| Henry Ward Beecher: Wealth Quotes | | | | Then one day, it dawned on me that I had to |
| It is not what we take up, but what we give up, | | | | change. The circumstances were not going to |
| that makes us rich. | | | | change. We had already wasted two years of our |
| All of our plans and dreams are broken now. If | | | | life worrying and stressed. I could not go on |
| everything had happened the way we planned, | | | | another day feeling so hopeless and victimized. |
| we would be taking trips. We would be enjoying | | | | We moved to our new home that we had |
| the dinner theatre. We would be debt-free. | | | | purchased. (We had tried to sell it, also.) It didn't |
| However, due to the housing market slump, we | | | | really matter which home we lived in and the new |
| lost quite a bit of money. Within a few months, | | | | one was paid for. We would now pursue at least |
| the value of our beautiful home had deteriorated | | | | part of our plan, even though the mortgage and |
| about $70.000. We had put it up for sale so that | | | | expense of the other house loomed over our |
| we could down size and reserve some money for | | | | heads. |
| traveling and unexpected expenses in our old age. | | | | I was still sleeping every chance I got. I knew I |
| Foolishly, we had purchased another home before | | | | had to pull myself up and get going again. |
| this one sold. You know the rest. As they say, | | | | I started looking for things to be thankful for. |
| the rest is history. | | | | New acquaintances urged me to walk with them |
| We both came out of retirement and got jobs. | | | | every morning. I made myself do that. (See my |
| We were just existing. I got a job in retail. I was | | | | other story: "Weight Watchers and Me.") After a |
| dog-tired every night but actually that kept me | | | | couple of weeks, I began to go to the pool. Jim |
| going. When I wasn't at work, I was sleeping or | | | | began to make new friends. We were going |
| eating. I was trying to mask my depression. Jim | | | | through the motions of every day living. I was |
| was working in telemarketing. He dreaded each | | | | smiling but inside crying. |
| day of begging people to buy magazines. As most | | | | See this video, "Smile." Can you watch it without |
| of us know, it is not easy to get a good job in | | | | crying? Here is little Connie Talbot: |
| our retirement years. (I hope that the next | | | | Again, I realized the situation was never going to |
| generation will forgive people for being old and | | | | change. We had to change. We turned in our cell |
| give them a chance to earn a decent living). | | | | phones, got the cheapest cable TV we could. We |
| Somehow, we barely managed to pay two | | | | began to cook nutritious cheap meals. We also |
| mortgage payments, two utility bills, double home- | | | | had to cut down on giving gifts. We still give, but |
| owners insurance and taxes. | | | | within our means. (See my article: "My Good |
| It is now two years later and we are still under | | | | Goodie Drawer." |
| the cloud of debt and shame. Our realtor is still | | | | One day when our granddaughter, Alayna was |
| trying to sell our home. (People who are looking at | | | | visiting us, we decided to go on a picnic. It was a |
| it are offering about $100,00 less than it was | | | | very simple thing. We drove up on a high hill near |
| listed for.) These buyers remind me of vultures | | | | our house. The view is always beautiful. We took |
| coming to eat the last remains of a dead carcass. | | | | chocolate cake. Sunny, our faithful dog went with |
| Having said that, I would probably do the same if | | | | us. Alayna looked us at the breath-taking sunset |
| I were on the other end of the situation. | | | | and said, "This is the best day of my whole |
| The stress and humiliation brought us both to our | | | | vacation! This is one of my very best days!" |
| knees. Every month that went by was like a | | | | I knew she was right. |
| beating. Every beating seemed to hurt worse. | | | | Lucretius: Wealth Quotes |
| Jim was such a good planner for retirement. Many | | | | It is great wealth to a soul to live frugally with a |
| years he worked two jobs and we saved and | | | | contented mind. |
| invested in stock. Now, the stock market was | | | | Henry Ward Beecher: Wealth Quotes |
| plunging. My heart ached as I thought of how hard | | | | It is the heart that makes a man rich |
| we both had worked, only to have it snatched | | | | He is rich according to what he is, not according |
| away. | | | | to what he has. |