Is Your Home Helping You Live The Life You Want?
The Book That Got Me Thinking
Every once in a while, a book comes along that makes you look at something familiar in a completely different way.
A dear friend recently recommended Slowing Down to the Speed of Joy by Matthew Kelly, and I’ll be honest, it hit home.
The book explores something a lot of us probably recognize in our own lives: we have gotten really good at being busy.
Busy with work, with family, with schedules, appointments, notifications, errands, and that one drawer in the kitchen we keep pretending we are going to organize. But being busy is not always the same thing as living well.
And, naturally, it got me thinking about real estate. Because maybe we need to look beyond the usual numbers for a minute: Bedrooms. Bathrooms. Square footage. Garage space. Interest rates. Monthly payments.
Those things matter. Of course they do.
But maybe the bigger question is this:
What Kind of Life Do I Want to Live Here?
As a Realtor in Northern Colorado and Southern Wyoming, I spend a lot of time talking with people about what they want in a home.
At first, the answers are usually practical:
Three bedrooms.
Two bathrooms.
Two-car garage.
A bigger backyard.
Home office.
Main-floor primary bedroom.
And those are all important. But when we slow the conversation down a little, something interesting tends to happen. The real wish list starts to come out.
“I want to be able to walk somewhere for coffee.”
“A backyard where my kids can play would be great.”
“I'm tired of spending every weekend maintaining a huge house.”
“I would love to be closer to the trails.”
“Enough room to host Thanksgiving this year without everyone balancing plates on their knees is ideal.”
That is when the conversation changes. Because now we are not just talking about real estate. We are talking about life and answering the question is this home helping you live the life you want?
A Home Is More Than an Address
A home is not just the place where your mail shows up. It shapes your routines. It affects how you spend your weekends. It influences who you see, where you go, how you gather, and how much breathing room you feel at the end of the day.
Sometimes the right home gives you more energy. Sometimes it gives you more peace. Sometimes it gives you less to maintain, more room to grow, a better commute, a closer connection to family, or easier access to the lifestyle you keep saying you want “someday."
And sometimes, if we are being honest, a home that used to fit beautifully just does not fit the same way anymore.
That does not mean anything went wrong.
It just means life changed. And homes are supposed to support life, not trap us in a version of it we have outgrown.
Is Your Current Home Helping You Live the Life You Want?
Maybe the answer is yes. Maybe your home still fits your life, your family, your routines, and your future plans. That is a wonderful thing!
But maybe the answer is no. Maybe you have realized you want something different. Those are not just real estate questions. They are life questions.
And life questions deserve a little breathing room.
Slow Down. Get Curious. Then Decide.
That is probably my favorite connection between Slowing Down to the Speed of Joy and real estate. Before asking, “What house should I buy?” Maybe the better question is: “What kind of life am I trying to create?" Then you can start looking for the home that supports it.
Not the home that looks best on paper, not the home that checks the most boxes, and not the home that everyone else says makes sense. The home helping you live the life you want.
Buying or selling a home is a big decision, but it does not have to start with urgency. Sometimes the smartest move begins by slowing down.
If you are thinking about buying or selling a home in Northern Colorado or Southern Wyoming, I would be happy to help you talk through what that next chapter could look like.
No pressure to rush.
Just a thoughtful conversation about where you are, where you want to go, and what kind of home might help you get there.
Written by Shannon Miller with the Weinland Team at RE/MAX Alliance
Phone: (970) 818-8895
Email: Shannon@TheWeinlandTeam.com
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