21DJC Day 1 – What Would You Do If You Have 1 Million Dollars?

This is Day 1 of the 21-Day Journaling Challenge held in Nov 2011. The challenge is now over but you can do the tasks in your own time. Visit the overview page for all the challenge tasks.Empty book for journalingHi everyone! Welcome to Day 1 of the 21-Day Journaling Challenge aka 21DJC!First off, I’m blown away by your enthusiasm for the challenge. Many of you jumped on board upon the opening for sign ups three days ago. Some of you have experience journaling in the past, while the rest of you do not journal but are keen to give it a shot. We now have an amazing 428 official, registered participants and it’s increasing as we speak!For the 428 of you who have registered, I want you to give yourself a pat on your back. Because you have put your name up for the challenge, you have sent out the intention to the universe that you want to grow. And trust me — it’s going to happen in this 21-day journaling challenge. As long as you commit yourself to journaling the assigned questions every day, you WILL grow — in your consciousness, in self-awareness, and in your connection with your inner self.

Read: 8 Tips To Excel in 21DJC

I’ve written a list of 8 Tips To Excel in 21DJC in the announcement post. Please make sure you read them and follow them to a tee to get the best out of the challenge.

Please Use Proper English

Because this is a journaling challenge and there will likely be long passages of text, I require the cooperation of everyone to follow Tip #6 in particular — which is on using proper capitalization, punctuation, spelling, and grammar in your answers.I noticed some registrants using chat speak when signing up (e.g. “i did all d thing wid ney email id”) and some registrants using full caps (e.g. “I LOVE THIS IDEA AND I WOULD LIKE TO SIGN UP FOR THE CHALLENGE”). While it’s only a small handful of registrants, it’s enough to ruin the experience of the challenge for everyone.We’re doing this as a community, so let’s be considerate to everyone who will be reading our answers. Use capital letters if it’s the first letter of the sentence and small letters for the rest. Use proper English words that you’d find in a dictionary, not chat speak. Punctuate accordingly: use commas and semicolons where necessary and avoid run-on sentences. Do a quick scan to make sure your spelling is right before you post your answers. Let’s make this a positive experience for everyone taking part!(For participants who do not comply with #6, I’m afraid I’d have to remove your posts for the benefit of the community. I seek your understanding on this. Thank you!)With that said, let’s now move to our first question, shall we? ;)

21DJC Day 1

Today’s question is a simple, age-old, yet powerful question:

What Would You Do If You Have 1 Million Dollars?

Money notesSeriously — what would you do? Would you save them in a bank? Would you use them to buy stocks? Would you share them with other people? Would you invest the money in your business? Would you give them away to charity? Would you quit what you’re doing and start a whole new life?What would you do with your million dollars?(Today’s question can be found in #45 of 101 Important Questions To Ask Yourself In Life.)

Your Task Today:

  1. Reflect and answer today’s question. Like I mentioned in Tip #4 of 8 Tips To Excel in 21DJC, there’s no word limit – whether minimum or maximum. Write as few or as many words as you want. It’s all up to what you want to express!
  2. Share your answer. After you are done writing, copy and paste your answer in the comments area and post it there.
  3. Check out other participants’ answers. Other participants will be sharing their answers too, so feel free to read and reply to their answers. This is a group course, so let’s support each other in these 21 days.
Look forward to reading all your answers! :D

(Images: Empty book for journaling, Money notes)

432 comments
  1. I have known three people in my life that have won a million dollars on the lottery. So, I have a general idea of what it means and just how quickly it can be gone. With this being said, one of the first things I would do is start a savings for my two daughters. I would invest at least 10,000 for each of my daughters, my oldest 9yrs old and my youngest 5yrs old. In my situation, I would pay off several things in order to get my license back. Then of course, I would buy me a brand new car!!! My responsible side would pay off some bills and visit a regular dentist that I cannot afford at this time. Once I have taken care of these things, I would take my best friend and two daughters on a shopping spree. It would be awesome to buy things I love and things for them they love, without the worries of watching my budget. I would give some of my few loved ones some spending cash because it would feel good to do something like that for them. I would donate some of my money to organizations that I feel strongly about which are The Breast Cancer Foundation, The Feeding the Children Foundation, and The Humane Society. After all of this, I would take a vacation. I would love to go to Hawaii. I would also love to take a road trip across the country to visit California. The road trip would have to wait until my daughters are older. So, Hawaii would be first. I would take my boyfriend and two children. After giving money to my God-daughter who is expecting her first son in December, I would put money up for a rainy day. It would be nice to live comfortably each day, do home repairs, pay bills, and just enjoy each day with the ones closest to me and not have the stress of not having enough money to pay bills. I would truly be thankful but my lifestyle would not change drastically. My dreams and everyday goals would remain the same, I would just have the extra cash to speed things up.

  2. I would first let the news sink in- and stop thinking about any purchases for at least a week -since i have experienced that “waiting” curbs any urge to spend impulsively.

    I have always wanted to donate to charity (not the paltry amounts I give currently), so I would two-thirds of the money to set up a trust to help under-privileged children in rural India. The money would be invested wisely and donated over the years to NGOs that provide education to kids. Also for setting up bio-gas reactors and/or alternate source of energy to make at least a few villages self-sufficient.

    The rest I would split two-ways. Half for my family, saving for a rainy day- and anyway, its hard to be charitable when one’s own needs are not fulfilled! :( . The rest to spread awareness about environmental pollution.

    I realize that even 1 million dollars may not be enough to manage all this- but at least it would be a start to something good…

  3. José Sidenei de Melo 14 years ago

    If I had one million dollars, I would set up a foundation to help very poor, ill and addicted people.

  4. Andria-Yiasmin 14 years ago

    The first thing I would do If I had one million dollars is to see how much it is in euro!

    Then I would save half of it in the bank with some kind of contract saying that I wouldn’t be able to touch them for a certain amount of years.

    With the rest of the money I would:
    1) Pay off my student loan
    2) Take my Msc full time, pay it in full and not working while I do it.
    3) I would also do a make up-artistry course.
    4) I would buy a new laptop and a new camera.
    5) Give money to anyone in my family who needs it.
    6) Give the rest to charity.

    When I decide that I want to take the half million dollars that have in the bank I would:
    1) Travel the world
    2) Invest in property
    3)Open a charity centre

    Thinking of all the things I would like to do 1 million dollars don’t seem enough. So the first thing I would have to do is find a way to invest it so I can earn from it a respectable amount of money each month. This way I could concentrate on what I really want to spend my time on and not working.

  5. If I have a million dollars, I would donate 10% of the money to help the needy ones. There are always those underprivileged ones who need our care.

    I would probably buy a business and try my hand at being an owner and take a shot at the opportunity to earn another million dollars. I would also do a lot of travels, besides buying a car.

    The leftover money would be used as savings. I will continue to live a normal life as usual, except that I am richer.

  6. I always daydream about this, strangely enough. I don’t think I’d know what to do with so much money; the possibilities are endless! I think I’d just be happy to be able to have the freedom to do what I want without the constant worry of money in the background of it all.

    First and foremost (after fainting on the floor in shock), I would throw it all on the bed and just…jump around in it! And then after I’d had my fill of that – if ever! – I’d get serious and give my parents a lovely big sum. They’ve done so much for me and have never had much money spare to fulfil their dreams, so it’d be nice to have the chance to pay them back and give them what they deserve. I’d also pay off my uni debts and my sister’s current university fees, and give my sister some money for whatever she wants to use it for when she finishes her course.

    I’d also do the sensible thing and put some in savings, as a nice financial cushion; I’ve never been able to have savings before! I’d also give a portion of it to charity.

    And then, wonderfully, it’d give me the chance to achieve all the things I long to do, instead of working menial admin jobs to pay for them. I’d be able to do the Journalism Masters course I couldn’t afford to do at the start of this year, and I’d be able to take some time off work to do all the unpaid magazine placements I keep being offered (who can work for free in London?!?!) and finally, finally achieve what I want to achieve in my life: become a journalist!

    Then I’d go freelance, take off and travel the world. I wouldn’t care about glitzy hotels or cruiseships; I’m quite happy travelling on a budget or roughing it if needs be, as long as I get to see and experience life in all the places I want to visit, for as long as I want to visit them. I’d dip in cities, dive into oceans and see the whole world. I’d make it my mission to find the most beautiful, remote beach I could ever imagine, sit there and watch the sunset, and bask in the fact that I’d be completely, utterly free. Free to spend my life living my dreams of writing and travelling, and not having to worry about horrible, grey finances ever again.

    ….Now if only I could win the lottery!

  7. I’d get a project manager to fix up our ruin hassle free. I’d help my Siblings out with their rent. I’d get a personal trainer to bully me into getting fit. I’d keep the ‘change’ as a fall back fund so we could work fewer hours.

  8. First off I would pay off my credit card and line of credit. Next I would go to university – something that I never did, but have always wanted to do. I think the reason that I don’t go back to school is that I feel like I will be to old by the time it’s all said and done – and for some reason the idea of being financially secure would give me the confidence to go back regardless of my age. I would get a degree in something creative like visual arts, journalism or photography, and then go on to complete a master’s degree. I would give some money to my immediate family and open savings accounts for my little brother and sister and niece. After completing my degree, I would open my own small business. I would love to buy a modest old converted loft, with hardwood floors and exposed brick and decorate it very simply, but warm – and buy beautiful photographs and painting to hang on the walls. The rest of the money I would invest in low-risk investments or commodities – but not before taking my best friends to Paris for the week of a lifetime.

  9. Arnold Tse 14 years ago

    I’m not sure what I would do if I had a million dollars, because I’m still a teenager and I’ve never had anywhere near a million dollars before. Even the prospect of becoming a millionaire is somewhat unimaginable. I think that whatever I say now won’t be what I would actually do if I REALLY got a million dollars…

    However, I hope that I will save up all the money to go to university overseas, and use it only when I need it. I will also try to support my family, to help ease their financial burdens. I know that I should donate some to charity, but I feel like I need that money for myself. Still, I would try and give back to society somehow, by volunteering or raising funds for a cause, in order to show my gratitude for my newly attained wealth.

    I just hope that I wouldn’t waste it all on luxuries and debaucheries!

  10. I would like to use the money for enjoying my alone time.

    At first, I will employ somebody who can help my works for having free times.

    Next, I will get a wonderful space for being alone.

    And then bring a lot of my favorites , such as books, CDs, pictures, PCs, etcs.

  11. I’ve thought about this question a lot recently – “What would I do if I received a large sum of money?” There is some idealistic part of me that would want to say – especially publicly – that I would give it all away to charity. In truth, I would be lying if I said I would give it all away.

    I have a wonderful career that I am very grateful for, especially in this economy. But my true passion is to be a sheep farmer, to buy some land, raise chickens, sell wool, write books and have a little family. Though I try to live that lifestyle as much as I can now (I have a backyard garden and can some of my own food), it is such a far cry from where I want to be.

    If I had a million dollars, I wouldn’t have to stay in a job just for the healthcare benefits. I could buy that farm and start my small business and begin to really contribute 100% of my self to the world (and yes, I strive to contribute 100% of my self all of the time, but it can be hard when you know you are on the wrong path….).

    I want to live a pretty modest lifestyle, so with the rest of the money I would pay off my student loans, put enough money in the bank to make money on the interest, send my parents on an Alaskan cruise, and then give away the rest. I’d like to give out lots of Kiva loans to help other people in other countries start their own small businesses.

    No matter what I did with the money, I would remind myself of this mantra “People who spend their money on experiences are happier than those that spend their money on things.” I heard this a couple of years ago and it has changed me immensely. I used to feel that buying “experiences” was a waste because you have nothing tangible to show for it afterwards. Since changing my mindset, I’ve splurged on airfare to Turkey and France, have bought sewing classes and art museum memberships, and have been so so so much more generous in the amount of money I’ve given away.

    Great post question, my mind is spinning in lots of directions with this one….

  12. If I had a million dollars – what would I do with it? With myself?

    Honestly, the first thing I do would be to set aside 400k for taxes.
    Then, pay off the two mortgages.
    Finish the add-a-pearl necklace for Miss M.
    Put 200k into a laddered bond fund so the interest would be future income.
    I’d give 25k to Morris
    I’d travel with B.
    I’d get myself a full day at a spa – with tons of massages and a mani/pedi and a facial

    The thing about a million dollars is that it wouldn’t be enough to retire, but it would definitely be enough to make life easier. There aren’t a ton of debts to pay off, just the mortgages, but to pay off those would mean being able to really live off my income down here, and to live off it well. The traveling we’d be able to do – not that we’d have extra time, but we could fly places first class. We could stay wherever we really wanted to because the price of the room wouldn’t be an issue.

    I like the idea of a day spa. Of treating myself kindly like that. Massages and mani/pedis are the things that I dream about and always enjoy but never seem to get around to actually doing for myself. It’s not that I don’t think I deserve them, it’s more that it seems there are other things that are maybe more important to get done.

    What is more important than treating myself kindly? Cleaning the house? Not really, because I don’t do a particularly good job of that. . . OH!! I’d also get a housecleaning service for both houses.

    So, why is it that the things I think I’d like to do for myself I don’t seem to get around to doing for myself? What is holding me back there? The cost? They aren’t really that expensive, especially if I’m looking for an occasional treat. The time? What else am I doing in the evenings during the week that I could take a couple of hours just for me?

    Is it that I feel I haven’t earned that kind of nice treatment? Maybe that’s it. Maybe it’s more that I haven’t earned it. That I don’t deserve that kind of nice treatment.

    Maybe this month I should make an appointment for a massage. Or for a manicure. Or a pedicure. It doesn’t have to be all of them, but maybe I just need to practice showing myself that I do deserve to treat myself kindly.

    • I feel it is important to do things like this for yourself. I think we don’t because we feel the time, the energy or the money might be better delegated elsewhere. But, a year from now, it won’t matter if you went for a spa day instead of playing laundry queen for a day!
      Donna

      • Excellent! You are so right! Will I regret not doing laundry? Maybe, maybe not. I know that I do regret not taking better care of myself.

  13. If I had 1 million dollars, I would set aside 80k for my further education, Masters in educational psychology & 2 advanced diplomas (I still plan to do this anw :)

    This will set the foundation for me to pursue my passion – to help everyone, especially children with special needs receive the good education and support they need to live a life they want to. I also believe strong family ties should the foundation of our lives, so i hope to provide emotional counselling and support for the family & parents of children with special needs.

    I would set aside 100K for my parents – to contribute to their retirement fund, for whatever else they wish to achieve (: This will of course, be on top of the monthly stipend I will give them.

    I will also set aside 100K for my aunt and uncle for part of their retirement funds. They have been like a second family to me.

    100K will be set aside to help charitable organisations – i’ve yet to think which ones yet. Also will reserve some for my sister, 2 cousins and 2 step siblings to give them the added help to pursue their dreams (should they need it). My family believes that we should always try to be as self reliant as possible, but we’ll always be there for each other.

    100k for my boyfriend (hopefully future husband) and my dreams… whether it’s an own business, international volunteer work, further education for him or new hobbies, travel.

    The remaining (500k) will be invested in blue-chip stocks that are stable and yield dividends. This will be used partly to get the two children I plan to have through to university education. And form part of my husband and my retirement savings. This reserve pool of money will be tapped on to buy life insurance as well, and will be used for any ’emergencies’ concerning my immediate family, my sister, 2 cousins, step siblings.

    Thanks for reading my post! (:

  14. Here is what I would do with a million dollars. This is assuming that I have $1,000,000 after taxes so that I could actually spend the entire amount.

    My first order of business would be to pay my tithes to my Church for 10%. That would leave me with $900,000 disposable income. After this, I would pay off everything I owe in order to be totally debt free, this would leave me with about $780,000. Now that I am totally debt free, I would use $280,000 of the money to buy a different house with land and purchase new vehicles. This will allow us to get that spending urge out of our system and have some things that we would like to have.

    Now my balance is $500,000. Now that I have tithed and splurged on me and the family, I would put this half into a variable annuity. With this variable annuity I would be about to draw 5% interest off of it for life. This money would be supplemental income for my family to use for unexpected things, presents, vacations and big ticket items. The 5% would amount to approximately $2,083 a month for life. While I would not be able to retire on that amount of money, it would be a good start.

    Keep in mind that at this point my family is debt free and have additional income of $2,000 coming into our house a month. This would be more money from which we would tithe from and be able to help our church and community with.

    To me a million dollars seems like both a lot of money and not a lot of money at the same time. As you can see from above, it is enough money to drastically change my families life but not enough to never have to work again.

  15. If I had one million dollars I would first pay off my school loans, which would make me debt free. I would then take the rest and invest it for now. I am very happy at my job (Naturopathic physician specialized in oncology). It stimulates me both mentally and professionally, so I would keep working.

    One day I plan to open a non-profit healing sanctuary retreat for those who suffer with cancer. I would like to buy some land someplace very beautiful and fertile (like Maui or Bali) and plant a food forest there. The food from the gardens would nourish those who came to the center. The remainder of the one million dollars could easily go toward this project.

  16. If I were to receive a million, I would make my vision a reality in a much shorter time period than currently planned.

    Firstly, having been engaged for 18 months, I would get married (something we’re not planning on doing for some years as we have other priorities for our money).

    We our content with where we live for now, as we have nice neighbours, but we are on the outskirts of an undesirable estate and therefore we would move. A converted barn springs to mind, situated in countryside between our two home towns, overlooking the valley and the nearby hill.

    Rather than sell our current home, I’d consider paying off the mortgage and retaining it as a residential let to generate additional income for us, both now and later in retirement (forward planning for a 30 year old!). About 0.6m spent so far!

    I’m content with the car I have, and they only lose you money so I don’t think I would change – although in reality I guess I would be tempted if I did actually have the money!

    Feel like I’ve been a bit selfish so far, time to bring the family in – both my own and my fiance’s. I’d like to think I’d contribute about 10% of my windfall to them, to help them realise their own dreams too.

    Giving to charity is of course a further consideration. But rather than just donate an amount, I’d rather use the money to create something that will live on as a legacy, and where I can see that people are benefiting for a long period to come.

    As for the balance, maybe 250k, I’d keep this on account for future use – in a low risk investment portfolio.

  17. $1,000,000 – What would I do?
    Become skilled in finance.

    How? by listening to the Radio station Your Money Matters
    Reading & re-reading classics about money The Richest Man in Babylon, Rich Dad – Poor Dad, The Millionaire Next Door, The Wealthy Barber, Your Money or Your Life, Secrets of a Millionaire Mind, The Science of Getting Rich

    Look at my values for money and seriously review them. Why do I spend money in this way? What patterns do I keep repeating? How do I want to feel?

    Use the money to protect my loved ones and myself.
    How? Think how I could use this money as a tool, to make it grow and share a percentage.

    Ways of increasing the $1,000,000.
    Buy a plot of land build a home, sell it for a profit and repeat the process. This could be equally done with a house and an extension added or something else that adds value swimming pool, tennis court, out buildings and so on.
    Invest in a business
    A stable business with a fixed income that goes through a predictable cycle.
    Invest capital in a high tech new ideas.
    Invest in small business for a share of the business.
    Invest in stock and shares after studying and selecting them carefully.
    Start a business

    I am sure there are many other ways. For me to increase my capital I would need to reinvest the money earned in order to make it grow.
    Get question Celes :clap: thank you. Looking forward to reading all the comments.

  18. If one million dollars (after taxes) became mine today – what would I do?

    Well this is a game I love to play, and have been known to play it for even several of millions of dollars!

    First I would pay off all of my debt, which would take about 47% of it. When I was younger I did not mind debt so much. I could afford to “carry it”. Having the debt allowed us to live beyond our means.

    When I was younger the future held so much upside potential and possibilities. It also seemed to be “further away” – yet it was just around the corner. I planned to do well financially and make lots of money and pay off the debt and build up reserves for retirement.

    I put myself in position a couple of times to make it in business as an entrepreneur I will not go in to detail, but I will tell you that I learned that “Luck” is involved, even if you are clever and smart and energetic and skilled. We either work for someone else or we work for “ourselves.” For some working for someone else is natural, normal and satisfactorily acceptable. While others are driven to a sense of freedom and control that they get from being entrepreneurs.

    We are in seriously challenging times financially as a world. Years of debt and overspending is coming home to roost all over for individuals and for governments. It appears that in the near term being out of debt and having cash reserves would be a most prudent and reasonable place to be for the “security” of a family. That is also the same place one would want to be for retirement, or where anyone would like to be whether young, middle aged or old.

    Being out of debt will bring a great sense of relief and freedom to my life.

    I would spend about 6% paying my sons to do major work on the house and to buy my wife a car. I would spend about 1% traveling. I would gift 5% to family members.

    I would retain the 41% balance in reserve, and prudently invest it, keeping the major portion of it in cash equivalents, and at least try to keep up with inflation (and deflation of currencies.)

    I would continue in my current work and would save my income for retirement in six years.

    That is it. I have a much grander answer to “What if you had fifty million”

    Barry

  19. If I had a million dollars, the first thing I would do would be to unshackle myself from all of my debt. Pay off everything I own so I can live free and clear. Since I have spent the better part of two years living on a cash basis, although still under the thumb of old debts, I know that I have shifted my mindset to never be in this situation again.

    Second I would pay off my mom’s mortgage and buy her a new car.

    Finally I would invest the rest for myself and husband and live off the interest, living simply. I do not want to acquire more stuff. I do not want to live in a grand expensive home. I might want to buy a lot in the mountains and build a simple cabin there as a second home, a place of peace to enjoy with my family.

    I do want to travel and see more of the world, but again, I would love to do it simply…backpacking, biking, hiking. Traveling with what we need on our backs, not in grand frills luxury.

    Basically I want to step out of the rat race, get off of the treadmill, stop spinning my wheels as I have been doing for the majority of my life.

    I long for simple living, ease, peace, tranquility, and enjoyment of my family.

    That is what I would do If I had a million dollars.

  20. 1 Million – I could do alot of stuff with that! I

    I’ll give both my parents 50,000 each. = $100,000
    Donate to a couple of local welfare organisations (i’m looking at orphanages, animal welfare, etc) = $50,000
    Do stuff that I’ve been wanting to do (eg: Skydiving, bungee jumping, tattoos, scuba diving) = $2000
    Save $280,000 for a house, and a gym membership (i kid lol) and rainy days
    Set aside some money to donate to those beggars on the streets = $2000
    Purchase a couple of travel equipments (luggage, a good camera, laptop, etc) = $5000

    & last but not least, using the remaining to travel around the world alongside with welfare organisations to help the 3rd world countries with their hygiene, diseases, famine, education issues.

    I think the travelling will cost a bomb, so perhaps 1 million isn’t that much and it will probably be gone in like a few years – but at least for a good cause!

    That’s all in my mind for now.. which I believe all these will change as the years go by! :)

  21. Dan Murray 14 years ago

    If I had $1 million dollars I would do something for my children, something for my wife, something for my sister, and something for a friend.

    For my two children I would create a college fund of $200,000 for each child so that they could attend college anywhere in the world without having to be concerned about the cost.

    For my wife I would pay off the mortgage on our house so that she wouldn’t be as worried about the uncertainties of the future.

    For my oldest sister who is administering the estate my recently deceased parents I would pay-off the mortgage on my parent’s condo and give her another $20,000 so that she could hire a real estate company to manage and maintain the property until it was sold and have more time to manage and maintain her own career. The proceeds on the sale of that property could be used for any purpose she she desired.

    Finally, for an old friend that has led a difficult life in poor health I would give a $100,000 to use for healthcare and living expenses.

    This would leave under $50,000 from the original $1 million. I would put that balance into a savings account.

  22. VirajPatel 14 years ago

    @Chandan
    No offence man…
    Its discussion…
    Sorry if I am rude…
    But that’s what my knowledge says to me…
    I have received this message from “The Secret” by Rhonda Bryne…

    • @VirajPatel

      Dude, you seriously need to reconsider the source from where you have got this info. By saying all wants are satiable(Which I essentially meant in my post), you are defying the very logic on which the foundations of Micro Economics is laid.

      FYI

      Micro Economics has two fundamental assumption –

      1. Society’s material wants, that is, the material wants of its citizens and institutions, are virtually unlimited or insatiable.
      2. Economic resources—the means for producing goods and services—are limited or scarce

      Infinite wants in a finite planet is a Fallacy.

      In case you need any more clarification on anything else, I will be more than happy to provide.

      P.S – As you said, its a discussion so please don’t think I am being rude.

      Cheers:-)

    • @ Viraj Patel

      I can’t resist myself to put another comment after going through the reference of Rhonda Bryne.

      This is on Wikipedia –

      The claims made by both the book and film have been highly controversial, and have been criticized by reviewers and readers in both traditional and web-based media. The book has also been heavily criticized by former believers and practitioners, with some going as far as claiming that “The Secret” was conceived by the author and that the only people generating wealth and happiness from it are the author and the publishers.

      Others assert “The Secret” offers false hope to those in true need of more conventional assistance in their lives. In 2007 Barbara Ehrenreich, an author and social critic, ridiculed the book’s weight control advice to “not observe” overweight people.[8] According to the Religion Dispatches, Byrne argued that natural disasters strike those “on the same frequency as the event” and implied the 2006 tsunami victims could have spared themselves.[9] In businesses using the DVD for employee training or morale-building, some reacted to it as “a gimmick” and “disturbing” like “being indoctrinated into a cult”.[8]

      In 2009, Ehrenreich published Bright-Sided: How the Relentless Promotion of Positive Thinking Has Undermined America[10] as a response to “positive thinking” books, like The Secret, that teach “if I just change my thoughts, I could have it all”.[11] She worried this was delusional or even dangerous[9] because it avoided dealing with the real sources behind problems.[12] It encouraged “victim-blaming, political complacency, and a culture-wide “flight from realism” by suggesting failure is the result of not trying “hard enough” or believing “firmly enough in the inevitability of your success”. Those who were “disappointed, resentful, or downcast” were ‘victims’ or ‘losers’.[9] Ehrenreich advocated “not negative thinking or despair” but “realism, checking out what’s really there and figuring out how to change it

  23. VirajPatel 14 years ago

    @Chandan
    U said that there not enough things in this universe to fulfill our demands….
    Dude i believe there is abundant for everyone in this world….
    We just need to believe it…

  24. VirajPatel 14 years ago

    Human tendency, the worst thing on this planet if looked on to the dark side of. This humzn tendency can lead a man to deceit or to everlasting happiness.

    I am a human being. And for me this human tendency will open up two ways for me. An optimistic way that’ll fulfill my dreams and the negative on that’ll ruin my life.

    But being an optimist these million dollars will help me bring happiness in my life and will refurnish my life with ecstasy and luxury.

    Spending a million dollars is not a big deal but but spending them wisely is for sure a tough task. We would not have Apple Foundation today if Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak would spend their investments on it.

    I donot desire the same thing, but I wish to go a step further than those Newton’s of technology. I desire to educate anyone and everyone who is willing to improve their own life.
    I want to open up a small institutes all over the world that’ll teach anyone and everyone the meaning of life.

    People believe that life is a race. They assume that if we’ll not run fast someone will crush us and go ahead of us. These type of people earn money, gain knowledge and sit back to enjoy life.

    I believe that every person I meet knows something that I dont know. So I asi everyone something and I gain some knowledge. I also strongly believe that If I know something thouroughly I have to teach it to Someone who can pass on that message.

    Teachers wouldn’t exist in this world if they gained knowledge and then set back. Indeed this website would not exist if a teacher like Celes would keep this valuable knowledge with her.

    I would strongly prefer to create a revolution by establishing an institution that’ll make people know and do what they love…

    At last:
    “The aim of a teacher is not to create a student in his image but to create a student who can establish his own image.”
    -Regards,
    VirajPatel

  25. ….At first i would thank God for that!
    Then i would put some plans,ideas on paper to distribute that in proper way keeping eyes on my goals in all 11 sections of my life-wheel. some ideas are…

    1.i would first buy rather say invest in a real estate property to make more money through it.(by selling at higher cost n again buying another property and so on..)

    2.then would invest in my business to grow it up,as it expands i can serve society by giving more quality products and can have more employment to help more people to fulfill their dreams.

    3.i would buy some things for me n my family which we dreamed to have in future.(e.g.decorative furniture for home,gym instruments to keep us healthy, ipad etc…)

    4.i would plan for some tour with my spouse,kids n friends to have some change through daily hectic work for entertaining our mind n body.

    5.i would buy some stocks,bonds,mutual funds and gold for long term investment in future security
    that’s it.

  26. Arun Sivaramakrishnan 14 years ago

    Fulfil my parents’s wishes and desires.

    Study abroad for my Masters’ degree.

    Start up a business (restaurant, internet, travel, writing)

    Develop new hobbies and engage in meaningful pursuits.

    Travel to new places for an extended period. Explore and experience.

    Buy some stuffs like a laptop, tablet PC, car, SLR camera, and loads and loads of books.

    Invest in my personal living, home and lifestyle.

    Will not lend it to my relatives or casual friends, only for family and close friends if need persists.

  27. If I had a million dollars I would buy a home for my youngest son and his family . Closer to me . I would make sure there was money put away for the private schooling of there children .The mother of the children , I would pay for pre natal care and a dental visit . For each of my boy and my self I would pay off all the bills . To be debt FREE! I would donate some money to a good charity and the animal shelters . Then I would have enough money left aside to open my “dream ” business of a yoga /meditation studio with a tea house as part of it ! serving healthy food items . quiet ,serene place to come and relax . and be just near others in a quiet sort of way .I would like to travel …. so I would have a travel fund as well . Yep ! that is the plan for my million .! Namasta …

  28. Since I am a kid, first of all…..I would talk to my mom or dad or both of them. And I am definitely not planning to spend them all at once. But I think my parents would want to buy a couple of things. But I won’t let them spend it all (haha). Definitely save enough for giving Zakats. So…uhhh…………I will save most of the money in a bank, let my parents buy some important things and save enough for giving Zakats. Oh! And I wouldn’t want friends who want to be my friends because I have soo much money, so I guess, I might try to keep it a secret. That’s it. That is my plan. I hope that is possible what I have written :D

    Hope I appropriately conveyed the message though :/

    • I forgot to mention some things sorry. If I have a million dollars, I would also provide some money to my mom or both my parents to get this thing they want and I would buy a couple of things for my room :D :dance:

  29. I think about this every day, although I’m thinking more in terms of 10 million dollars, for long-term financial security. I can do a lot with a million, though! Here’s where I’d start:

    1. Pay off debt. This will take only a small part, but it will be nice to finally be rid of it!
    2. Do something nice for my family. For most of them, it will be something small, but my one brother has 4 children, a sick wife and a small business and needs some serious help to get his head above water. I’ll get him there.
    3. Find a nice place to live. We’ve already decided on the countryside around Nashville, TN and there are a lot of small houses for sale at a reasonable price. I don’t really want anything big and fancy, although I’d love a little log cabin!
    4. Pay off our truck and buy one or two new ones. We’re planning on starting a small trucking company in the next 1-2 years anyway, but if I had 1 million, we wouldn’t have to borrow or buy something old.
    5. Give to some causes close to our hearts, mostly dealing with community reinvestment.
    6. Hire a lawyer so my husband can get shared custody of his daughter.
    7. Start retirement accounts with the rest.

    It sounds like a lot, but realistically, most of the above items should come in under 100K, except for maybe the house and trucks. We have a few other small business ideas that we might get started, but those won’t take much to get going. This is so much fun to think about!

    Word Count: 258

  30. Whenever I get big money, I tend to not care how much I spend and only start budgeting after all the splurging is done. If I get a million dollars, I don’t think I will know where to start.

    Most probably, I would want to secure me and my family’s future—plans, a better house, and some savings. This would be the most practical thing to do for me. What comes after are all about luxuries.

    I am not a fan of gadgets. People usually think I have a laptop and it makes me wonder if that is a requirement for a living in this era. I don’t think so. But a laptop sure does come in handy for a lot of things that we could do (including my hobby, which is writing—and for work). A good laptop and a brand new cellphone would do. Of course, I want to give away gadgets to my family since I’ve got a lot of money to spend.

    Then I would plan a party or an out-of-town trip somewhere. I could really use a break. I think this much summarizes the whole thing I would be doing with a million dollars. Now, I just wonder where on Earth I can find me that amount of money.

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