Here’s a question for you, what would really make you happy? Is it that new car you’ve always wanted, a big house, a beautiful spouse or as many people would answer, all the money you could ever want.

Many people think that just by having enough money to buy whatever they want can lead to happiness. Have you ever read those stories about lottery winners winning a huge jackpot wishing they had never won the lottery? Well, it might sound ridiculous to us but having so much money made their lives worse.

Here are a few reasons on just why winning the lottery won’t make you happy.

1. Same Thoughts Different Circumstances

The huge increase to your bank account has allowed you to buy whatever you desire. So, picture yourself sitting in your large mansion in front of your 100″ Plasma TV drinking one of the finest wines that has ever existed. What a difference to this time last week you may say. However, there is one thing that hasn’t changed, your thoughts.

Your thoughts are the only thing that can affect how you feel and ultimately your happiness. Unfortunately money will not change this.

The truth is that if you were an unhappy person before winning the lottery then chances are that you will still be unhappy after your big win.

2. An Unhealthy Lifestyle

Money can allow people to throw some of the best parties around and live a life of decadence. This means that there is a wealth of opportunities to drink more and smoke more. Lottery winners often end up having worse lifestyles than before and end up with long term health problems.

The “lucky” winners suddenly have more money to spend on things which they may have liked to indulge in only occasionally before their win such as alcohol, cigarettes and gambling. They also believe that they can pay their way out of any health problems by seeing the best doctors. Unfortunately, this does not hold true.

3. Money Makes People Look at You Differently

People you have known your whole life will suddenly start to see you as their meal ticket. If you start saying yes to some people and no to others, a lot of people will start to resent you.

Not only this, but due to your new found wealth people will always expect more and more money just because you can afford to give it to them. When you have money, it starts to become very hard to say no to people.

4. Where’s the Drive?

Most people like to have a reason to get up in the morning and feel like they are achieving something in their day. All of a sudden you find that you can sleep in until midday everyday and spend the day however you see fit.

However, while this may sound great in reality it is not. Sudden wealth means a loss of ambition and drive. I’m finally a millionaire so now what? a lottery winner may ask. Boredom at times can be a good thing and can provide the catalyst for many creative endeavours, but more often than not, it can also lead to a slippey slope when you have so much money.

5. You Feel As If You Don’t Deserve the Money

Let’s face it lottery winners get extremely lucky to win the jackpot. The odds are an astronomical 1 in 116 million depending on which game you play. They didn’t exactly have to suffer through blood, sweat and tears for that £1 ticket. This is why a third of lottery winners end up squandering all of their money after 5 years.

A person who has built up a successful company over the years through nothing but hard work and determination tends to invest the money wisely. They worked so hard for it so inevitably they want to look after it. This is their reward for all the years of sacrifice. A lottery winner on the other hand, subconsciously sees this money as something they never really deserved so they will tend to squander it all living the good life for a few years.

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If you were to ask most people what 3 things they think they need to enjoy a happy life, you would receive several different answers, all of which probably would fail this test. Certainly, the number 1 answer is: “Boy, IF only I were to win the lottery would I be a happy person.” Has anyone looked at what really happens to people who have won the lottery and became “wealthy” in one day? Well, it may surprise you to learn that a large number of those who have won the lottery find themselves broke or worse within 5 years. You would be surprised to learn that many lottery winners have had these tragedies happen: their family life became a complete train wreck, they lost their health, lost their real friends; relatives outwardly despised them, many became addicted to gambling, drugs, and or alcohol and lost their good health, etc. The great joy of winning the lottery turned into their biggest nightmare.

From experience, I can tell you that those who are considered very wealthy suffer the same frustrations and depression that those who are struggling suffer. It is just that the wealthy suffer differently than those who struggle every day. Those who are considered very wealthy are depressed daily when the stock market goes down, their taxes are always too high, they are unable to increase their huge wealth, etc. Do they have a happier life than those who are not considered wealthy? I don’t think so.

The second answer you would hear is, “Getting a promotion at work would make me a very happy person.” If the person giving you that answer has not spent any time paying the price necessary getting prepared for the higher position, they may just lose it because of their own shortfalls. Good leaders are promoted based on knowledge and achievement, not based on friendship or internal politics. If a person is promoted on the latter, they may find what they wished for may not be what they thought it would be.

According to the laws of compensation, all of us get only what we deserve and what we have earned – NOTHING more. Yes, it is true we all want more and expect more than what we now have, but are we willing to earn it?

You will hear several other answers to the original question, but allow me to share with you the 3 things necessary to enjoy a happy, positive and productive life.

For the sake of argument, let’s assume that you are in good health. If that is true, then the ONLY 3 things you need beyond your good health are:
1. Worthwhile work to do;
2. A future to look forward to; and
3. Someone/something to love. That’s it. There is no more that you need.

Now, it is true that we all want more. That is natural and normal, but what is it that you really NEED to be happy? If any of these three elements are absent from your life, then focus your time and effort in the acquisition of what is missing. Stop complaining about what you don’t have and how unhappy you are with what you do have.

For some, “love” can be the love of another person, love for a pet, love of a hobby, love of a certain activity or sport, a sincere passion to help those in need and so on.

For those who enjoy good health, remember that everyday above ground IS a good day and you do have a future to look forward to: tomorrow.

Worthwhile work may be work you do every day at your current employment, work you do at home for your loved ones, volunteer work, work at your church, work for the needy, etc. There are many outlets for worthwhile work and, if this is missing in your life, go out and find it. You will be happier when you do.

Rich or poor, it makes no difference. If you desire happiness, then think, plan and act to win the 3 things necessary to have a happy, productive and positive life.

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1. Hospital lotteries are unethical

Hospitals and healthcare charities are in the business of treating and preventing illness. Gambling is addictive. Gambling hurts gamblers and their families. Gambling addiction is a mental disorder that requires medical intervention in most cases to overcome. For hospitals to raise funds using a method that hurts the person giving the money is unethical.

2. Hospital lotteries harm a hospital’s reputation

Why does the Canadian Cancer Society require that its employees be non-smokers? Because smoking causes cancer. A charity that fights cancer cannot afford to also condone an activity that causes cancer. Their reputation would suffer. When the public perceives your organization as a major promoter of gambling, an activity that harms society, the shine comes off your reputation. Close ties to any activity that causes harm to people tarnishes your brand.

3. Hospital lotteries confuse donors

Buying a lottery ticket is not a philanthropic act. Gambling is not an act of charity, regardless of who is organizing the sweepstakes. Lottery ticket buyers do not receive a charitable tax receipt. According to the Canadian Medical Association, “The fuzzy line between gambling and giving gets even fuzzier when ticket buyers are treated like donors. In March 2008, for example, the Princess Margaret Hospital hosted a series of lectures on cancer research for 700 lottery participants, something once done only for large private donors.”

4. Hospital lotteries are risky

Lottery prizes are purchased, not received as gifts, which makes for a high break-even mark. Some charities have failed to reach it. Australian hospital operator Southern Health lost $590,000 on its lottery in 2006 when it sold only 60% of tickets.

5. Hospitals become addicted to gambling

Some hospital lotteries are so successful that the hospitals that run them can’t quit. The Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto, Canada, has raised over $170 million with its lottery over the past 13 years. According to the Canadian Medical Association, lotteries account for 30% of all private hospital funding, and, without them, hospitals would suffer. Hospitals are addicted to gambling revenues.

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“You gotta be in it to win it” so say the marketing people who encourage us to take a chance, spend a dollar, and maybe win millions.

And one in three people around the world buy one or many tickets each week on pay day. With odds of wining the big jackpot at 8 million to one or 220 million to one, why do they waste their money each week? Here comes another brilliant marketing slogan,

“Cause hey, ya never know.”

So true and yet for the majority of lottery players, we do know. It ain’t gonna happen, and year after year after year it doesn’t.

So what’s this got to do with you and living your best second-half?

The same thinking that keeps people in the “ya never know” mindset, keeps them in the “It can’t happen to me mindset.”

One of the principals that succeeders employ, according to the authors of Change Anything, The New Science of Personal Success, is to tell the truth about a situation we are going to change.

These scientists recommend telling it like it is when we tell the truth and not use what I’ll call, squishy language.

Let’s say you want to lose weight or quit smoking, squishy language sounds like this, “I know I need to lose some weight/quit smoking or I might end up with a disease some day.” Squishy language is born out of lottery thinking.

Let’s make this a truthful statement and we’ll use weight loss as the subject. Rather than the above statement which does little to encourage change, the truth sounds like this, “I am 4o pounds overweight. This means I am likely to develop one or more of a host of problems like heart disease, diabetes, and-at age 48-more weight gain if I don’t get it handled.”

“Not everyone gets these diseases though,” you say. More lottery thinking and in this game the odds are more in favor of the diseases. 75% of the most common diseases we see that are said to be the diseases of aging-seventy-five percent-are caused by lifestyle habits. Aging alone has little to do with it. You have a 3 in 4 chance of getting something that will limit your quality of life if you don’t take on your health vs. a 1 in a million chance of winning your ticket to paradise.

Here’s the thing about the “it won’t happen to me” way of thinking. It takes the responsibility for our futures right out of our hands. Whose hands do you want your future in if not your own?

We can all see a direct correlation between something we did years ago-or are maybe still doing–and what we have in our lives right now. Maybe it’s that we didn’t plan our money well and we’re living with no reserves. Maybe we chose a career based on someone else’s plan for us and here we are, half a life exchanged for what?

Telling the truth may feel scary but it’s far more powerful than wishing and hoping it just wasn’t so.

Save your dollars, change your language, and plan for a big, juicy second half with you squarely at the helm. There is no shame in what is but what a shame it will be if you never experience that.

As a lifelong student of leadership, I enjoy looking at the events that capture national attention and examining what they say about who we are as a society and how we are leading in our lives.

It seems nothing is as riveting as the Affordable Care Act’s three-days at the Supreme Court. The debate over healthcare or as some have dubbed it “Obamacare” has galvanized the nation along its well-know red and blue partisan divisions. How is it that the world’s most affluent country, with the most expensive health care system still has a dismal record on health care with tens of millions of people unable to access it?

While I completely conquer with the assessment by Auerback and Wray that health insurance is not synonymous with health care and that a single-payer system, while politically untenable is the more economically sound approach, at its core the health care dispute is at the place where America is stuck on many policy fronts. That is, there is an unresolved tension between what we want for ourselves as individuals and what we want for our community and country.

Some indisputable facts:

• Everyone consumes health care.

• No one knows if they will require a little or a great deal of care or when they will need it.

• When someone needs care they want to get it right away.

• As a society, we have already agreed that anyone who needs care will receive it if they get themselves to an Emergency Room.

• Most people always assume that “bad things” happen to other people until they are the ones faced with chronic illness or a catastrophic accident.

• Untreated sick people can become a threat to public health.

• For most services where there are free riders and when individual access has both personal and community implications (e.g. it is impossible to have an army that only defends a certain portion of the population) the government is the provider because it is the entity that best balances the interests of personal and public without a profit motive.

From the left and the right, health care is in a ditch because of two key factors: on the right the vitriol has become so heated around the interests of the individual that they have dismissed all sense of connection and the inevitable consequence of one person’s behavior on another; and on the left, lack of inspired leadership in government has created a bureaucracy of mind-numbing regulations that now hinder one of its central functions of balancing personal and communal needs in a vibrant and responsive way. Take any issue, education, environment, economy they are all stuck because we have polarized the choices to such extremes that for the bulk of Americans neither path is palatable.

So what does all this have to do with the lottery? It is a fascinating juxtaposition of these issues. As the jackpot grew, millions of Americans were willing to shell out one to hundreds of dollars for the minuscule chance to become a mega-millionaire. Contribution to the lottery was justified because there was the possibility that they could be the one who would win it all. No one forced them; in fact, most people were positively giddy about the opportunity of winning and the chance to free themselves of ever having another financial concern. Yet, the suggestion that everyone would pay into a system that would guarantee health care for all who need it, in hopes that it would never be them, seems to be akin to sidling up to the devil himself. Why is it so easy to open our pocketbooks for the slim chance to be a millionaire and yet we are revolted by the notion of contributing to health care for those who may need more of it than they can afford-including ourselves?

Which brings us to an important insight into our national psyche, and perhaps that of most human beings, we don’t like to be told what to do and we don’t like to feel as if we don’t have a choice. The Affordable Health Care Law has become the punching bag of the right over this issue alone. Any time someone unfurls the banner of “government good” the right goes after it like a dog with a bone.

So how does health care become like the lottery, where people actually want to participate? In a word-leadership.

While the intricacies of how to accomplish this cannot be detailed in a single article, the strategy of getting there is straightforward. Leadership is about helping people reconcile their conflicting beliefs so that individual values are aligned and are shared throughout communities. Because elected officials fear this challenging conversation, they would rather deal with the details of who pays for what, when and how rather than working with the public to get to a point where everyone can see the benefits, personally and societally of a well-functioning health care system.

Ask anyone and they will be able to come up with a list of obvious ways to improve health care. It is a system where no one, other than the insurance executives and their shareholders, are satisfied. Before we can get to the concrete work of improving the quality of what is offered, it is important to come to a fundamental understanding and agreement to the facts listed at the beginning of this article. Without an agreement around the basics and a reconciliation of the desire to “get government out of my life” while wanting the benefits of living in a well-functioning society we will never get anywhere.

Regardless of the Supreme Court’s decision in June to uphold the health care law or not, we will still be a long way from true change-and with a good majority of the country enraged by the pronouncement. Without a leader willing to engage in a substantive dialogue our health care system will continue to deteriorate.

Perhaps the best we can do is to keep buying those lottery tickets hoping we are the lucky winner who needn’t every worry about health care costs. Or maybe we can feel good about building a system where everyone contributes what they can in hopes they will never need it and knowing it will be there if they do. Now that’s a lottery where everyone wins.

By Kathleen Schafer

Is your being health conscious that serious? Stay healthy without depriving yourself of animal meat. You can always use chicken meat which is a healthier choice as most sources approve. Here are several recipes that use chicken meat to make healthy dishes.

Chicken breast with mushroom cream sauce is just one of the healthiest chicken recipes. This recipe is appropriate for diabetic people. A serving includes low-calorie, low carbohydrate and low sodium content. It is gluten-free and is great for maintaining a healthy weight. If you are serious in being healthy, you can use small cuts of chicken breast.

Another healthy recipe using chicken meat is the Herb Garden Chicken Breast. This recipe is basically filled with herbs like sage, thyme, and rosemary. It also has an added squeeze of fresh lemon and a pressed garlic clove. The herbs are made into a sauce that is drizzled over the chicken after it is cooked. The dish is served healthily when the chicken skin is removed.

The Sloppy Chicken Joes are made very delicious and healthy at the same time. It is still filled with vegetables and an added tomato, therefore providing more nutrients from the veggies and Lycopene from the tomatoes. It also has cheese on the recipe for an additional calcium source and the chicken meat as the protein source. Based on a 2,000 calorie diet, the recipe comprises 24 grams of total fat and 600 calories that could keep you going during the day.

Chicken and Biscuits is another healthy recipe that you and your family will surely love. In a basic 2,000 daily calorie diet, this recipe is filled with only 15 grams of total and 300 calories. The recipe includes healthy veggies like potatoes, carrots, onions, celery, mushrooms, garlic, thyme and sage. It has 3 grams of fiber which helps in the fast metabolism. It also gives you 18 grams of protein, 22DV% of Vitamin C and 16DV% of calcium.

I do a lot of one-dish meals in my house. What makes one-dish meals so attractive to busy moms like me? First off, whatever protein you choose to use in your dish will stretch further. Take the recipe below for example. Shrimp is a favorite at my house, however, a pound of shrimp at my house would barely be considered an appetizer – costly. Better to bulk up a dish with filling vegetables and whole grains. If I serve chicken breasts or pork on its own, I need to plan on over a pound of meat. If I serve the same meat in a one-dish meal – it’s more like three quarters of a pound; even less if I throw in a vegetarian protein like black beans. More great things about one-dish meals: they’re generally quick, they use fewer dishes, and by adding flavors you can make vegetables more appetizing to picky eaters. Try this one-dish recipe for a complete, nutritious meal and be sure to check out the notes after the recipe.

SHRIMP ASPARAGUS PASTA

½ lb fresh asparagus

8 oz whole wheat spaghetti, cooked

2 tsp minced garlic

¼ cup extra virgin olive oil

1 T lemon juice

1 lb raw medium shrimp, peeled and deveined

8 oz fresh baby bella mushrooms, sliced

1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese

black or red pepper to taste

1. Chop the asparagus into bite-size pieces. Put asparagus into a small saucepan with enough water to cover it. Steam until tender. Set aside.

2. In a large saucepan, sauté the garlic in the olive oil over medium-low heat until the garlic is golden brown.

3. Add the lemon juice, shrimp, and mushrooms to the garlic. Cook until the shrimp turns pink and the mushrooms are tender. Add the asparagus to warm through.

4. In a large bowl, toss the shrimp and vegetable mixture with the cooked pasta and sprinkle with parmesan cheese. Pepper to taste.

NUTRITION PER SERVING (4 servings)

calories = 363

saturated fat = 3.4 grams

sodium = 391 mg

fiber = 4.6 grams

protein = 33.3

COST

$ 2.60 per serving

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Preparing breakfast for kids is a challenging task for moms. Kids need healthy foods to start their day and that means that moms need to be creative in finding breakfast recipes. Mornings are always rushed, so the solution can’t take a lot of time. If you are trapped in this kind of situation, don’t worry. Nowadays, plenty of healthy recipes for your beloved children are available. Below I will share some great recipes for a healthier breakfast each day. These recipes are easy; all you need to do is just make some small adjustments to the original ingredients. I know that you don’t have much time to prepare breakfast so hopefully these ideas will be very helpful for you.

Pancakes or Waffles

You will love to know that there are ways to make your pancakes or waffles a little bit healthier. You can use ¼ cup of bran flour to substitute for some of the regular flour, and this is a great way to add fiber in your kids’ foods. This substitution won’t change the pancake taste or texture. Your kids will still get a tasty pancake while at the same time they will get enough fiber for their body. Do you want another pancake trick? Well, you can also add ½ cup of banana or apples to add flavor. Add some cinnamon to the flour before adding water, since cinnamon and apples go very well together. These fruits will add vitamins in the pancake that make their systems strong.

Muffins

Most kids love muffins since they are easy to grab. You can make the recipe healthier by adding certain fruits like strawberries, bananas or raisins. It is also possible to add vegetables such as spinach, carrot or pumpkin. Adding ¼ cup of fruits or vegetables gives your kids a vitamin boost.

Smoothies

Some kids don’t like to eat in the morning. If your kids don’t like to eat pancakes or waffles for breakfast, there is a great trick to overcome this. You can make a smoothie so that they can drink their breakfast. The basic compositions for smoothie are milk, yogurt and fruit. To create a delicious flavor, you can mix some fruits like pineapple, strawberries, kiwi or blueberries. Add low-fat vanilla-flavored yogurt and skim milk then mix them. If your kids don’t like milk in the smoothie, you can substitute 100% fruit juice. It can be fun to get your kids to help you and they can choose their favorite fruits to mix.

Other Ideas

You can also try to serve oatmeal and add some cinnamon, blueberries or other fruits. The key to serving a healthy breakfast is to keep it high in fiber and low in sugar. With the ideas above, preparing healthy recipes for breakfast won’t be as hard as you thought.

Still looking for a few great budget healthy recipes? Here are some tasty, health, cost-effective, and totally simple meals you can prepare!

1. Easy Lemon Chicken

Lemon chicken is a great budget healthy recipe that even a beginner cook can make with ease. Start with boneless, skinless chicken breasts, a cut you can get for 3-4 dollars per pound if you go to a discount store. In a hot, nonstick pan, cook the breasts until golden brown on both sides, and then add 2-3 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice along with a cup or so of chicken stock. Simmer the breasts in the liquid until they are cooked through, and season with salt and pepper.

2. Apple Spice Oatmeal

Oatmeal is something that tends to be a bit bland and boring, but you can really spice and sweeten it up with a few cheap, basic ingredients! Start by boiling one and half parts water for one part oatmeal, and add the oats when the water is at a rolling boil. At the same time, add small, thin bits of apple. Once the oats are done, add brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg until the dish tastes just like you like.

3. Cranberry Tuna Salad

Tuna also has a reputation as a food that’s “just okay” but never great. Dispel that myth with this great budget healthy recipe! Start with a can of chunk light or albacore tuna, drained of the extra water. To the tuna, add 2 tablespoons of light mayonnaise, a pinch of salt, a handful of cranberries, and 2 tablespoons of brown sugar. Mix the lot together, and you’ve got a delicious tuna salad!

4. Lean Minestrone

Most minestrones are made with Italian sausage or other fatty meats, but we’re going with a budget healthy recipe that uses ground turkey. Start by browning the turkey in a skillet with a bit of salt and pepper. Once it’s done, place the turkey in a slow-cooker with all the veggies you like. Pour in 3-4 cups of chicken broth, add dried oregano and basil, and cook on low or about 6 hours. Finish by adding your favorite small pasta like bowties or shells during the last 30 minute so of cooking, and serve with grated parmesan cheese!

5. Sugar-Free Parfaits

Parfaits are a fantastic dessert or breakfast item, but they usually contain tons of sugar! For a healthier, no-sugar-added version, buy some plain, low-fat yogurt and sweeten it up with some splenda and vanilla extract. Also, make some delicious and syrupy fruit by cooking slices strawberries and blueberries on low with some splenda, as well. Cool the fruit in the fridge, and then layer it with the sweetened yogurt and some low-fat granola.

Pancakes seem to be the easiest breakfast to prepare. From the simplest no-milk or no-egg recipe to fruity pancake mixes, these little cakes remain super tasty and gratifying. This Valentine’s day, why not impress family or friends with a puffy pancake that holds wholesome taste and ingredients. If you know how to substitute some of the ingredients with berries, nuts and apples then you can enjoy eating them every so often.

Whole Wheat Pumpkin Pancakes

Ingredients

• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 4 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ½ teaspoon ground ginger
• ¼ cup of brown sugar
• 1 egg yolk
• 2 cups skim milk
• 1 cup canned pumpkin, mashed is better
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 3 egg whites

Procedure

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda and spices. In another bowl, combine the egg yolk, pumpkin, brown sugar and butter, then mix. Stir in milk; continue mixing until blended thoroughly. Add the mixture to dry ingredients; stir just until combined.

In a medium-sized mixing bowl, beat egg whites with either a whisk or electric beater until light and floppy; fold egg whites into batter. Ladle about ¼ cup of batter onto a preheated nonstick griddle lightly sprayed with cooking spray. Cook until evenly browned on both sides.

Ingredients

• 2 cups Pancake Mix or all-purpose flour
• ½ cup brown Sugar
• 1/3 cup raisins
• 11/2 cup tap water
• ¾ cups raw carrots, shredded
• ½ teaspoon ground cloves
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon nutmeg
• A dash of salt

Directions

Combine pancake mix and water in a large mixing bowl. In a separate bowl, combine the other remaining ingredients and slowly fold in carrot mixture to pancake batter. Set aside to slightly cool. Pour about 1/4 cup of batter onto lightly greased griddle and cook.

Beet Pancakes

Ingredients

• 2 cups Pancake Mix, or all-purpose flour
• 2 beets
• ½ cup of water

Directions

Wrap beets in foil then cook at 400 degrees for 1 hour and 30 minutes. Remove from oven and let the beets cool for several hours. After the time, unwrap and peel then slice beets in chunks. Bring the slices in a food processor; add a few drops of water and blend for about 1 to 2 minutes, or until pureed.

In a mixing bowl, prepare batter using the recipe at the back of the pancake mix. Add 1 cup of the beet puree along with ½ cup of water. Mix thoroughly. Cook according to recipe directions.

To get the perfect pancakes, always remember the rule of thumb, “smooth batter and even temperature.” Make sure your mix is not too thick so the batter can spread out – this makes it much easier to cook it through. Enjoy sweet and healthy Valentine Pancakes!

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