Monday, April 2, 2012

IN THE COMPANY OF MILLIONAIRES

Did  you win the MEGA MILLIONS on Friday? I most certainly think you would hardly be reading this post or even be spending time doing much of your typical daily "stuff" if you were the one with a winning ticket. But,you are probably more like me; dreaming of what might have been if you had hit the "big one".

People get so excited imagining all the things that would change in their lives and yet it is so easy to forget how many priceless things we all possess even winning the MEGA MILLIONS could not replace.


Mega Millions logo
Mega Millions logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Several years ago, someone asked me if I considered myself a millionaire. I laughed and told them I would hardly think I was even brushing shoulders within that category whenever he asked me if I would sell my eyes for a million dollars. When I emphatically responded, "Absolutely not!", he went on to ask if I would consider giving up my ability to walk or talk for a million. "That's just crazy," I said, "Why would anyone give up the ability to walk independently or communicate for a million dollars?"

Then he mentioned since I was so adamant I would not part with what I considered a vital part of my existence, I must already be a millionaire. I obviously had many possessions I would never exchange for any amount of money. The questions really made an impact and so I ask you the same.

COVINA, CA - MARCH 30:  A woman fills out a Me...


Would you exchange your spouse, parents or children for a million dollars? Would you sell your soul for a cool million or give up everything you consider precious and priceless for the chance to have big bucks? While money can be a great incentive most people would never choose to surrender the simple freedoms and opportunities we know in life or the ability to walk, talk, see, hear or love for a chunk of cash.

We all possess countless "riches" we take for granted, not realizing how priceless having sight might be to someone who has never seen their loved one's face or speech might be to someone who has never been able to truly communicate the way they feel spontaneously. We hug our loved ones and enjoy our time with our families, forgetting how many people live in dysfunctional situations without the support of those they love or constantly in fear of people who care little for them. Millions of dollars could never replace losing a loved one, giving up our independence, forgoing our senses or simply abandoning the countless joys we take for granted daily because we don't see ourselves as rich as we truly are.

Rainbow from Budapest
So, maybe today you are still dreaming about what could change if suddenly you had riches beyond your imaginations or maybe you realize you already have everything you really need to go after your dreams.
We seldom realize our blessings until they are gone. We seldom count our riches while we are still in the midst of enjoying them. It is easy to look at life as less than amazing when you wake each day without realizing how incredibly rich you already are.


Countless individuals have gone after a dream, achieved a major goal or committed to living a life with complete purpose and passion who also have never held a winning ticket in their hands. It's not about having what you want, but really about wanting what you have.


Without money
Without money (Photo credit: Toban Black)
You hardly need a winning ticket to be rich, you just need a winning attitude and the riches you already have piled in front of you daily. I don't know about you but, I feel far wealthier since I was asked those questions than I ever thought I was. 


There are simply some things I would never ever exchange for any amount of money How about you?
Do you have a fortune in blessings and a wealth of experiences that no money could ever replace?

See your riches in the light you are meant to see them and you will be amazed how many treasures you have to get your dream started even without the winning ticket.
Enhanced by Zemanta

8 comments:

  1. Wonderful post, Kathy! Yes, I do treasure the gifts I already have and am so thankful for them. I, like you, would trade none of them, nor the ones I love, for any amount of money.
    Blessings to you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much for your comment, Martha! Yes, it is amazing how rich we are when we really think about what we would never part with.

      Delete
  2. What a great post!!! It's all about focus isn't it? When we focus on what we don't have... like a million dollars we are living in the world of deficits. But when we focus on our blessings, our dreams, passions, our abilities, our family and friends we are living in the world of abundance.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Recognizing how blessed I really am makes me realize I have more wealth than I deserve.
      Thanks for taking the time to comment Lynne.
      You have been one of my blessings!

      Delete
  3. So true..your post reminds me of the MASTER CARD advertisement.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I wouldn't exchange my kids or husband for all the money in the world. Good post...It's important to keep a healthy perspective when it comes to money.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for your comment Jessica. Keeping a perspective does make all the difference.

      Delete
  5. I do consider myself so very rich in faith and family. I would not give up anything in my life, nor would I want to change it. It's funny that you wrote this post, because my neighbor asked me if I bought a lottery ticket. I replied 'no' and he showed me the handful that he had purchased. I asked him what he would do if he won all of that money and he shared with me everything he would buy and everywhere he would travel. Then, he asked me what I would do if I should ever win a lottery. I didn't have a list like he did, because I can't really think of something I NEED to buy or somewhere I NEED to go. Sure, I dream of things just as any other person does, but nothing is a necessity, and if it came right down to it, I probably wouldn't ever do what I dream of :) I believe it's important for us to base our lives on faith and not money. It's not what you have, but what you do with what you do have.

    ReplyDelete