Rags to riches to rags. Are you a good steward of what you are given?

I think by nature, human beings value much more what they have created, rather than what they have been given. I used to run self-development groups and the most important thing to ALL participants (and over the years there were several hundred) was that they made some sort of difference to their own world. That meant, what they had created was far more valuable than anything that came for nothing. That is why, I believe, some big lottery winners don't change anything about where/how they work. Some may change their cars or move to a better house, but changes with these people are usually quite modest. The others that go for mansions and stretch limos, soon become discontent for various reasons. I buy a lottery ticket each week, but if I had a big win, I would be looking how I could make a difference with the money. My nature is to help and support people, so undoubtedly, that is where I would be looking to make a difference. Yes I would get things to make things easier for myself and family, but I am sure it would be modest :-)

This happened to me, however, its not that you forget the lessons you learn, it simply is somethign that perhaps becomes a habit cycle. If ther is anything like that.

I don't think I could forget, basically because I have been struggling for quite a while, and I honestly believe that we have learned our lesson.

I think once a person possesses a huge amount of money, they already forget the way they were before. Their mind gets easily corrupted, because they forget to give thank the Mighty One for the blessings they received. And without His guidance, all the things they enjoyed will again be lost. As for me and my family, we came from poor to the average now. We could've been rich if we just wanted to, but we prefer to share the blessings instead of keeping them for ourselves. Also, we never forget how God blesses us each day.

You asked "Why do you think that is?" It's a phenomenon called financial illiteracy. Most people don't know anything about money, its power, how it works, how to make it work for you. We think all learning comes from school. The truth is, school only teaches us 10% of everything we need to know. And it certainly doesn't teach us anything about money. Why? Because the teachers themselves are probably financially illiterate, burdened by debt, etc. We think financial education comes from home. But parents themselves are probably financially illiterate, burdened by debt, etc. So when a lottery winner suddenly has lots of money, he basically doesn't know what to do with it. So he spends it and within one year he's poorer than he was before he won the lottery.

I wont forget becuase I am a single parent and I know how hard it was for my mother and I know how hard it is for me. Jamaicans have a nature to show off and I beleive that is wha happenned to those people though not Jamaicans. I would help those who need help in my church and set up a trust for my daughter. Last week a coworker and I were having a discussion that poverty is a crime because things that you are supposed to have for your comfort being poor does not afford you those luxuries. I definitely would not forget!

I will never forget my previous hardship and hard earn and definitely and firmly believed that I won't be like that such people. Because on hardship time I have learned about financial management. The cashflow, balance sheet and profit & loss. And don't tell people for what we have and own. I mean avoid public figure and let the story speaks itself. To the poor people, we talk about poor matters AND to the rich people, we talk about how to be richer. :::michael:::*