Winning money

Hello to all!

What are your real goals for this coming year( Mayan calendar be damned!)? To live comfortably, according to YOUR idea of comfortably or someone else's idea? And what does comfort mean to you? All the shiny new toys, like jet skis or whatever has taken over from them, a boat with all the fancy tricks, a car that goes from 0 - 100 in 1 second, a new house, a second house or just to be able to pay your debts each week and have enough over to be able to afford treats when you want to, instead of having to squeeze every penny until it screams?

You see, there are many ways that you can be comfortable. It is simply your choice. I have known a few people who have done extremely well in big lotteries. Not the big prize to themselves, but sharing it. I have met five of these lucky people. You judge if they have been lucky.

No 1. Won a share of $10 million with his friend. They were the only ones who shared first prize. Within a month, they had moved to a brand new house on the beach and changed their two children to  private schools, although the children were happy where they were and in high school. Mother had a face lift and other bits lifted and trimmed and ran off with her son's best friend. dad had a breakdown. Daughter was removed from the new school by a very concerned aunt and returned to where she was happy.

No 2. Won almost a million dollars as second prize. Bought the newest Four wheel drives, one each for him and his wife, and a car capable of everything except driving itself for their only son. Son took the car for a spin a week after Dad bought it, lost control on a corner and died instantly when he crashed into a wall. Both father and mother are now in therapy.


No 3. Single mother. Won over one million dollars with other people. Bought the kids every new toy their hearts could want and took them everywhere they had ever wished. Met up with a handsome man around her age. Had a fling with him and found herself relieved of almost every penny that was left. But she is almost glad to go back to the boring job she left, and counts herself lucky that was all she lost.

No 4. Old couple. They have not touched a penny of the five hundred thousand they won. Have three grown-up children who refuse to speak to their parents and will not let them see the grandkids, although they are all going to inherit equal shares from the father when he dies and the same from the mother.

No 5. A lazy layabout. Plonked several hundred thousand in trust for his nieces and nephews, because he does not want any children ever.- There are too many starving and being beaten every day -, spent $10,000 on setting up a state of the art music and computer centre, and happily now continues at the job he does part time. He does not smoke or drink, does not do drugs, and worships at a tiny Church which is lucky to be standing. And he is as happy as anyone could be.

So who really are the happy ones? Money is not everything. But it does make life easier, at least in the beginning. So work out your priorities and go for them. But make sure that your priorities do not run YOU.