A Word About This Blog Series

As the holiday season rapidly approaches here in Eastern Middle Tennessee, gratitude has a way of pulling us back to what matters most: the people in our lives, our purpose as REALTORS, and the places we call home as we live, work, play, and serve in our communities.

As EMTAR members know, in real estate, “home” isn’t just our business—it’s our very heartbeat. It’s “who we R.” Every broker’s conversation, every agent’s call to a prospective client, every buyer’s dream, every seller’s next chapter, every closing, every aspect of every transaction—it all matters, and it all hinges on a simple but powerful idea: belonging.

This November, we at EMTAR are sharing a four-part Thanksgiving Gratitude Series — reflections on gratefulness from different corners of our real estate industry. Whether you’re a REALTOR, a buyer, a seller, or simply someone who loves the feeling of “home,” there’s something for you over these next few weeks leading to Thanksgiving.

This series includes:

• (Wednesday, Nov. 5) Part 1 — The Realtor’s Gratitude: Finding joy, purpose, and fulfillment in serving clients with excellence, expertise, and ethical integrity.
• (Last Wednesday, Nov. 12) Part 2 — The Buyer’s Gratitude: Thankful for a fresh start, a new threshold, and a cherished place to call home.
• (Today, Wednesday, Nov. 19) Part 3 — The Seller’s Gratitude: Thankful for memories to savor, friends to keep in touch with, and new beginnings to embrace.
• (Next Wednesday, Nov. 26) Part 4 — Our Industry’s Gratitude: Thankful for community, collaboration, communication, and continuing growth.

Each piece is a small reminder that gratitude doesn’t just change our mindset—it changes the way we work, connect, and live here in Wilson, Smith, and Dekalb counties.

As we head to Thanksgiving next week, we hope these reflections inspire you to pause, look around, and give thanks for all the ways “home” shows up in your life—in your business, your relationships, and your heart.

And now, let’s focus on sellers with Part 3 of our series . . .

For anyone who has done it, we know that selling a home often comes with mixed emotions—nostalgia for what was (so many cherished memories made and life that happened) along with anticipation for what’s next (the chance to make new memories in a new setting). This season of Thanksgiving gives us space to honor both.

1. Thankful for the Memories

If you are preparing to sell soon, before the “For Sale” sign goes up, take a moment to look around and remember the laughter, the milestones, and even the ordinary days that made this house home. Or if you already sold a home, take time to look back on and savor those blessings. Gratitude transforms letting go into a kind of celebration—not of loss, but of life lived well.

2. Thankful for Change and Possibility

Every sale marks a transition, right? Maybe it’s a job move, an empty nest, or a chance to live closer to family. (We know that so many of our neighbors here in Eastern Middle Tennessee have moved here for one or more of those reasons.) Change can be bittersweet, but it’s also a sign of growth. Gratitude helps you focus on what’s ahead—new opportunities, new spaces, and new memories waiting to be made.

3. Thankful for the Pros Who Make It Happen

Selling a home takes teamwork—from REALTORS (with their commitment to excellence, expertise, and high ethical standards) and stagers to photographers and closing attorneys. A thankful seller recognizes how many hands and hearts go into making a smooth transition possible.

4. Thankful for the Next Chapter of Life

Gratitude brings peace to the process. It softens the stress, steadies the heart, and helps you see that every ending holds the seed of a new beginning.

Try This: As a practical way to express gratitude, write a short thank-you letter to your home. It might sound sentimental, but it’s a powerful way to honor your past while embracing your next adventure. Then, share the letter with someone special in your life, a person (or people) who understands and perhaps feels the same way about the home that means so much to you.

About EMTAR: Chartered in 1969, our Association’s 1,200+ REALTORS are a proud part of the 36,000+ members of Tennessee REALTORS and of the 1.5 million+ members of NAR, all working to serve the public and protect the rights of America’s property owners. EMTAR members are known not only for their unmatched real estate excellence and high ethical standards, but also for being generous, hospitable, others-focused, loyal, hardworking, and eager to help wherever and whenever help is needed.