$500,000.00 - The Necessary Dream in Our Lives

When I am sick and tired of my regular days, I often have a lovely dream.

   'If I picked up the purse which was full of money, how amazing it would be!'
   'If I won the lottery and got the big money, how wonderful it would be!'

Sometimes these dreams give me some vitality even seem to be vain. I know we cannot get the money without making any effort except on very special occasions such as winning the lottery. However, how dry the world where we can’t have even these dreams is! We are living in the complicated modern world, so we are supposed to be busy and tired with our everyday lives. Therefore, we absolutely need some spaces in our minds and relax as long as living in this choking society. While I am dreaming of the good fortune as above, at least I can get some energy and much pleasure.

If I pick up the bag filled with big money, $500,000.00, while I am cleaning my yard, what should I do with that? It is very hard question for me. At first I open my eyes wide in surprise at the incredible happening and feel my heart begin to beat quickly. My face flushes red and falls into a fit of convulsions with excitement. Continuously my brain would be full of expectations about a lot of things to do with that enormous amount of money. I look around quickly and try to pretend nothing happened with great composure. Then I take it into my house with trembled hands.

If I find only $5,000 from the bag, definitely it would be my good fortune. I appreciate the Goddess of Fortune who lifts up my right hand when I am troubling with the money, so I am willing to accept her kindness. After I recover my consciousness, I call my husband who is working in the company and enjoy his surprised voice. I say, “Honey, when you come back home, lets decide to buy the new car. Frankly I have some money which I saved secretly. Let me contribute this money to our family. I think it’s not enough to buy a new car, but we can make a down payment with $5,000 and my money. And lets use the monthly installment plan. Come back hurry from work!” Actually, my van is very old and sometimes stops on the street, so I need to buy a new car. I feel sorry to my old friend, green van, while I am thinking of throwing it away. However, all creatures meet their end someday.

Unfortunately, the money, $500,000.00, in the bag is too huge amount for me. That is the amount which I can’t imagine in all my life. At that time, I realize that I am a right person who should act according to my conscience. I cannot, in all conscience, take such a big amount of money. I am a person who listens to the voice of conscience and obeys the dictates of it. I call the police station and tell them what happened to me. When I tell them about the money, I expect unconsciously that they might be impressed deeply by my honesty. All kinds of mass communication are headlining a story about my honesty, and I become a heroine like a Hollywood star. Finally, we can find the owner of the money because he makes a phone call to the police station after he read the newspaper. He and I meet each other through the police station’s influence. He says many thanks to me and wants to offer an envelope in which seems to be some money in compensation. Even though I decline his goodwill several times, he puts the money envelope into my hand. After he leaves, I open the envelope and find a check. The face value of the check is $10,000. Anyway I cannot help buying a new car whether the money, which I found, would be $5,000 or $500,000.00.

In conclusion, dreaming and expecting something is much better than it coming true. While we are thinking of realizing our dreams, we are the happiest people in the world. Dreaming of good fortune is the very thing that we can get energy from when we feel depressed and frustrated, even if it would be an empty dream.

Why don’t you have nice dream as above? Every man is the architect of his own fortunes. If we try to find a moneybag on the street, we will find some pennies instead of $500,000.00 someday. (2002)