From The Contest Queen

If you have been been a regular reader of my newsletter or blog, you know I am a big proponent of the Law of Attraction. Since I so strongly believe that “half the hobby is in your head”, Sandra Grauschopf of About.com decided to read The Secret to better understand what I have been talking about.

Like many people new to this type of thinking, Sandra did not like some of the points put forth in the book. (Read her review here.) I do agree with Sandra, that on the surface, some of the points do not seem right, fair and do not fit with the common perception of what our reality is as human beings.

I feel there is more to this planet than we (as human beings) will ever know. The Law of Attraction is just one piece of a very large cosmic puzzle. The reason many people can’t see the “big picture” or accept all the points, both good and bad, put forth in The Secret is, it is hard to imagine what the whole puzzle looks like with only one piece. (Read my response to Sandra here, comment #5.)

I list my favourite “puzzle pieces” in the Attracting Luck section of my website. Life is an adventure. Have fun finding all your pieces!

As I stated in my last posting, for the most part, I liked the documentary. When I was asked to be in it, I knew all I could do was put forth my vision, state my message, and hope it didn’t end up on the cutting room floor. Frugal Shopper has had and interesting online discussion of the various aspects of the film. It seems that most people feel that our hobby has been shown in the worse possible light and, I agree, that my message of fun, excitement and fellowship did not come across as strongly as I would have liked. What was remembered by most was, how the hobby turned to an addiction and ruined a family.

Then (coincidentally?) yesterday ABC ran an online article Sweepstakes Addicts Win Big. I think Sandra at about.com (re)stated my feelings on the misconceptions of the hobby in her posting Why Are Sweepers “Addicts”?. To me an addiction is something that must be done no matter what and comes before everything else. I do not put my hobby before family or work. I only spend 1-2 hours per day entering, and on busy days 10-30 min. On my busiest the reason I can squeeze in 10 min. is because I use RoboForm Companion, otherwise on those busy days, contesting time would be zero. On those days I also affirm to myself, I win what I am suppose to win and it only takes one to win.

The day this hobby isn’t fun anymore, is the day I quit.

Sandra Grauschopf writes the Contests & Sweepstakes section on about.com and was lucky enough to get an advance copy of the documentary. She is one lucky lady. I was in it, and I have to wait until it airs on TV next Thursday! Sandra wrote a review of the film I thought you may enjoy.