Scarecrow, I think the way many individuals view the market in general and CMGI specifically directly relate to their point of view.
I used to religiously plan the next 20 years of my life, believing that I could control my destiny. A variety of events occurred the last few years that changed my point of view.
Had all my investment accounts frozen as a result of a divorce action. Found out the day I tried to buy 20,000 shares of eBay at $34 and Fidelity wouldn't execute the trade. Something about a court order that just couldn't get lifted until the X received 70% of my assets.
The litigation was so consuming that it literally destroyed two going concerns and a mid six figure salary.
My constitutional rights to privacy were routinely violated by telephone taps, private eyes who followed me for the better part of 3 months, went through my garbage at the end of the driveway, recorded my phone calls, intercepted my mail, etc. Drug dealers, murderers, rapists, and child molesters get treated with more respect. For pete's sake, this was just a divorce!
But unfortunately, there was money involved.
My four children were used as a bargaining chip by the X and only after paying the approximate sum of $120K in legal fees and giving her 70% of my estate was I permitted any visitation on a regular basis. Seeing them, because of their different school schedules and a wacky visitation schedule forces me to drive 1650-3000 miles per month if I want to compare how they have changed from their pictures taped to my second monitor.
BTW, the shootings in Georgia, Colorado, Hawaii, and Washington don't surprise me at all. I lived in that space for more than three years and I understand all about the rage and loss of hope that consumed these individuals. Shame on the system that put them there.
But wait, there's more.
My brother was on dialysis for several years during that period and only a kidney transplant saved his life. My lover had breast cancer and only radical surgery saved hers.
So, I guess what I'm saying is that whether CMGI moves up with the market in the short term or not, does it really matter? If it goes down and tests new lows, is that anything to be upset about? There are far worse hands that anyone could be dealt. Besides I have to credit this stock for nearly making me whole (post divorce) in the short period of time I have owned it.
The measure of success is not how you handle winning, but how you handle failure. If you can accept the fact that you really control nothing in your life but still wake up grateful to be alive, relishing the day and whatever it will bring, remarking the way the sun scatters early morning rays across your living room, and happy to have a couple of canines just waiting to go for their morning ride and scout for deer, then I'd say you've found some pretty hallowed ground.
The virtual friendships on SI have been a tremendous bonus for me, and although I don't agree with many investment and trading styles, stock picks, or some analytics, I recognize that whatever works is all that matters in the final analysis.
In the end, we're all going to be food for the worms. Whatever stuff I have in my pile at the time just isn't going to matter anymore.
By embracing each day as a gift, accepting the little pleasures that you take time to notice, and trying to make a difference in someone's life each day, I came to realize that it doesn't take a periodic 15 point run in a stock to make my day.
And irrespective of where it closes today, I still like CMGI, for all the right reasons.
Mark |
