Vanya Wryter Consulting Services

Category: Stories

  • What If You Could Have Everything: Being Rich During Inflation

    What If You Could Have Everything: Being Rich During Inflation

    What is the price of having it all?

    Everything costs too much these days. You can look at a grocery bill from three months ago, blink, and those same items will cost you $10 more just three months later. And if you think you’re losing your mind – you’re not. Shrinkflation means the same stuff you used to buy can be in smaller packages – and cost the same. Now, wouldn’t it be awesome if some money could just fall from the sky?

    Imagine if you could have it all. Because now would be a great time to be rich. Case in point: I’m about to lose my job, but I haven’t told my wife. She would panic. We have mortgage payments. Car payments. So today, after work, I bought myself a lottery ticket. It was time to change it all. 

    I told the guy at the counter, “I gotta win this. If I win a million dollars, I’ll have everything I could ever want!” I scratched the paper in front of me, rubbed my eyes, blinked, and read the ticket again. I won! I actually won! I was about to be the best husband ever! 

    The guy at the counter congratulated me. “Now spend your winnings wisely. And then you’ll have everything.”

    Ok, that was some weird advice. I opened my wallet and placed the ticket inside. To my surprise, my wallet was thicker than usual. “What the….” Several hundred-dollar bills were stuffed inside. Were they real? I couldn’t remember the last time I’d seen a hundred-dollar bill. I slammed the wallet shut. I didn’t want to be robbed. What was going on?

    I rushed home and found Mara in the kitchen making dinner. “Babe!” I caught my breath after running in from the garage. “Honey!”

    My wife set the potatoes she’d been peeling on the counter. “You ok, hon?”

    “The…” I grabbed the stack of cash from my wallet. “The money! We have money! It just appeared out of nowhere!” 

    “How?” She took the hundred-dollar bill that I had handed to her and studied it with her bank-teller expertise. “It’s the real thing!” she said, astonished.

    “I won the lottery! I bought this ticket,” I said, taking it out. “Then I put it in my wallet, and just like that! All this cash before I even cashed in my ticket!” I gave the wallet a dramatic flourish that caused it to fly out from my fingers. It fell into a bowl of salad and the salad fell to the floor as thousands of bills scattered over the kitchen floor, like a pile of autumn leaves that came up to our knees. 

    I was speechless as Mara started counting just a portion of the cash. “That’s five thousand right here,” she said, holding out the small wad of bills in her hand. The pile of hundreds was so thick I couldn’t see the kitchen floor. When I saw her mouth was open in amazement, I realized I needed to shut my own.

    “Is this for real?” she finally asked. “We could pay off the car with this! And buy groceries. And a few mortgage payments! How did you do this? Can you make more money?” She started to gather the cash into piles and stuff them into garbage bags.

    “I don’t know,” I said, picking up my wallet and the ticket next to it. “The guy said, ‘Now spend your winnings wisely. And then you’ll have everything.’ That’s some oddball advice. But we’ll be ok now. We can finally go on vacation! How cool is that? We can have everything we want! I can buy you that necklace you wanted! And all because I stopped to buy a ticket!”

    “What ticket?”

    “This!” I put the ticket in her hand. She didn’t say a word. I saw money, so much money, flying into the air like thick snow. For a moment, I couldn’t see anything but swirling paper. Then the cash settled in a pile up to my waist.

    Mara was gone. The ticket lay at the top of the pile, where she had once been standing.

  • Do You Remember Life Before the Internet?

    Do You Remember Life Before the Internet?

    (How the Internet Changed Everything)

    I remember the sounds of life before the internet. Before we heard the ding of message notifications or the screeching sounds of amber alerts or weather alerts, we recognized the clunk of the mailbox lid shutting, the rustle of a newspaper unfolding, the beeps as we pressed the number buttons on a phone, the static hum of the radio as it searched for a clear signal. Life before the internet wasn’t quiet, but it sure sounded different.

    If you wanted to play with your neighbors, you walked up to their door and knocked on it, and then you’d play with the neighbor’s kids until it was time for dinner, and your parents had no way to figure out where exactly you were until then!   

    TV shows had a rigid schedule- no streaming, no video on demand. You could record the show, but if you didn’t, it was like a live event. You couldn’t hit the Pause button if your parents started talking to you. You could only hope to catch that missing moment when you’re available for the rerun–whenever that was.

    You bought stuff you wouldn’t buy now because it was a waste of money. If you drove (or if your parents drove) around a lot for vacations or local day trips, you bought a lot of road maps and map books. It was also handy to have a set of encyclopedias. Of course, if you’re still doing your research from them for a school project, you hoped that your facts were up to date enough! And of course, things could serve double duty. Those thick White Pages were good for door stoppers and steps to help you reach the top shelf.

    Back then, you learned the magic of waiting. Snail mail took weeks–first, it took several days for your letter to reach its destination, then days for the reply to arrive in your mailbox (assuming the recipient wrote back immediately). You were more selective about picture taking because each photo cost money, and you had to wait in anticipation to see how a picture you took a few days or months ago turned out! 

    Back then, we had connection, but in a different way. If you liked walking while talking on the phone, chances were, you experienced the phone cord yanking the receiver out of your hand if you walked too far. If you liked a boy at school, you had to brave talking to his parents if he wasn’t the one to answer your call; this was one way to get to know his family.   

    Of course, the internet has given us so much. The convenience of streaming TV shows so our entertainment revolves around our schedules, not vice versa. The efficiency of finding someone you’re trying to meet by sharing a location pin. The closeness of seeing and hearing your loved one in a live video call from another country. 

    And then there’s the mix of the old and the new. I’ve arrived at a friend’s house and stood within arm’s reach of the working doorbell. Send a text when you’re outside! she said. So I pull out my phone, type “Here,” and wait for the door to open instead of knocking on it. This is life after the internet.

    What do you think?

    And for nostalgia, here’s that dial-up sound of the early internet.

  • What Gives You Direction in Life?

    What Gives You Direction in Life?

    Daily writing prompt
    What gives you direction in life?
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    Finding direction in life isn’t always easy—you can walk through life aimlessly and without a compass, unsure of what’s ahead. Over time, I’ve found some key sources that help me stay on course, even when life gets confusing or uncertain.

    1. People I Admire

    I’m constantly inspired by the accomplishments of people I look up to. For example, Barbara Corcoran’s story—I love reading about how people like her approach life and overcome challenges and become successful. I try to apply those lessons to my own life. Learning from successful people reminds me that direction doesn’t always come from knowing the answers, but from making bold decisions and adapting as you go.

    2. Friends and Family Who Get Me

    I’m lucky to have friends and family members who share similar values and experiences. When I feel lost or unsure, I can turn to them for life advice. Especially those who are a few steps ahead and they’ve tackled the same dilemmas I’m facing now. Their stories and support provide me with greater clarity and confidence. There’s something comforting about knowing you’re not alone in figuring things out.

    3. Goal Setting

    I’m a planner by nature, so goal setting is a huge part of what gives me direction. I set goals at different increments—yearly, monthly, weekly—and I check in with them daily. These goals help me check that my actions align with my bigger goals. They don’t just keep me productive—they give me purpose. Even when I don’t hit every goal perfectly, the process keeps me focused and intentional about how I’m spending my time.

    4. Self-Reflection and Personal Values

    Lastly, regular self-reflection helps me stay in touch with why I do what I do. When I take time to pause and ask myself what matters most—what kind of person I want to be, what kind of life I want to live—it gives me clarity. My personal values act like a compass. Even when the path isn’t clear, those core beliefs point me in the right direction.

    At the end of the day, direction comes from both outside inspiration and inner clarity. It’s a mix of learning from others, planning ahead, and self reflection.

  • A Story: How Do You Unwind? 

    A Story: How Do You Unwind? 

    Daily writing prompt
    How do you unwind after a demanding day?
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    After a long day, each family member returns home to relax. Everyone has their own routine after work or school, and the most important thing is finding some sort of release from the day’s stress. But even though unwinding after the day brings the family together, they also need time alone.

    Father

    The key turns in the lock, and Dad steps inside, glad to be home after a long day at work. The smell of dinner pulls him to the kitchen, and he asks how his wife and kids are doing. He eats quickly while adding to the family conversation about weekend plans and asking about school and what’s happening that weekend.

    After dinner, he drops onto the couch, happy to catch up on recent news in the newspaper and TV news channels. The kids pile into the room much later, and they watch a family drama together. He wonders where his wife is – she wouldn’t want to talk with him anyway – she doesn’t like to hear about his work stress. If he’s not too tired, he plays games with the kids before bedtime.

    Mother

    Mother watches while her husband and children eat dinner and talk about events at school and in their city. Then she puts away the leftovers and washes the dishes while she thinks about all the other household tasks that she needs to complete the next day. She checks if the children are doing their homework. Her husband is relaxing in front of the TV and not speaking to her. They usually don’t talk because she wants to remind him of all the millions of tasks that they need to do.

    Then she packs the children’s lunches for the next day. This weekend, she will be working part time so she makes a checklist of what she needs to prepare – what outfit to wear, what lunch to bring, what the kids need to do while she’s at work. When her day is done, she looks forward to doing a little reading before bedtime.

    Children

    The school day was long so the children can’t wait to leave the classroom and go home. They first go to the kitchen to grab snacks and watch after-school cartoons. Their mom is busy preparing dinner. TV time is one of the best times of the day.

    If they are lucky, Mom cooks something they like for dinner and mealtime will be quick. Otherwise, dinner will be slow if they don’t like the food. After dinner, it’s the unpleasant task of completing homework. Sometimes homework is fun, and sometimes it isn’t. Then they chat with their friends or find their Dad and watch more TV. 

    All too soon, it’s time for bedtime and lights out. When their parents think they have gone to sleep, one kid turns on a flashlight and starts to read a book under the sheets.

  • What If You Could See Your Future In 10 Years?

    What If You Could See Your Future In 10 Years?

    Daily writing prompt
    Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
    View all responses

    Imagine being able to see exactly where you’ll be in ten years. You see vivid snapshots of your future life: your career, your relationships, your finances, even the food you’re going to be eating. That ability seems like one of the best things that could happen to you. You’ll know what’s coming and you can prepare for it.

    This foresight could be incredible. 

    If you’re destined for success in your career, you can reverse-engineer every step. You’ll know which skills to learn, which certifications to complete, and which companies to apply to. You’ll even know who to connect with—and who to stay away from. No wasting time climbing the wrong corporate ladder or chasing dead-end ideas. Your financial literacy would be your strong suit–you’ll know what to invest in, how long to invest in something, and when to take advantage of the best prices for homes, appliances, or vacation deals.

    Your personal life could be a dream too. If you know how your relationships end, you can skip heartbreaks and toxic friendships. You’d avoid the wrong life partner and stay away from messy family drama. No messy breakups, no horrible family memories. You’d choose your friendships more carefully, hold onto the ones who matter, and spend your time where it truly counts.

    But as pretty as that future may seem, there is also a major downside: you’d also miss out on something essential—the life lessons.  

    Maybe the heartbreak you skip would’ve made you better at communication in relationships. Maybe the job you don’t apply for would’ve given you a painful but valuable career lesson. Trial and error isn’t always pleasant, but the good and bad memories are equally necessary for growth. Avoiding pain is safe, but without the ugly lessons, we won’t appreciate the beautiful moments as much.

    So where do I see myself in ten years? I wish I could see the future so I would know what to expect. What technology should I buy? Should I go on that trip next year? Will I have published my book?

    It would be great to have all the answers today so I can better prepare for that future. Learn faster, love smarter, and coast through a succession of happy moments. But the journey there, through the path of the unknown, could be just as worthwhile an adventure!