is it acheivement? (Kimberanne?)

[guesterro]

when the rich get richer? I am asking because I am trying to understand the vehemence that people have against rich people. Not being one, I may have some envy like dang don't I wanna work hard and get there too, but I don't begrudge anyone it- not even the hollywood crowd
Kimberanne? Your thoughts? You see pretty objective and well versed.
And. I have a question of Karma.
What exactly is karma, does it really carry over from life time to life time? Would illness be a karmic payment of past?
sorry to carry this in one thread- but opened one so I figured I would stick with it. thank you for input.

[Kimberanne]

No problem...I'll start with Karma first....

To me Karma isnt a punishment. It is a consequence, good or bad, for behavior either in this life or in past lives. To me it is an area where you need to learn a lesson or you are rewarded for having learned a lesson.

I don't believe that people who are poor, or have a disease, or whatever, have it happen because they did something bad. Maybe a soul chooses to be born into poverty because they need to learn a lesson in hard work, or not judging based on money, or even a lesson in compassion towards others. Or..they learned a lesson in humility and are coming back to teach it. Maybe someone is born with a severe disability to teach others compassion and understanding. Karma at work..... if you are mean, judgemental, inhumane...ect... you obviously haven't learned the life lessons that you need to learn to be a caring, advanced soul. SOOOOO.... you decide before you come back that you are going to learn those things. Some times it means being born into poverty, sometimes weath, sometimes disease. It varies.

Sometimes you learn your lessons with the same souls over and over and over... soul mates!! Maybe you cheated on your husband in a past life... you were mean and disrespectful. So.. you two die, talk about the issues and decide that in your next life you are going to help each other. He is going to help you learn what it is like to be cheated on (NOT saying that if you are cheated on you are being punished) so you come together in this life, he is disrespectful and mean to you..... you learn, or you don't learn....

Some of us take lifetimes upon life times to learn certain lessons. Right now my big one that I'm being hit over the head with is learning how to give up my will and trust the will of Spirit. To not think I have to or can control everything.

Bottom line... we are here to learn, not to be punished. Karma is about lessons and becoming the soul we want to be. Did I make sense? LOL

Now... money. I have nothing against having money. Heck, I'm a rich person that just doesn't have a lot of cash flow right at this moment!! LOL.. it will change. What matters to me is how you look at money. Does it define YOU? Do you screw others over for it? It is the old "money is the root of all evil". I don't agree. What people DO to get money is the "evil".

I also think that people still have the illusion that life is supposed to be FAIR.... NOPE, sorry, it isn't. Get over it.

I think that if you work your butt off and make a pot load of money..good for you. If you don't, it doesn't make you bad. That may not be your journey in this life.

I do believe however, that if you do become successful, it is good karma to share that with others. Pass on the blessings. Give what you can to society so you don't leave this planet having taken more than you gave. Just my humble opinion.

I get upset when people yell about "the rich". According to the definition, my ex and I when we were married were that evil group. He worked his butt off and went to college for 8 years. I would have people make comments to me about him making such good money like it was bad. I finally told one woman that if her hubby wanted to go to college for 8 years, take on thousands and thousands in college loans, and work ungodly hours... he is welcome to. Did he want to? Heck no, he wanted to drop out of HS, work 30 hours a week and drink all weekend. SO, why should he make as much as my ex did? Why should my ex be considered "lucky" when he worked his way up???

My dad started his own engineering company when I was 4. He was gone all the time. It contributed to my parents divorce. Dad sold his company for a lot of money, has a lake home, airplanes, and part of a Subway restaurant. I have heard people say things about him like he was lucky and things were handed to him. NOT. He worked and worked and worked. Why shouldn't he have nice things? What is wrong with that?? I also don't think he should have to pay a higher % of taxes than other people. He does pay enough already. He gives back to society. He employed many people, who he paid very well (most of his employees stayed with him from the time they started to when he sold it..he took them on trips, and paid them more than others in the industry). So... does he OWE society more than anyone else?? Heck no.. not in my opinion anyway.

So...those are some of my thoughts on karma and money.

[guesterro]

OOOOOH! I appreciated your well phrased thoughts. Thank you very much, Kimberanne!

[Kimberanne]

You are most welcome. Just a couple other quick thoughts. I think some people are afraid of money. they make it their God.. their yard stick for who they are and their value. I have been doing the internet dating thing for awhile and I can tell you that I have met MANY men that think that I should date them just because they have money. NOT. Yes, I would like to be with a man who is successful so that we can enjoy doing the fun and exotic things I would like to do, but having money does not make someone better than anyone else. Period! No negotiating that one at all.

People whine about Bill Gates, but lets face it... he changed our world. Look at home computers. Would we be here, on this message board without his comtributions?? I wonder. Yes, the man is richer than God, but who cares?? I've read a lot about what he gives to charity, how he supported his employees, and how much he gives back to society. So what if he makes that much money. I'm sure it doesn't mean as much to him anymore as it used to.

Money is a tool to me. It is a means to an end, not the end itself. People look at money in a couple of ways. Either they work to make is so they can HAVE it and hoard it or they work to make it so they can use it to do what they really want. I'm the second type of person. I probably spend too much, but life is for LIVING and you truly can't take it with you. My dad will joke about not spending my sister and my inheritance and we tell him flat out..dad, spend your money. You worked hard to make it. Have fun. He deserves that. It isn't my money. I did nothing to earn it. If he wants to leave me some, GREAT, but I would much rather have him around personally. His late wife, my step-mom, died of cancer 3 years ago. She was his High School sweetheart and she battled cancer for 7 out of the 11 years they were married. Dad said to me that no matter how much money he had, there was nothing he could do to save the woman he loved.

Well, I'm off!!

[jasminmoon]

Just a quick comment about the money thing....I make enough to get us thru life...it is more important to me to have the time with my little boy to do fun things....and have some "stay home" days. I'm behind on everything now because I took off 3 weeks in August to spend with my friend as she passed from this world....I could not put a price tag on that....it is worth every phone conversation I am having now telling people I will get caught back up...What is my time, love and relationships worth? Priceless...
I dated a man a few years ago that would be considered "rich" He brought home over 300,000 a year and was worth over a million on paper....it did not buy him happiness. It did not buy spirituality. It did not buy the things in life he was seeking. It did not buy my trust.

[Kimberanne]

Jasmin... you are so right.... that three weeks you spent with your friend was more important than any amount of money.

Like I said.. it isn't money that is the evil.. it is what we do to get it. That includes not taking care of the things that are the most important in this world... family and friends.

[tarsier]

Well put Kimberanne, I have a sister who is also considered wealthy and cringe when people start the evils of the rich. I joke how I want her money but not the hours she works for it.

[troutfarm]

Wealth can be time to relax or spend with a friend. Wealth is not always tied to your bank account. One of my friends told me once that some of life's biggest luxuries are free and priceless like watching a beautiful sunset.

trout

[guesterro]

That is a very true point, one that I agree with completely. Thank you for adding it. Though originally my question had to do with earned income wealth and wondering why it seems that sometimes wealth is perceived as 'bad'. Like you hear the term filthy rich- implying that being rich is like filth, not godly or good. I just wondered why sometimes people dislike wealthy people, or maybe they don't and they just dislike those who inherit wealth, or maybe just the concept of money?
I can not figure it out, and that probably means I shouldn't
I really did not mean to make you so mad when I wrote the first time. I was really addressing the comments the person named Stephie made and was surprised you got so mad at me. I do not mean to do that again.

[coachvelma]

What a wonderful thread! So many incredible points of view. So much wisdom!

Wealth or abundance is something that, in my view, we try to seek in all areas of our life. It's about balance.

There's so much here that I'd love to comment on, but I'll stick to a few thoughts for now.

People's negative comments on those who are "financially abundant" usually stem from the judgment around the fact that they are not. Unfortunately those thoughts hold them exactly where they are. Those in my circle of influence who talk like that are the ones that come to you with their hands out the minute you've got a few extra bucks and get mad when you want it paid back.

Money is an energy exchange. We used to barter with products and services. Money is now an added link in that transaction. I receive money for my services, and I offer money for the services or products of others. So for me it's just a component of that energy exchange.

Money can't buy you love or happiness. That's true. But being poor doesn't give you love and happiness either. Money has nothing to do with love or happiness...or least that connection seems unreasonable to me. Happiness comes from within, and it can occur whether we are poor or rich.

What allows me to open up to my abundance and receive it is the fact that I DO get to give more back to society. It allows me to give of my time without worry of whether or not I'll have enough to care for my family. It allows me to give of my money without worry of whether or not I'll have enough to care for my family. I see a very clear connection between my abundance and influencing the abundance of others.

OK...I have to get back to my work. The soapbox needs a break.

Great conversation! I appreciate the opportunity to share my truth on this subject.

Warmly,

Velma

[cellardoor]

FYI - a millionare US Senator just won Powerball Lotto! WHAT?!? Are you kidding me?

www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/10/20/judd.lottery/index.html

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Sen. Judd Gregg won $853,492 from the Powerball lottery after matching five of six numbers in Wednesday's drawing, adding to his already sizable wealth.

"Even senators can be lucky," he told reporters outside the D.C. Lottery claims center, where he picked up his check.

The Republican from New Hampshire -- who chairs the Budget Committee and who has a reputation as a strict fiscal conservative -- said his wife is currently remodeling their home and already has plans for the new money.

"She's already told me, 'Don't spend it. I've already got plans.'"

He said he bought about $20 of tickets on Monday at a D.C. Citgo gas station as he headed from Baltimore to Washington for a Senate vote.

"I don't plan to quit my job," he said with a smile.

He will owe 25 percent in federal taxes on the $853,492. New Hampshire doesn't have state income taxes and so he will get to keep the rest.

Gregg already is a millionaire, according to personal financial records that senators are required to file annually.

His latest filing, which documents his financial records for the calendar year of 2004, shows that Gregg has assets between $2,697,000 and $9,430,000, mostly in an extensive stock and real estate portfolio.

After hearing the lottery news, Sen. Kent Conrad, D-North Dakota, the top Democrat on the Budget Committee, quipped the money should be used to pay down the federal deficit.

"We'll take it all," he said.

Gregg was one of 49 winners of the runner-up cash award in a drawing that also earned one lucky winner from Oregon $340 million.

The Gregg family was in the news for less happy reasons two years ago when two men entered their McLean, Virginia, home and abducted Gregg's wife, Kathleen. She was driven to a nearby ATM where she gave the knife-wielding robbers money before escaping from them.

CNN Producer Ted Barrett and Political Research Director Robert Yoon contributed to this report.

[bullheaded78]

Wouldn't it be nice if the millionaire senator gave the remaining $600k after taxes to the school system in his state, instead of using it to remodel his house? Oh sorry, that was my alarm clock buzzing, I just woke up from a dream.

[cellardoor]

No, no, no...he SHOULD remodel his house, but then he can invite all the people who get screwed by the goverment, and all the displaced persons from the hurricanes, to come live with him! He's just building extra bedrooms...

[guesterro]

Way cool he won the money! He must have great energy surrounding him! Bet you are just joking about being mad or thinking he shouldn't use the money for whatever he wishes... he won it fair and square and had the same chance as anyone else.
Congrats to the lucky winner!
Maybe instead of giving the money to those displaced by hurricanes, he could hire them for an honest days wage and have them help with the remodeling. Think of how their self esteem would soar when they received pay for work, not for having babies!

[coachvelma]

One of my mentors actually calls it a "money blue print", and it makes sense to me. He said that if you took all the money in the world, divided it up equally between all it's inhabitants, it wouldn't be long before the money would be right back in the exact hands they are in like now.

It's like a thermostat. If your thermostat is set to be a 4-5 figure income earner, if you came into more money, your money thermostat would kick in, and sudden expenses would show up and put you right back to where you usually are. Donald Trump has his thermostat set at being a billionaire. Circumstances did bring him below that place, and it wasn't long before his money thermostat kicked in and he was right back up there as a billionaire.

You can change your thermostat or money blue print, and it includes changing your belief around money.

Anything I say about rich people is an underlying belief I have about rich people. If I have negative beliefs about rich people, I will never become one, because my belief about rich people would stop me. If they are bad, and I become rich, I'll become bad, so I can never be rich. And no matter how much I may say I don't have that belief, it's internalized. Otherwise those opinions wouldn't so easily roll off my tongue.

I agree, Guesterro. I congratulate him for winning. He did win it fair and square. He bought the ticket.

I have been tweaking my money blue print for a while now. I've been assessing my beliefs, and bridging them towards ones that serve me better.

One of them is when I receive my value, I can pay others for their full value too. And I love that.

(I also have another mantra...the less I do the more money I make. I quite like that one.)