTHING
BY JAMES A. HOWD JR.
My late wife, Carolyn, had a fantastic attitude. She was tremendously optimistic and genuinely cared about other people.
She sincerely believed that we, as real estate practitioners and human beings, can---and do---control our own destiny. She felt that we should always look forward and never look back, especially to past events over which we have no control.
In September 1989, Carolyn broke her left leg and had to spend some time in the hospital recovering from extensive reconstructive bone surgery. She used most of that time to call customers and clients---and maintain contact with all the people she worked with and loved so much. She actually generated business from her hospital bed, and some sellers visited her so that she could list their houses.
One day while lying in bed, she discovered a lump in her right breast. The lump turned out to be a large, cancerous growth. Within a month, Carolyn was in another hospital, this time recovering from breast surgery.
In the second hospital also, Carolyn had numerous visitors. Clients, customers, friends, and colleagues came not only to visit but also to discuss their problems and get her advice. Instead of playing the role of the patient, Carolyn was spending her time in the hospital helping others.
The day Carolyn was released, the hospital threw a farewell party. Patients on her floor came on crutches and in wheelchairs. The doctors and nurses and other staff wheeled in a cake. And they partied! Hospital staff told me they had neverneverhad the pleasure of having such a wonderful, positive patient in that wing and they'd sincerely miss her.
From late 1989 until May 1990, Carolyn underwent chemotherapy. Every treatment was followed by a week or more of severe nausea.
Despite those difficulties, Carolyn maintained her positive attitude. Her real estate business actually grew. In 1990 she recorded 36 closed sides; in 1991 she more than doubled her volume to 82 closed sides; and the following year she tripled her volume of 1990 to 108 closed sides, with $7.3 million in closed production.
Based on her performance during the first half of 1993, Carolyn was on track for a record year---144 closed sides and more than $10 million in production. But in May her doctors discovered that her cancer had spread. From then until the end of her life, she was forced to spend most of her time away from the field and in a bed or a hospital.
How had Carolyn managed to be so productive during a debilitating, life-threatening illness? It was her choice. She could have wallowed in pity and despair; instead, she chose to keep going.
Carolyn's doctors were so impressed with her optimistic outlook that in 1995 they offered her an opportunity to participate in a test of a new gene therapy for breast cancer. Without hesitation, Carolyn said, "I have a daughter and five granddaughters. Even if it doesn't benefit me, perhaps it'll make their lives---or other women's lives---better. Let's do it."
Any possible medical benefits from the test didn't come in time to help Carolyn. She died on June 17, 1995, at Vanderbilt University Hospital.
Shortly before her death, Carolyn instructed me to deliver a final message to her clients, customers, friends, and neighbors in Clarksville, Tenn. When I returned to town, I had her message placed on our real estate office marquee: "Bye-Bye. I Love You All. Carolyn."
That was Carolyn's winning attitude.
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