Lotto fever makes dreamers out of us

There’s a new hot topic of conversation around town.

It’s often the topic of radio talk show and many people indulge in talking about it with their friends.

It’s simply, “If I win the lottery…”

The open-ended statement brings forth a myriad of thoughts. It’s fun to fantasize about what you would do with a million dollars, two million dollars, multimillion dollars and so on.

Those who aren’t lucky enough to pick the winning numbers still want to know what the latest winner plans to do with his or her winnings. So one of the first questions the media asks the winners is, “What are you going to do with all that money?”

Although each winner is a unique individual with different needs and different wants, most of them develop a plan for using their fortune.


They usually plan to share their winnings with family members.

They often plan a vacation or a place to rest and collect themselves as the impact of their new fortune sinks in.

They may plan a long trip to a far-away place that they have always dreamed of visiting.

They may invest the money for their heirs.

They may drive home in a new automobile, purchase a boat or spend the money on things that will fulfill long-held, often-wished-for-desires.

They may purchase a new house or vacation spot.

They may seek the advice of financial counselors.

They may shun the publicity they have attracted.

They may be the victims of people who solicit for all kinds of reasons.

The list is endless and can include any combination of items this person may select.

Most of the winners have said they had a definite charitable donation in mind.

A teacher who won many millions returned to his classroom for the year and asked his colleagues to prepare a wish list of items for their school.

Another winner specified that she would each year send money to a hospital that had cared for her mother.

Other winners have specified churches, community organizations and even medical research.

There is probably a wish within most of us to be a philanthropist, and winning a large sum of money provides this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

It may be a way to give back to society or the community. Since life has been so good for you, you want to share it with others.

Meanwhile, others who may never win in the lottery are enjoying the fantasy. It is a way of coping with the pitfalls and daily appointments that are a part of life.

We tell ourselves, “I can get through this, but if I could just win that lottery I wouldn’t have to worry about the high utility bills from the heat of this summer. I wouldn’t have to worry about putting on a new roof. I wouldn’t have to…”

Harold H. LeCrone, Jr., Ph.D. Copyright © 1993