HALF A MILLIONAIRE

Summer has arrived, and everyone wants to take a vacation. I would like to share with you a conversation that I had with a friend at work.

My friend: Are you planning to take your family anywhere this summer?

Me: No. We are going to enjoy our summer right here at home. We have a two-year-old, so we don’t want to travel.

My friend: Common, man! Why are you so cheap? You make all this money. You have to spend it to have a good time with your family.

Me: I know what you mean. But, seriously, it is not about money.

My friend: Liar! Life is always about money. You have been working 60 hours plus a week for what? It is all about money, man.

Me: I am not saying that money is unimportant. We just don’t feel like going on a vacation at this time because we are having a great time at home.

My friend: What do you do at home? I don’t care what you do at home. It is not the same as going on a vacation. You don’t have to worry about life. You enjoy your time. You just relax, man.

Me: We go to the mall. Our daughter loves the merry-go-around carousel. I ride with her. We eat junk foods and just hang out. At home, we play in our backyard, looking at bugs and ants. She likes to draw pictures with her chalk. We just do the simple things that everyone does. It’s fun.

My friend: Common! You can do those things everyday. You need to show them a different world.

Me: You have been the one who asks all the questions. Now, it is my turn. When you are on vacation, you are happy for that one week, right? I am at home and happy. So, is there a difference between your happiness and mine? When your vacation is over, what are you going to do? Mine is never over because everyday is already a vacation for me. Why do I need to go on a vacation when I am already on a vacation?

My friend: You are weird! You make all that money for what? You will die, eventually. Why don’t you use it to buy your family some good time?

Me: I am glad that you have brought up the concept of death. Let me expand it a little more: When you are on your vacation, happy and all. But, technically, you are still dying. I am at home and, like you, I am dying because as every second passes by, you and I, both, get closer to death. So, taking a vacation or staying at home is irrelevant, right? As long as, we all “live” (or “die”) a happy life.

My friend: I don’t get it, man. You have weird ways of looking at things. I think you are just cheap.

Me: Let’s stop here. Again, it is not about money.

I did not want to continue our conversation because I felt that he had the intention to humiliate or anger me. We are still talking to each other because I was never mad at him for calling me, “cheap”. I call myself, “cheap”. And, I am proud of it. Sometimes, my wife calls me, “cheap”. But, my wife has started to understand my “weird” thinking. She knows that I am not cheap because if it is the right thing, I do not hesitate to spend. She calls me “cheap” because she just wants to tease me.

I just wanted to illustrate one point: In life, I do what I want. I refuse to follow the norm. I define happiness on my own terms. I did ask my wife if she would like to take our daughter away for a few days, and her answer was “no” because, like me, she thought that we have had a lot of fun at home. Why seek happiness in a distant place when it can be found at home?

On June 14, 2009, I challenged myself to amass $500,000 in cash. My strategy is to “eliminate debt, grow wealth, and control expenses”. I want to make it clear that it is not about money, but, instead, it is about mental toughness. One is born. One lives. One gets sick. One becomes old. And, one dies. We all follow this pattern, and what separates us is the way we choose to live our lives. Everyday, I choose to be happy. And, to be happy, I am willing to take on my earthy responsibilities. In the end, happiness is the ultimate prize in life, not money. However, money can buy me more time to enjoy my life with my loved ones. Therefore, I am going after it. 

Our expenses have remained the same in the last several months. My wife and I have managed to stay within our budget. When we go shopping, we write down what we need to buy and stick with the list. If an item is expensive, we remind each other about saving money by voting “no”. For example, she wants to buy an expensive camera because she believes that it will produce more beautiful pictures. I tell her that we can afford it, but it is not the right time because the current one is still working, and she has been capturing perfect moments of our daughter’s life with the three-year old camera. Also, because we allow our daughter to play with our camera and laptop to stimulate her learning ability, I do not want to overpay these items. However, for the right item, I will not hesitate to buy. For example, when my wife informs me that our dryer is broken, I have it delivered to our house the next day. Of course, I never pick items with the highest price because I have realized that expensive things often require higher maintenance and usually cause more problems when they break. Our goal is to focus on each other, not on materialism, and, so far, we have achieved it.

In the last several months, I have been working about 60 to 70 hours per week because I have realized that cutting expenses alone will not bring me to the finished line. I have to increase my revenues, so I do overtime. I work 12 hours on weekdays and an extra 10 hours on Saturday when I am needed. Again, in life, it is not aways about money, but it is all about time. Because I want to spend the maxium amount of time with my daughter, I go to work very early in the morning while my loved ones are still sleeping. And, because I am an early riser, the working schedule fits me very well. What is the result? I have been able to increase my revenues by 100%. Of course, I know that the overtime will not last forever, but I will take whatever given because I want to win the game. And, to win the game, I must execute my game plan.

What do I do with the extra money? I have been paying down my debts and “cautiously” putting more money in the stock market. However, I have decided to stop buying more shares because the stocks that I own have become more expensive. How do I know? The prices have gone up by 30% compared to last year. I do not have a degree in finance, but I learn from reading and analyzing data on my own. Something is just not right. On one hand, I am trying to cut expenses, grow revenues and eliminate debts. On the other hand, President Obama increases spending, kills the labor market and borrows more money. I know that I can be wrong in my opinion because I do not have all the data, but on the surface that is what I am seeing. Our national debt is $12.8 trillion. I am not interested in hearing President Obama explaining that he and his administration are not responsible for our national debt. He needs to stop blaming the past because the American people needs him to solve problems. Yes, sir, we know that you are facing with difficult challenges. However, we need you to make the right decisions for our nation.

In my humble opinion, America needs more jobs at this very moment. America does not need to show the world her compassion at this very moment. America does not need to make new friends at this very moment because she is angry and not in the mood to hang out. There is nothing wrong with that because she has to focus on taking care of her own children at this very moment. Why does she have to show her compassion to the world at this very moment? She has always done that. Her true friends should understand her. She does not have to bow to anyone to show that she is respectful. She should be herself and others will follow. Her foes will always hate her because they envy her success and compassion. These foes will die because they have to follow the same pattern of life. And, there will be new foes. In the end, America should be herself because I love her just the way she is. I don’t want the government to shackle her because she has given me opportunities to grow in ways that I truly believe I will not be able to do anywhere else on earth.

As naked as one can be

I have no pride left in me,

All but selflessness

You stab my heart

One that bleeds no blood,

Only love

And still I must carry on

You rain me with stones

And still I must carry on

Forever,

I carry your pain

So, keep on stumbling,

For I know that’s what you do

And I carry on

Take my life,

So for always you will have it

Or, acquaint me with death

So for always it will comfort you

My life will give you wisdom

And my death will give you strength

So you must carry on

Like I do

And I do it for you

All from the heart

One that bleeds no blood

Only love.

I knew of your existence

So, I longed for your coming

The moment we met

I knew it was true

That love was always there

In my heart, but buried

Finally, awoken by your cry

In your presence, I felt ashamed

To be men,

And like all,

I am full of flaws

And weaknesses that I had ignored

Justified,

And kept for so long,

But I had shed them before I held you

And I know that men are mocking

With beliefs that I only want

Diamonds and gold,

But they are blinded

By those flaws and weaknesses,

Like mine,

Which taken away, however,

Eternally, by your laughters,

Angelic life,

And I so love you that I will fight

To rid men of their flaws and weaknesses

And to fill their hearts with love,

The same warmth I felt with you

I promise to give you a better world

Where men love,

And reject killing

Where men care for angels,

Just like you!

It is snowing and cold. Everyone hurries to get home because it is Christmas Eve, so no one seems to care for what she has to say. She has tried desperately to sell some matches, but her basket is still full. And, it becomes heavier at the end of the day when darkness takes over because she has not put anything in her stomach after the slice of bread given to her by her mother in the morning before leaving the house. The cobblestone streets are quieter. She is tired of chasing after them and asking them to buy her matches. She just wants to go home and lie down in her grandmother’s lap under her favorite blanket. As she walks by a house, through a large window, she sees kids playing with their grandparents while their mother and father are putting foods on the dining table. The roasted chicken makes her stomach growl. Those hot potatoes look tasty as well. Her breath fogs up the window’s glass, and as she uses her left hand to wipe it, she realizes that it is numb. She places the basket on the ground and sits on her heels. She takes off her gloves, and she lights the first match. She feels warmer for a few seconds. She lights another. In the sparkling light, she sees her grandmother’s smiling face greeting her at the door. Her younger siblings circle her. Suddenly, they disappear and everything returns to darkness and cold. She quickly lights another to keep them with her. Her father picks her up in his arms and kisses her cheek. Her mother takes off her coat. She feels loved. 

The next morning, they find a body of a little girl, covered in the snow, lying in front of the window of the house, surrounded by burned matches. “Poor girl, she tried to warm herself up with these small matches.” They cry. However, they do not know that it is her happiest Christmas Eve

The above story is not mine. Unfortunately, I can’t remember its title or the name of the author. I read it when I was a teenager. It changed my life. The little girl is my match. She warms up my soul when life is tough. She gives me the strength to live my life to the fullest each day. I have nothing to give the world, so I want to share this match with everyone. Please pass it on.

For many, rain is boring and depressing, but I always enjoy it. When I was a kid, I liked to come outside in the morning after a long rainy night because I loved to be the first person to smell the fresh air. I listened to birds chirping in the trees. I looked for dedicated ants starting their day under fallen leaves on the ground. I felt at peace. I felt as though my garden was all that I needed because it was life. It was a world. Or, at least, it was my world.

On December 12, 2009, from Baghdad, according to Reuters, Statoil, a Norwegian company, in partnership with Lukoil, a Russian oil giant, won the bid for Iraq’s supergiant West Qurna Phase II oilfield (www.reuters.com). These nations did not support the war. Also, Chinese and French oil companies are working very hard to snap up their shares of the cake. They, too, opposed the war. Exxon Mobil, an American company, won a deal for the supergiant West Qurna Phase I. It shows that the U.S. is not the only nation benefiting from the Iraq war in terms of oil. It is a “free” market competition. What about the deaths of thousands innocent Iraqis? I just want to make it clear that I am not mentioning the deaths of soldiers in this article because they are considered combatants. However, just for one sentence, I respect all the soldiers because they are the ones who have the courage and honor (soldiers’ courage and honor, not defined by you and me, Monday quarterbacks) to do what they are told, knowing that there are people around the world who will mock them for being “stupid”.

Let us get back to the deaths of innocent Iraqis. I am saddened by their deaths, but I do not know what to do. I know that I cannot bring them back. I know that their blood will be in the gas tank of my car, but I do not know what to do. Russia, China, France and Norway will bring home some cash from Iraq which will be used hopefully to create jobs for Russian, Chinese, French and Norwegian peoples. So, when a Russian (Chinese, French, or Norwegian) worker brings home a paycheck after a hardworking day, he or she should be aware that there is some blood on it, too.

On the positive side, I know that the Iraqi people will have ”a new chance” to rebuild their lives, and I hope that their leaders will make the right decisions for them. For me, I will continue to enjoy my morning after a rainy night because I know that life is more fun after the rain. And, I choose to accept both death and life. And, I will dream for eternal peace. However, I will not hastily condemn a war.

During his tour of Europe, President Obama pledged to a large crowd in Prague that America would work together with Russia to reduce its nuclear arsenal, and the speech won him the Nobel Peace prize. The goal is to cut nuclear warheads to between 1,700 and 2,200 by 2012. On November 25, 2009, Iranian President Ahmadinejad, at the opposite end, vowed to enrich more uranium and continue to pursue his nuclear ambition. Why doesn’t Iran feel safe even though America is signaling to the world that she desires peace?

Let us look at the number one more time. By 2012, we will “only” have about 2,200 nuclear warheads (not including the unlisted or concealed weapons!). That is not a lot (!). In my opinion, the denuclearization plan between the U.S. and Russia is meaningless because it does not guarantee peace. Even if all nations agree to completely rid this world of nuclear weapons, America still has thousands of tanks, planes, submarines and other bombs. America is still in control. And, this is the reason why Iran and other weaker nations want to have nuclear weapons. They fully understand that they will never be able to match up directly with America. Therefore, they just want to have enough nuclear warheads to protect themselves. Let us use Iran as an example. Ahmadinejad knows that he is being cornered by the international community because Russia is no longer on his side. Tactically, Iran is surrounded by American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. He knows that if he makes one wrong move that gives the U.S. a reason to attack, the game will be over. He has to continue playing the “delay” card because he knows the U.N. is nothing but a theatrical show. He is also letting the U.S. know that “if you attack me, I will retaliate on your friend, Israel.” The questions are: Did President Obama really mean “peace” when he announced America’s nuclear reduction plan? Or, did he do it to gain Russia’s favor and to further isolate Iran?

In my honest opinion, it is hypocritical of us to try to convince others to stop pursuing nuclear capability when we, Americans, never stop developing new weaponry. On the contrary, I suggest that we should allow everyone to have nuclear weapons because when we all have them, we will never have the courage to use them on each other. Perhaps, we will appreciate each other more, and we will learn to live together. I know that it does not sound right, but I don’t think we have a choice because I know that we are selfish creatures. Although self-preservation is the force that pushes our species forward, but it can also destroy us when we are unable to celebrate our differences. In conclusion, with or without nuclear weapons, we can “never” rid this world of “wars” because we are depleting our planet’s natural resources. And, eventually and sadly, we will kill each other to survive. Homo sapiens, the ugliest living things ever walk the earth.

History shows that every empire has an end, and I believe that American domination on the international stage has been weakened by China. And, although the Asian giant is still about 100 years behind the U.S., it will catch up and eventually take the lead in the long run because:

1. The growing pain that China is currently bearing is exactly the same pain which the U.S. had to go through during its industrial revolution period. However, China saves a lot of time and money on scientific research, which the U.S. and other nations have done.  

2. China is America’s largest creditor. And, personally, I don’t believe in “good debt” because debt weakens our nation. Many argue that the debt is small compared to the national GDP and that America can still handle it. In my opinion, it is the most ridiculous and irresponsible excuse. When we are in debt, our voice is no longer the strongest, and it shows during President Obama’s tour of Asia.

3. America is not being led by strong leadership, and I am not just blaming it on President Obama. I am calling out everyone in Washington DC. Turn on the TV and we can see how they fight each other for political gain. They do not really care for the American people. Most of them care about personal legacy and their own pockets.  

4. Chinese leaders are tough-minded. They learn from the collapse of the Soviet Union, so they are slowly reforming their country. Of course, many in the Western world have been criticizing China’s human rights record for years, but the Chinese leaders never give in. They hear the complaints, and they solve the problems behind closed doors. They are not afraid of external influence because they know that the problems are theirs and that no one can tell them what to do. We all must remember that China is not the United States of America. It has thousands years of history. Its society is governed by a different set of values. We, Americans, should be more careful and sensitive when we attempt to introduce our democracy to others.

5. On the other hand, President Obama is trying really hard to please the world because he believes that America’s image has been destroyed by the previous administration. In my opinion, it is a waste of time. Why do we have to care so much about what others think of us? I believe that his first priority is to create jobs for Americans. Why did he have to tour Asia during this time? I listened to his speech in Tokyo, and, as always, it sounded really good. He told the world what he would do to fix America. However, the speech would have been more meaningful if he had actually succeeded in fixing America’s problems, in my opinion. If I were him, I would have stayed home and worked tirelessly to create jobs for Americans. And, I would have let the results speak for me.  

6. We, Americans, complain about everything because we never feel satisfied with what we have. We borrow money against our house to purchase things that we do not really need. Now, we want free healthcare when the national unemployment is over 10%. However, we must remember that nothing is “free” in life. How will we fund for universal healthcare? If we print more money, the value of the dollar will go down even more. If we finance the cost of healthcare by borrowing from China, how will we pay it back?

7. China has the largest labor force, and everyone wants to improve their livelihood. Therefore, they all are willing to work hard. Americans on the other hand always demand a higher standard of living, so the cost of doing business in America is higher. Thus, jobs will leave our shores. Bankers, engineers and doctors will do fine, but those without high education will struggle to find work. The gap between the rich and poor will widen. The poor can no longer afford the things that they used to. Frustration and anger will peak, and riots will break out.

Although the momentum is on China’s side, the Asian country will be facing many serious problems in the future that can potentially hurt it. For example, environmental pollution is slowly killing the Chinese people. After having tasted the fruit of their labor, they will begin to seek political freedom and democracy, which can lead to unrest. However, in my opinion, learning from the mistakes made by the Soviet Union and the U.S., the Chinese leaders are ready for these challenges. They will continue to rake in the money by doing business with the West, but at the same time they will keep a tight grip on their people. Regardless if we like it or not, it is their country, and they have the right to do whatever they want to do. Most importantly, we must remember to keep our mouth shut because China has a leash of debt around our neck.

The New York Yankees are champions, again. They have done it twenty seven times. However, it amazes me when I realize that most of my friends at work and many others hate the Yankees. And, when I ask them for the reason why they harbor so much hatred for the baseball club, I receive the most absurd answer–”because they have so much money and win all the times”. I do recognize that there is some truth in the answer. However, I do not believe that money is the only factor that helps them win “all the times”. There must be something special about the organization. Personally, I believe that the Yankees’ constant success is the byproduct of effective management and leadership. And, therefore, instead of hating the winners, we all must love them, study them and become like them. So, why don’t people like the Yankees?

I would like to share a personal story before I attempt to answer the above question. I grew up in a communist country where I was taught to hate the United States of America because it was an evil empire that only wanted to conquer and destroy its neighbors. However, the truth was that my home country was poor because the communist leaders were corrupt and uneducated. They did not care for the people. They just wanted to fill up their pockets with the people’s sweat and blood. When I came to America, I began to see the light. After I had learned more about the game, I understood why the U.S. was the winning team. Capitalism, freedom to compete, encourages creativity because each individual wants to win and harvest the fruit of his labor. On the other hand, communism is just a stupid idea because it suggests that everyone works and shares the fruit. In the beginning, the communist comrades work and share. However, after awhile, they start to question the system because they see that there are many who do not work as hard but still enjoy the same fruit. Therefore, eventually, everyone will stop and the system breaks down. When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, I was so happy because it proved to me that I had understood the game. The sad thing is that communism is still ruling my home country because the communist comrades still refuse to change. They are holding on to their power because they still have empty pockets which they plan to fill up with the people’s bones and skulls.

Sometimes, we see others succeed, but we still stubbornly refuse to accept the fact that they are better than us because we know that we are weaker and afraid that we can never become like them even if we try. Many of us hate the Yankees because we know that our favorite team can never become like the New York Yankees. Perhaps, some of us want to defect and become Yankee fans, but we are afraid that others will label us as “traitors”. Therefore, we force ourselves to like our losing team by lying to ourselves–”it is ok because I am a true fan”. We choose to enjoy the pain and humiliation of defeat every year while the Yankees fans are celebrating.

For those who hate the U.S., please look at your own government. Are the leaders of your country corrupt? Perhaps, they are the evil individuals who take away your food and shelter. If you still hate the U.S., please study harder or become smarter to help your country compete with us. If you still hate the U.S. and do not know what to do, I would like to suggest that, first, you learn from us and then you use that knowledge to beat us. If you are still stubborn and refusing to understand, I would like to offer this simple analogy: Imagine that you are running a marathon and the U.S. is the leader. You must gather your strength and courage to beat the U.S. because you know in your heart that the U.S. will not slow down to let you win. The U.S. will always go after the gold medal even though it has won it many times. It competes because it constantly wants to advance human civilization.

The physician: I have spent twelve years in high school, four years for undergraduate study, four years in medical school and two years in residency, so I have the right to charge you whatever I want. My student loans total about $300,000, so I have the right to charge you whatever I want. This clinic costs me thousands to operate, so I have the right to charge you whatever I want. My malpractice insurance costs me about $100,000 per year, so I have the right to charge you whatever I want. If I make a mistake, you can take me to court. And, probably, you will be awarded millions. I did have passion when I was in school. But, in the real world, I must protect myself. And, I have the right to make a lot of money because I am a licensed professional. Not everyone can do what I do. You pay a high price to see me because I am one of the best. That is how capitalism works. You can seek another doctor if you want to save some money.

The patient: (silent)

The insurance company: If you read section IV, Part 3, Paragraph (i), Point (a), it tells you that your condition is not covered by your current plan because it is classified as a pre-existing disease, meaning you had had it for years before you bought our product. We understand that you possibly did not know about it. Or, perhaps, you did know about the disease but lied to us when you purchased our product. Honestly, had you told us about your condition, I am assuming that if you had known, we would not have sold our product to you in the first place anyway. Sorry, we are in this business to make a profit. 

The patient: That is ridiculous. I have been paying a very high premium. And, now, when I need it most, you deny to take care of me. Honest to God, I did not know anything about the condition. I am not a doctor, you know. But, the reason I buy insurance is to protect me in a situation like this one. Is there anything that I can do? Can I appeal?

The insurance company: We have to charge you a high premium to cover our costs. Again, we are a publicly traded company, so we must make a profit. Also, when you have time, take a look at your bill, last month you had a cataract surgery on your left eye, your doctor charged us ten thousands dollars. There are doctors out there who are very greedy and dishonest. They overcharged us. And, many of them even charge money for procedures that they do not perform. To answer your question, I do not know exactly how the appealing process works, but I will be glad to find out. Can I call you back in a few days?

The patient (confused and lost): Yes, please. Bye now.

President Obama: I am deeply sorry to hear your story. I know that many others are facing the same problem as you are. I want everyone to have health coverage because I believe that it is one of the fundamental rights promised to us and that is that we all have the right to pursue “happiness”. To be happy, we must feel secured about our job, our family, our retirement, our health, etc. My idea is to insert into our current healthcare system a public option that is more affordable and most importantly covers all members and their dependents without the pre-existing condition bull, please excuse my language. But, there are many cowboys and hotshots in Congress who oppose my plan because they think it will cost too much money to run. They are afraid that the government will fail because everything the government touches turns into cow dung. I just want to do it because we have been waiting for too long. So many have been suffering. Let us use tax payers’ money to take care of tax payers. I know the line will be long when you go to the hospital, but at least you know you will receive care. The doctors might not be the best and brightest, but they would be good enough to get the job done. I know that many will abuse the system to steal money from tax payers. But, hey, no system is perfect. I will fix it as I go. I hope I will be re-elected because there are so many things that I want to do for you. And, I need more than four years. And, I need your support to bring changes to America. I promise you that.

The patient (smiled and felt comforted): Thank you.

My personal opinion

I support the public option because my heart tells me that it is the right thing to do. I am willing to pay higher taxes to take care of my less fortunate neighbors. I am not trying to be a hero. Simply, I just believe that because life is short, we all need to be less greedy and more compassionate. However, I will not stop fighting to become wealthy because although money cannot buy happiness, it can buy me a lot of time. And, time is what I value the most.