I've been reading so much sad news lately about all these rich and beautiful people that have problems that I could never begin to understand.

I was talking to someone the other day whose in-laws won over 10 million in the lottery and now they are estranged from their extended family who were mad that they didn't share everything with people who hadn't spoken to them in years.

Then I read about celebrity break-ups and how many of them suffer from substance abuse and depression. (I try to avoid celebrity gossip but it's even hitting CNN these days.)

It makes me happy to be middle class and ordinary looking!

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I can't agree... I would love to be rich and beautiful!

I know you were saying that tongue-in-cheek, but here's my philosophy: Money amplifies whatever qualities you have. If you're a jerk, it makes those qualities stand out. If you're a good person, money and beauty can help you do great things (think Angelina Jolie and her humanitarian work).

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You are far from ordinary!

No, I really mean it. I think being rich and beautiful puts way too much pressure on people. And they begin to wonder whether people like them for who they are rather than what they have or how they look. I would much rather be kind and compassionate then rich and beautiful and it's really hard to be both .... like husband stealing Angleina .. she just makes me so mad. :furious: Oh, I better not go there. Sensitive topic. Can feel my blood pressure rising.....

Ok, I was going to say "I'd much rather be middle class and cute" but I thought that sounded bad. But really it's what I get called all the time. I don't have a se*y bone in my body. I'm 5'3, sweet as pie, 'cute as a button', a wee bit pudgy and with just the right amount of money to provide for our family and be generous with the rest. I like it that way.

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My step-DDs are gorgeous. Not just pretty. They are literally fashion-model, movie actress beautiful. I definately am NOT. I know from first-hand experience that beautiful people really are treated differently than average people.

I grew up slogging through life like most of everyone else. However, my step-DDs assume a lot of things will come their way that I never dared to even imagine. And I don't mean they are spoiled. We worked hard to make sure they weren't spoiled. All I'm saying is because they are beautiful, life really is easier for them. They get more noticed. Doors open a little wider for them.

So yes, I absolutely would NOT mind being rich and beautiful. I just don't want to be famous. I'd hate to live my life in a fishbowl. I think famous people have no more or no less problems than the rest of us. However, when they have a problem, it is plaster across newspapers, magazines and the internet. In my life, the only one who talks about my problems on the internet is me.

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"I've been rich and I've been poor but independently wealthy is where it is at."

I agree that being rich and beautiful and being famous are two different things.

However, being rich, doesn't always mean you have a lot of money, and being beautiful doens't always mean you look the best.

I think that I am rich and beautiful, but by no means do I have a millon dollars or have the looks of a beauty queen. But I have the love of my family and friends and that pretty much takes care of both of those qualities.

Just my two cents.

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Stacey

The moment we begin to fear the opinions of others and hesitate to tell the truth that is in us, and from motives of policy are silent when we should speak, the divine floods of light and life no longer flow into our souls. ~ Elizabeth Cady Stanton

Well said, bucsnpats. Very true.

And Kathryn, I agree with your statement about Angelina and the husband stealing, but I was trying to point out her humanitarian work with the UN and all the good she's done in the world with her money. I suppose I could have picked a more *moral* example, but she's the first one that popped into my mind.

I still would love to be rich (monetarily) and beautiful (as far as our culture's standards of beauty goes). I think you can use those gifts to your advantage to do great things too.

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I know this is true. Beautiful people get treated better than the not-so-beautiful. I mean, even better than "cute" people. There have been tons of studies. But, I think that if you honestly believe that good things will happen to you, they usually do. Kind of like the "Secret" movie/book. I think that beauty just makes it easier to believe those things.

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There have been many many studies done to prove that beautiful people get treated better. Well, they can do a million more, but I don't agree. I think confident people who exude (sp?) charisma may be treated better.

There are some people who just have that "something" and it's not necessarily physical beauty.
I wouldn't mind having that!
As far as being rich - I wouldn't mind having enough money to do what I want with my time and not having to have to work. That would be really nice

Lena