During 2015, the city of Melbourne came up with a clever idea: give each of its 70,000 trees a unique ID number and an email address. The practical goal was to help citizens report fallen branches, damaged trees or tree-related trouble. Each tree’s email was linked to a database, making maintenance a breeze.

But then something adorable happened. People didn’t simply send emails to report issues; they wrote to the trees. They sent love letters, shared life updates and checked in on their leafy friends. One particularly lucky elm received a sweet note: "I hope you're doing well this autumn!"

Instead of shutting down the program, the city leaned into the fun and turned it into a PR success. Some emails even got replies (although Melbourne’s city employees might wish the trees could type the responses.)

Of course, these trees aren’t actually scrolling through their inboxes, but that hasn’t stopped people from sending a little love to their favorite branches!

Some months feel big — full of milestones, decisions and changes you can see coming from a mile away. But May is quieter. It’s not about the big moments; it’s about the little ones.

The first morning you step outside and realize the weather is warm enough to leave your jacket behind. A cool breeze on a long afternoon drive. That stretch of golden light that lingers just before the sun sets a few minutes later than it did last week.

Humans tend to overlook these things and rush past them while waiting for something bigger. But sometimes, the little things are what keep us moving forward and remind us that not every step has to be planned or that every season has to be about change. Some things are meant to be lived — one small, beautiful moment at a time.

So, this month, I’m being attentive to the little things. I hope you are, too.

With gratitude,

Gino Pezzani

Personal Real Estate Corporation

RE/MAX Heights Realty

Mobile: (604) 418-9366

Email: gino@vanhomesales.com

https://vanhomesales.com/blog.html

The influence of mothers shapes us in subtle and profound ways. Although every mother doesn’t achieve heroic recognition, their daily choices, their persistent faith in our potential and their quiet wisdom help build the foundation of who we become. Through their example and encouragement, we often find strength we didn't know we had.

During the 1950s, when Eustacia Cutler took her 4-year-old daughter Temple to the doctor, she heard words no mother wants to hear. The doctors diagnosed Temple with autism and then recommended institutionalization — the standard medical advice of that era. They said Temple would never speak, never connect, never thrive.

But Eustacia saw something different in her daughter's eyes. Where others saw only limitations, she noticed how Temple could think in pictures, how she related to animals in unique ways and how she processed the world differently — not wrongly.

Against the prevailing wisdom of the time, Eustacia made a bold decision. Instead of institutionalizing Temple, she created an enriched environment at home. She hired a speech therapist, encouraged Temple's natural interests and, most importantly, presumed competence when others assumed limitation.

Her insight proved transformative. Temple Grandin went on to earn a Ph.D., revolutionize animal science, design more-humane livestock-handling equipment used worldwide and become one of the world's most-influential voices in understanding autism.

Today, Dr. Temple Grandin often credits her success to her mother's early insight. "My mother never gave up on me,” she said. “She recognized that different didn't mean less." Sometimes a mother's wisdom isn't just about raising a child; it's about changing the world's perspective, one person at a time.

Happy Mother's Day!

Gino Pezzani
RE/MAX Heights Realty
www.vanhomesales.com
604-418-9366

May has that in-between energy — halfway between spring and summer, caught in a stretch of grey mornings and slow starts. The month reminds us to slow down and that great things can happen when we pause before the next big shift.

May is all about that sweet spot — between action and stillness, luck and timing, doing and not doing. Inside, you'll find a fresh perspective on those overcast May days, whether luck is random and a reminder that sometimes the best thing you can do … is nothing.

So, grab your coffee, settle in and embrace the pause before summer kicks into high gear. And if you’re in the middle of a big decision — to buy or sell your home — then now might be the perfect time to take stock, weigh your options and ensure you’re moving at the right pace.

As always, I’m here to help whenever you're ready.