The Lesson at the Liquor Store

“Life is a lottery that we’ve already won. But most people have not cashed in their tickets.”— Louise L. Hay

So, I’m standing in line at the liquor store, holding 2 bottles of a Chardonnay on sale for $3.99. (Who can refuse a bargain like that?)

An elderly woman is paying the clerk. Behind her, in front of me, a scruffy guy with a bottle of Jack Daniels fumbles with the Lottery machine.

“Maybe I’ll win,” he says to no one in particular.

I say, remembering an article I once read, “Did you hear about the couple who won a $20 million lottery and gave it all away because they didn’t want it?”  I recall, at the time, thinking: why anyone would do that?

The elderly woman whips her head up as she takes her package from the clerk and says: “I’d give it away too. What would I do with $20 million?”

And the scruffy guy agrees: “So would I. Hell, I’d probably just spend it all on booze anyway.”

Refusing the temptation to ask him why, then, he was buying a lottery ticket, I proudly declared: “Not me. I’d give some of it away, but there’s a lot I could do with that money.”

You’d think I told them I was about to shoot the Pope. There was a collective gasp, a look of shock, and for a split second, I actually felt ashamed to want millions.

And then I realized—

People are about as rich as they want to be.  For many, wealth is more a burden than a blessing.

But the real epiphany came when I turned to the woman behind me and asked what she’d do.

 “My first thought,” she said, “was I’d have enough money to paint my house.” Then she chuckled, and added, “It then occurred to me how small I was thinking. I mean, I could buy a brand-new bigger house with that money. Maybe I need to start thinking bigger.”

Maybe we all need to start thinking bigger!  So, in the spirit of the liquor store lottery, let’s play the What-if Game. Ask yourself this question: What would you do if you won a $20 million lottery? 

Want bonus points?  Answer this: What steps can you start taking now to bring those dreams to life…even if you never win a lottery???

I’m betting you, my dear readers, will have a different reaction than the liquor store patrons. Am I right? Leave me a comment below.

Barbara Huson

Barbara Huson is the leading authority on women, wealth and power. As a bestselling author, financial therapist, teacher & wealth coach, Barbara has helped millions take charge of their finances and their lives. Barbara’s background in business, her years as a journalist, her Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology, her extensive research, and her personal experience with money give her a unique perspective and makes her the foremost expert on empowering women to live up to their financial and personal potential.

Barbara is the author of 7 books, her newest, Rewire for Wealth, was published in 2021. You can learn more about Barbara and her work at www.Barbara-Huson.com.