Matters That Matter ®

If you don’t know this blog, you should. Peggy is brilliant and thoughtful and often hits the nail so squarely on the head that it explodes…the following is one of those.

The best reason to be rich and famous.

Ever had dreams of being rich and famous?  I admit it.  I have.

Way back in yesteryear, when I was a kid, there used to be a show on TV called The Millionaire.  In it, you saw, only the luxuriously clad arm of “an anonymous benefactor”, sitting in his velvet wing back chair.  We knew his name was John Beresford Tipton but we never, ever saw his face.  He had so much money that he decided to find deserving people to give it to through his loyal employee, Michael Anthony. Michael Anthony’s job was to find the right people and then make sure they received the money, transforming their lives forever.   I never missed an episode.  In my feet-pajamas, drinking a warm, Bosco-laden milk, I dreamed of one day being rich and famous enough that I could be the female version of Mr. Tipton.

I have had my moments, although on a much smaller scale.

A few years ago, a friend, who was radically changing his career from rocket scientist to professional photographer was lamenting the fact that he had spent all his money on cameras and a studio to live and work in.  He had run out money for producing the great business cards and brochures that had been designed for him.  So, while he was taking a phone call, I slipped the artwork into my bag.  At the printer, I instructed them to deliver the business cards and brochures to my friend anonymously.  What a thrill. I was living out my fantasy of being an anonymous benefactor!

One day, he called to tell me about the ” miracle that had happened”.  When he stepped out the door the week before, there were boxes full of his cards and brochures—just sitting there.  He had shared his predicament with a number of people, so he had no idea the source of his good fortune.

AND, as it turned out, this was the same day he had been invited to an event showcasing up and coming photographers in the area.  He was planning to skip the event, altogether, because he was ashamed that he had nothing to hand out to anyone.  But, lo and behold!  About face.  Not only did he go, but he landed his largest, ongoing corporate contract—enough to pay all his overhead for a year!

For me, that’s always been my primary reason to work so hard and do well—to have those moments when I can just make it happen for someone else, especially at a time when it is needed most.  Success that’s shared is the best success of all.

So,  fast forward to a real star.  One we all know.  One who is using his fame and fortune without a shred of fanfare…….Denzel Washington.

Recently, while visiting the wounded soldiers, transferred from Germany to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, he was taken to one of the Fisher Houses on base.  That’s where soldiers’ families can stay for little or no charge  while our young heroes are healing, mostly from catastrophic burns and loss of limbs.The houses stay booked at maximum capacity, with a perpetual wait list.

After seeing how much both the patients/soldiers and their families benefited from being together during the long recovery process, Washington asked how much it would cost to build another one.  Upon hearing the amount, he simply wrote a check, right on the spot, for the full amount.

He demonstrated the best reason to be rich and famous

http://www.screamsofconsciousness.com