What to do with money?

From the time we are children, we are trained to want money. We ask our parents for things, they will either buy it or tell us that they don't have the money. We start to earn an allowance for things that we do around the house. Each of us, then, develops how we will use that money. The impulsive ones will go out and spend it as fast as possible, others will have a goal and save up to buy it, others still, will save and never spend. These habits will follow us into adulthood: always desiring money and what we do with it once we have it.

I've always been the goal setter. I save for goals then use it. While I was working I observed people who would be absolutely miserable the week before payday, announcing how much better they would feel once their paycheck was in their pocket. People would always ask me how Charley and I could go on 2-1/2 month vacations. It's because I knew how to manage and save.

In the past few years, I've observed elderly people. Fear has engulfed them and their fists are tight holding onto their money. These people have a difficult time using it for what would make them happy now. "Oh, I can't do that, what if I fall ill and need the money?" Actually, the kids who went out and spent their money right away are really going to fare better when they are old and are no longer able to care for themselves. 'Why?' you may ask. When you are in that situation and have no money, Medicare will take care of you. I guess people fear the quality of care they may receive; fear not, it will be good care. As long as you have money, of course, it is your money that will take care of you, of course until it runs out.

What good is it to leave it to your heirs? There most likely (not always) will be bitter fighting, begrudging, greediness; and for what? Money that you have bee trained to desire all your life. My goal in life is simply this: use my money while I can enjoy it. I don't care if I have money once I no longer understand the world I live in. I don't care if I leave money to those living beyond my death. If I have it now, I earned it, I should enjoy it.

How are you going to use your money?

Backgrounds

For every foreground there is a background. Both are separate and related, interact to communicate.

Let me show you my family portrait. Close your eyes and picture it. I am the painting and the colors on it are my life. My background is dark, gloomy, with chaotic drunken swirls, full of anger, depression, frustration. The flows and swirls, in itself are caught in this repetition, an eddy in a rushing river. As you look closer, you notice that there are two distinct dark colors, full of violence and rage. Two other forms emerge from those patterns. The first one, my sister, is more stable, colors are still somber but take on lighter shades. The second pattern, my brother, is barely distinguishable; dark, moody and sucking in lighter colors surrounding it.

Then a third pattern emerges, me, sharp bright edges contrasting the background. Colors are bright and happy. This pattern should be in a painting with rainbows, meadows, and sunshine. What is it doing in this painting? What is the artist trying to communicate? How could this background create this image? Yet, here it is.

The luminous image attracts other phosphorescent hues and lifts off the canvas, creating a new sensation, a new life, a new and distinct painting.

The painting represents the family from which I emerged. A smiley baby transformed into an optimistic individual placed initially on a dark canvas leaving behind the gloom and attracting new and happy people. How did I come to be?

How does your background affect your evaluation of the underlying images of my painting? We each carry our own background with us through life. Does the background of your life aid or hinder your understanding my life?

How does a background affect a painting? In that respect, how does a background affect a picture? Is it in the eye of the beholder? Then how does the background affect the eye of the beholder? How does the background affect the beholder's attitude? How does the background affect life? How does the beholder's attitude affect the background?