http://blog.marianne.com/journal/archives/2010/04/from_the_middle.php

When I read articles like this, accompanied with the pictures of the starving children — the innocents — I feel sickened and disgusted with humanity.  So much spent on war, and the killing of people — why not the saving of people?  Priorities are skewed, hearts are not in the right place, and money is usually the focus.  Ok, oil is usually the focus, but what is oil except money? 

Let’s open our hearts more before we use our heads, and work for the good of all.

To your prosperity,

Sue

I’m in the middle of a mini-book program, which I shared previously.  I am focusing on two different mini-books — one is The Money Effect book, which relates to this website, and the other is a book on Divine Parenting, and identifying our needs.

I moved two and a half months ago to a mountain resort town.  I have been looking for work — sending out a lot of applications to many different places.  I had decided, early on, to do something that I have never done before.  I wanted to expand myself and learn and grow in another way.  To this end, last week I had two jobs offers.

One job offer was at a daycare.  I would be responsible for looking after the wee infants, 0-2 years of age.  I would be partnered with at least one other person, with a maximum number of children in the room set at seven.  It’s been a long time since I spent time with small children, so I’m very much out of practice.  However, there is government-funded training — three levels to be completed within three years.  Divine Parenting, made manifest.

The second job was working for an international arts centre, in the HR department responsible for payroll.  The benefits are tremendous, including access to a fitness centre, potential for staff accommodation, free food, training in all different areas, free events, etc.  The Money Effect, made manifest.

The two job offers came within a two day period.  I had waited for all this time and now, I have a choice.  Hmmm…  to play with the beautiful “new” children, and have them teach me so I could teach others?  Or, to challenge myself with working in a brand new field (for me) with over 700 new people, from all around the world, and learn more about money to share with others?

How did I decide?  I had to look at all the pro’s, and ultimately, the international centre won out.  Could it have been the potential accommodation option, the fitness centre, access to the phenomenal creative energy?  Or could it have just been the $1,200 per month difference in wage I would be receiving as a result of this choice?  Or, could it have been all of that?

Money definitely plays a part in our decisions.  I need funding for my projects, and I’d like to be able to fund them myself.  This gives me that option, and access to a lot of other things focused on my life purpose and direction.

It may have been my wish to work with the children more.  I would like to see a parent receive funding to stay home with their children, with access to the early childhood education courses that the daycare workers get.  Imagine if moms could afford to stay home AND get training on how to be a great parent!  I would vote for that…

In any event, my energies are now divided even more, as I am back in the working world for at least a 2-year term.  It may delay some of my projects (because I cannot focus all my attentions on my life-purpose work), however, I may make connections that will take me in new directions I might not have thought of otherwise.

I’m looking forward to this adventure.  I hope the learning curve will not take as long as I think, and that I will ease into a comfortableness soon.

To your prosperity,

Sue

Quite a few years ago, I lent some money (more like gave it, cus I don’t lend things) to a close relative in order to help their family move and get a fresh start in a city that had better employment opportunities.  So, I really had no expectations — I never would have given the money had I had expectations of repayment, because expectations breed disappointment.  So, I lent the money, and didn’t hear from that relative for a few years.  They didn’t have the money to pay me back in that time period, and so didn’t want to initiate contact with me, out of a sense of guilt.  Eventually, I received a card with a cheque with the money and a bit of interest all paid back.  Since I was upset with them for not communicating with me for that time period, I never called or responded to the receipt of the card.  Eventually, I received a phone call from them, asking me if I received the card and the cheque, and was everything ok.

I told them I was upset, and they were puzzled.  I said I’m not upset about the money — I’m upset because you chose not to speak to me as a result of it.  It was like I had done something wrong, and was being punished for it.  Interesting…

Would I lend money to someone?  No.  Would I give it away if they needed it, and I had it?  Yes.  It is not a difficult decision if the need is truly genuine.

To your prosperity,

Sue

We had finished one of the basement levels a short while before we decided to sell, so it was  in relatively “still new” condition at the time we decided to sell, but the house mirrored the breakdown of the relationship and lack of love flowing in the house. In order to just “get er done” we ended up taking the first offer given to us, and only ended up with less than a $20,000 gain over that whole time period. In desperation, people are willing to do and accept many things.

A few years later, I decided to purchase my very own house — my very first house — that belonged to me. It was an older home (late 1950’s), and needed some stuff done, but there had been an addition to it, and it looked actually quite amazing once I redid the floors and had a few other things completed. After spending only about $3,000 in improvements, I sold the house a year later for a $50,000 profit. At that time, I was also in a somewhat desperate situation (I was ill at the time, my financial situation was overwhelming, etc.) yet in this case, I was able to feel good about the outcome, and pay down most of my (remaining) debt as a result. Unfortunately, my financial priorities did not allow me to buy another property, which would have been the best situation, and I did learn a valuable lesson. However, I always feel that everything happens for a reason, and am currently very happy with my life the way it turned out.

I know the mortgage situation is really being talked about a lot lately, since the financial impact hits “home,” literally. We all need to have a roof over our heads, and to feel safe in that space. It should always be our sanctuary.

To your properity,

Sue

It’s the end of the article that helped me decide to include the article in this blog.  Here is a quote from that article:

Surrogate mothers in Anand charge about 100,000 rupees (2,500 dollars) for a pregnancy and have been approached by a number of overseas Indian and foreign couples who can have a surrogate baby at a fraction of the cost in Western countries.

Surrogate mothers are often poor women who opt to carry a stranger’s baby to help pay education and housing costs for their own families.

Through my research process for the book, I’m discovering so many ways that people choose to generate an income, and as a woman, I don’t think I could go this route.  I guess when one is placed in certain positions, perhaps the choices become easier?  I don’t know.

To your prosperity,

Sue

My daily walks with my sweetie are something I really look forward to, and they don’t cost a thing except my time.  For those who believe “time is money,” I think of these times as…invaluable, or priceless!

To your prosperity,

Sue

It’s written by a 49 year old bachelor, based on a study he did about why men are remaining single. There is one quote, in particular, that relates specifically to this website, and I share it with you now…

Weisman also found that financial issues, both positive and negative, played a large part in men’s fear of commitment.

“Those with little money said they would have nothing to offer a partner, with some suffering self-esteem issues and withdrawing from the dating pool,” said Weisman, an engineer-turned-author with two books now published.

“While those who are financially sound were terrified what a bad divorce could do to them.”

Interesting to find out more about this trend…as it affects the whole structure of the old-way, “institute of marriage” concept.

To your prosperity,

Sue