Playing Ball
After picking my son up from band yesterday evening, I bought a Powerball ticket. I'm not one to gamble but as my uncle once said, "you can't win unless you play." So I plopped down two dollars for a no way chance in hell.
You know in the after, when you taste something that makes your nose crinkle and then the flavor lingers for a good time after? There was similar type of unpleasantness to the experience. Why you might ask, well...
Having a truckload of money would not make me a better person, nor would it gain me any sort of respect for accomplishment, determination or creativity. In fact, after the ten minutes of fame I'm willing to guess, everything surrounding life would become far more complicated. Sure my children would be provided for, transforming the paper napkins they carry in their lunches to that of the finest linen but it wouldn't make them better people. If we set off to help as many that we could with the winnings....maybe, but then again, maybe not. I suppose even if we became "good deed-doers," that too would detour every road forward. There would be a constant knocking at the door and our entire purpose would become all tied up in the "answering."
I think sometimes it has less to do with how much a person has and more to do with what is done with it. I'm reminded of the tiny houses that have recently become popular. Everything is right there in a scaled down, "easy to reach," structure. Space is tight and yet there is room for a large screen television, a sitting room, kitchen area, bathroom, and a loft with fold out, fold ins, drawers, cubbies that are all compacted into a roomy design. There is no space for clutter...everything has a place...miniature scale. I feel that concept represents how most of us take what we have "as is" and use it proficiently.
A lottery ticket is merely a dare to dream. What if? The first question I would ask myself; "how could I make the world a better place?" "What would I change if I had the means as such?"
Wouldn't it be great to help the homeless? Wouldn't it be awesome to contribute by refurbishing homes all with the intention of giving them away? To help real people, to offer a hand up? To witness the expression on their faces when handed the key. The thing is, I can do that now...with my spare time and talents by volunteering for Habitat for Humanity. That is actually something on my "to do" list just as soon as my responsibilities lessen. Sign me up for the painting crew and tell me where to begin!
My point is, one does not need a lot of money to make a difference, just time, a few kind words and the ability to get involved. Generosity comes in many forms. I see that...no winning ticket necessary. In a sense, all of us have all ready won if we use all that we have for the greater good...if we carry the right attitude and are willing to share.
It's two in the morning and I checked the numbers as did many... I had only one matching number and so, life will go on the same as it was yesterday and the day before.... In hindsight, I probably should have taken my pocket change and put it towards some printer paper or art supplies instead of feeding the greed if you know what I mean...but hey, it was worth the escape if even for a moment. The possibility carried me away from the chill of this January cold snap. Travel would have been terrific though, somewhere warm and tropical...Whispering Falls perhaps, but then again, I've all ready been there within my own imagination.
Until next time,
~Trixie Archer
You know in the after, when you taste something that makes your nose crinkle and then the flavor lingers for a good time after? There was similar type of unpleasantness to the experience. Why you might ask, well...
Having a truckload of money would not make me a better person, nor would it gain me any sort of respect for accomplishment, determination or creativity. In fact, after the ten minutes of fame I'm willing to guess, everything surrounding life would become far more complicated. Sure my children would be provided for, transforming the paper napkins they carry in their lunches to that of the finest linen but it wouldn't make them better people. If we set off to help as many that we could with the winnings....maybe, but then again, maybe not. I suppose even if we became "good deed-doers," that too would detour every road forward. There would be a constant knocking at the door and our entire purpose would become all tied up in the "answering."
I think sometimes it has less to do with how much a person has and more to do with what is done with it. I'm reminded of the tiny houses that have recently become popular. Everything is right there in a scaled down, "easy to reach," structure. Space is tight and yet there is room for a large screen television, a sitting room, kitchen area, bathroom, and a loft with fold out, fold ins, drawers, cubbies that are all compacted into a roomy design. There is no space for clutter...everything has a place...miniature scale. I feel that concept represents how most of us take what we have "as is" and use it proficiently.
A lottery ticket is merely a dare to dream. What if? The first question I would ask myself; "how could I make the world a better place?" "What would I change if I had the means as such?"
Wouldn't it be great to help the homeless? Wouldn't it be awesome to contribute by refurbishing homes all with the intention of giving them away? To help real people, to offer a hand up? To witness the expression on their faces when handed the key. The thing is, I can do that now...with my spare time and talents by volunteering for Habitat for Humanity. That is actually something on my "to do" list just as soon as my responsibilities lessen. Sign me up for the painting crew and tell me where to begin!
My point is, one does not need a lot of money to make a difference, just time, a few kind words and the ability to get involved. Generosity comes in many forms. I see that...no winning ticket necessary. In a sense, all of us have all ready won if we use all that we have for the greater good...if we carry the right attitude and are willing to share.
It's two in the morning and I checked the numbers as did many... I had only one matching number and so, life will go on the same as it was yesterday and the day before.... In hindsight, I probably should have taken my pocket change and put it towards some printer paper or art supplies instead of feeding the greed if you know what I mean...but hey, it was worth the escape if even for a moment. The possibility carried me away from the chill of this January cold snap. Travel would have been terrific though, somewhere warm and tropical...Whispering Falls perhaps, but then again, I've all ready been there within my own imagination.
Until next time,
~Trixie Archer
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