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The One-Sentence Test… Fewer Choices, More Progress!

What would you buy if you won the lottery?

4 min readOct 3, 2025

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Last week, I asked my wife the “lottery” question. “If we won, what would you buy?”

Her answer was direct. “I don’t know. You?”

I did not have an answer either, which surprised me. Younger me always had a list of things ready.

I wondered what changed.

Winter

The days are shorter. My morning runs are colder. I plan to pick up pumpkins this weekend.

This always triggers the same chain every year. Halloween plans. Early talk about Christmas. And, because of my family, memories of the Spanish Christmas lottery.

My parents used to buy a few décimos with Spanish friends. A décimo is a tenth of a ticket. I don't remember them winning, but I do remember the kitchen table discussions.

The “if we win” conversations.

If we won, we would buy a bigger house. A new car. A HiFi system. A cruise. Maybe a Japanese toilet.

Half the fun was making and comparing our lists.

It reveals a person’s character… the things they would buy if they had infinite resources.

No Possessions

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Erik P.M. Vermeulen, PhD
Erik P.M. Vermeulen, PhD

Written by Erik P.M. Vermeulen, PhD

Stories about where our choices can take us and how to choose a better path.

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