Part 9: Midas Touch

Midas touch is the ability to get good results from anything one does.

Here are a few examples:

(1) Pauline has a Midas touch: everything he does turns to gold.

(1) Josephine makes money from any business she starts. She has a Midas touch.

(2) Joseph's Midas touch has turned around seven loss-making companies.

(3) Kiprono is a great marathon runner, but he has lost his Midas touch. He finished third in his last two races.

The phrase originated from the Greek myth of Midas. He was a king of Phrygia in Asia Minor, and he was so rich that he had everything a king could desire. He lived a life of luxury, and he shared it with his beautiful.

Even though he was wealthy, he believed that happiness comes from having a lot of gold. He was so obsessed with gold that he sometimes spent weeks counting his gold coins. At other times he covered his whole body in gold objects as if he was bathing in them.

One day, Dionysus, the Greek God of Wine and Celebrations, passed through Midas' kingdom. Silenus, one of his companions, got tired and lay in a garden near Midas' palace. Midas found him there and invited him to spend a few days at the palace. Later, he took him to Dionysus, who was so grateful to Midas' for his kindness.

"Name one wish that you would like me to fulfil for you, and I will give it to you," promised Dionysus.

"I want everything I touch to turn into gold," replied Midas.

Dionysus asked Midas to reconsider his wish, but he insisted he could only find happiness in golden things.

The next day, he woke up early to find out if Dionysus had fulfilled his promise. He touched a small wooden table that immediately turned into gold, and he jumped up in joy. He then touched his chair, carpet, door, bathtub, and many other objects in the palace, and they all turned into gold. He was so tired from touching things, but he was thrilled.

He sat down to have breakfast. He took a rose to smell its fragrance, but it turned into gold when he touched it.

"It seems I'll have to absorb the fragrance without touching the roses," he thought in disappointment.

He then picked a grape, but it turned into gold before he could eat it. The same happened to a slice of bread and a glass of water, and he started to fear that he had chosen the wrong wish.

Just then, his beloved daughter walked into the room. When Midas touched her, she turned into a golden statue.

Shocked, he went on his knees and prayed to Dionysus to take away the golden curse.

Dionysus heard Midas' cry and felt sorry for him. He told Midas to wash his hands in River Pactolus, and when he did so, he was surprised to see gold flowing from his hands. When he returned home, everything he had touched had become normal again.

He hugged his daughter in total happiness. After that, he decided to share his great fortune with his people, and they were grateful.