What If I Won the Lottery?

If ever you do a quick survey of a hundred people in the tradition of Family Feud about how to get wealthy, top answers would include marrying someone who is already wealthy, receiving a huge inheritance and winning the lottery. What ever happened to hard work, getting promoted or being successful in business? Well unfortunately many people want to be rich without working hard for it.

Sadly, such easy money often goes away rather easily as well. Many lottery winners tend to live what I call the "Ric Flair Lifestyle." They become a stylin,' profiling,' kiss stealin,' Lear jet flyin,' limousine ridin' son of a gun. Whoooooooooo! They tend to spend money like there is no tomorrow and spend it on things like mansions, luxury cars, gambling, women, drugs and what have you. Tragically, many end up poorer than whence they started.

Now, if ever I be fortunate enough to win the lottery, I am not saying that I would not be spending it. I am not saying that I would just leave the money stuck in the vault of some universal bank. I however, aspire to spend the money in more worthwhile causes. These causes I believe would enhance my life experience and enhance the lives of others as well.

-Contribute towards the eradication of world hunger-

While people in developed nations die of obesity, people in impoverished nations die of starvation. It is sad to view people in some parts of Asia and Africa look like walking skeletons. We must do something such as donate foodstuff to them in the form of cereals (wheat, oats, rice), canned goods and fresh produce. With the technology the world has now in terms of mass production, I am surprised that a significant portion of the world's population still goes hungry. I would also set up plenty of soup kitchen-like structures in needed areas which will use volunteers as manpower and will distribute donated foodstuff.

-Create a trust fund-

If the money is constantly donated to charitable causes, it would eventually run out. However, if the money is managed by a professional management team and placed in securities such as stocks and bonds and in time deposits and real estate properties, the gains from these activities will be spent without actually touching the capital. Thus this would create a fund that would help people way beyond my own lifetime.

The examples I want to point out is the foundations set up by Alfred Nobel and that by Milton Hershey. Alfred Nobel invented the dynamite for mining purposes and this invention made him a fortune. He parlayed that into an award called the Nobel Prize to be given as an incentive for people who contribute to the betterment of humanity through scientific achievement. Milton Hershey meanwhile founded Hershey's - the chocolate company. Several years after his demise, his foundation still supports schools, gardens, museums and hospitals in the Pennsylvania area.

-Travel-

God made the world so beautiful that it must be traveled. Britain has lavish castles and Big Ben. Australia has the Great Barrier Reef and the Outback. Africa has safaris. China has a Great Wall. The United States has Niagara Falls and The Grand Canyon. France has the Eiffel Tower. Egypt has the pyramids, sphinxes and the Nile River.

It would be nice to see the world's splendor and to be immersed in the cultures of other people. I would like to try to live their lifestyle, sample their cuisine, engage in their activities and hopefully learn a few new languages along the way.

-Give back to mum and dad-

My parents worked very hard to give me the best they could possibly give. They were able to afford me quality education, vacation trips, good food and a decent house. It is about time I return the favor and give them the best retirement I could possibly give whether it is living in a small farm, having their own beach house or traveling and seeing the wonders of the world.

I realize that not all of us may have the best of relationships with our folks but the truth of the matter is that they would forever be our folks. Without them I would not be here writing this piece and you would not be here reading it. I shudder to think of ungrateful children who leave their old parents stuck in retirement homes when they could very much afford to support them!

-Go to sporting events-

I know this may not be the worthiest of causes but as you could see in my reviews, I am a basketball and wrestling fan. I would like to be able to get front row seats for Total Nonstop Action's Bound for Glory, World Wrestling Entertainment's Wrestlemania and the National Basketball Association's Finals.

I have longed to meet past and present stars who have been in the sports I love. Such people are Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Julius Erving, Hulk Hogan, Bret Hart, Bill Goldberg, Scott Steiner, Sting, Kurt Angle, Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, Jeff Jarrett, AJ Styles, Ted DiBiase, Angelina Love, Velvet Sky, Christy Hemme, Torrie Wilson, Stacey Keibler, Eric Bischoff and The Undertaker.

-Support sciences that would benefit humanity-

The causes I would support are in terms of alternative energy development. This would include the development of more efficient ways to harness alternative energy sources such as solar power, wind power, tidal power and geothermal power. The same thing goes for the development of better transportation modes that do not rely on fossil fuels. Such would be an efficient electric car and a train that uses advanced electromagnetic technology far faster travel instead of the airplane

-Make a passive income-

The problem with winning the lottery is that winners are tempted to spend like there is no tomorrow. What I would do is purchase franchises such as McDonald's, Starbucks, Burger King and Subway. I would also place a portion in the securities market. A piece of the pie would go to real estate properties such as condominiums and commercial rental units. The remaining amount would go to a time deposit. I would only spend whatever my money makes for me without touching the principal.

Passive income by the way is the opposite of active income. Here you are not needed physically to be there in order to earn money. This is in contrast to being an employee where no work equals no pay. In this scenario you are leveraging upon time, people and resources to make money for you.

-Be a motivational speaker-

Nothing pleases me more than to make a difference in other people's lives. I would be very happy and grateful to be able to help people reach their full potential. Sometimes people are like treasure chests. They need a key to unlock their true selves.

If you look at the world today it is easy to become negative. The world economy is in the toilet. Terrorism seems to be everywhere. Crime rates are soaring to the roof. The news also has nothing positive to report except perhaps the victory of your favorite sports team. What I would do is attune people to more positive thoughts like what if you could be better than what you are right now? What if you could be a millionaire? What if you could make a positive difference in other people's lives?

Well these are my thoughts. How about you? What would you do if you won the lottery?

© TheChosen1. Review is published in other sites under the same name

Previously published in Ciao and Dooyoo