The Wealth of Enough

By: Astrid Sarmiento a.k.a Lil Poetrid

One of the greatest gifts my family gave me was teaching me that a person's value is not measured by what they own.

Growing up, my grandmother would often remind my mother not to spend money on expensive brands for my sister and I.

At the time, I didn't fully understand why she said it so often. Like many children, I occasionally wanted the things everyone else seemed to have. The shoes with the recognizable logo. The clothes that were considered fashionable. The items that somehow appeared to make people feel important.

But my grandmother saw things differently.

She understood that material possessions can come and go, but the values we carry with us tend to stay. She wanted us to know that our worth could never be found on a price tag.

As I have grown older, I realize how deeply that lesson took root.

I have never been someone who needs the newest designer handbag, the most expensive shoes, or a closet overflowing with things I rarely use. Of course, I enjoy treating myself from time to time. There is nothing wrong with appreciating beautiful things or celebrating your hard work. But there is a difference between enjoying nice things and believing you need them to feel complete.

Many of the richest moments of my life have cost very little.

They live in the stories my father told me about Colombia. In the laughter shared around a dinner table. In late-night conversations with friends. In the books that changed the way I see the world. In discovering a poem that understood my heart before I understood it myself.

They live in memories.

The older I get, the more I realize that some people spend their entire lives chasing more. More money. More status. More recognition. More possessions. Yet no matter how much they acquire, they never seem satisfied because they are searching for fulfillment in places where it cannot be found.

Contentment is a different kind of wealth.

It is being grateful for what you have while still working toward what you want. It is understanding that your character matters more than your clothing label. It is recognizing that kindness, empathy, curiosity, and integrity will carry you further than any luxury item ever could.

I think this mindset has allowed me to move through life with a certain freedom.

I do not feel pressured to keep up with every trend. I do not feel the need to prove my success through possessions. I would rather invest in experiences than appearances, in memories rather than status symbols, and in meaningful connections rather than superficial impressions.

Of course, I enjoy treating myself from time to time, but being high-maintenance has never really been in my vocabulary.

Perhaps that is why I find beauty in the little things.

A handwritten note.

A song that arrives at the perfect moment.

A quiet walk through New York City.

The smell of coffee on a rainy morning.

A conversation that lingers in your thoughts long after it ends.

These moments rarely make headlines. They cannot be purchased in a store. Yet they have enriched my life far more than any brand name ever could.

When I think about my grandmother's advice now, I understand that she was offering something far more valuable than financial wisdom. She was teaching us how to live.

She was teaching us that having enough is not something to be ashamed of.

She was teaching us that gratitude is a form of abundance.

Most importantly, she was teaching us that the things that matter most in this life are often the things money can never buy.

And for that lesson, I will always consider myself fortunate.