> The larger message being expressed, in my
> opinion, is the POWER of THOUGHT.

Wow, thanks! I think you're probably right, that probably is the ESSENTIAL message....

Your state of mind sure makes a lot of difference. We tend to build fences in our mind, beyond which we believe we can't go. Although these fences only exist in our mind, because they stop us from trying to do certain things, they are just as powerful as REAL fences are.

> Years ago someone told me that "poverty
> is a state of mind!"

> Now, since I knew bunches of poor folk,
> indeed, I was even thinking of MYSELF as
> one, I got kinda mad.

> Later, I made to someone totally different a
> cutesy remark that "if I pay $300 for a
> suit, I'm leaving the tags on it!" This
> guy looked at me and quietly asked
> "Can't you afford a $300 suit?"

> What blew me away was that I COULD! I had
> NEVER GIVEN UP THE POVERTY STATE OF MIND
> from which I'd risen.

Wow, thanks, that was a very good (and illuminating) story....

I'll tell a quick one about me. I tend to live relatively inexpensivly, since I prefer to invest my extra money (mostly into stocks).... Though I do allow myself the occasional "luxury" as most of us probably do....

Anyhow, until recently, I had never worn anything more than a $10 watch. Now, I wear about a $50 watch. (With a $10 watch, it's hardly worth replacing the battery when it dies because you might as well just get another watch.)

BUT, recently, I've been looking at high selling, yet low weight items on ebay (since I might want to sell them).... This brought me to a variety of high priced watches. Rolex Oyster Date, Omega brand, Tag Heuer.... These watches sell for thousands of dollars each. Wow, that blew me away!

Personally, I prefer to spend that kind of money on something else (to me, watches are just for telling the time), but it sure gives you a different perspective on what some people spend their money on....

When I think about it, I certainly could afford to wear such a watch if I wanted to, and I think that's part of the key. I know I could. I just prefer not to. But knowing I could if I wanted to, it makes quite a bit of mental difference. :)

- Dien Rice


An example of a high priced men's watch....