Nowadays, we hear about the 1%, i.e., those who are said to have most of the money, property, and power in society. Many of us wonder what life is like for them. Longing for more, some envy them. In an honest moment, I bet those in that club would attest that other than an abundance of convenience, minimal material wants, and untold access, in the grand scheme, the real treasures in life do not change―for the better! We have more in common than not. – The earth does not appraise real estate to determine where to quake. Neither does the heart consider whether one is on a private jet or commercial airliner to decide when to stop beating.
We all live at the mercy of the great equalizer: Time! Our opportunity is to use it wisely. To do so, we must consider a different type of worth: the kind no one can take away unless we give it. It is self-worth!

The concept of self-worth came alive when I reflected on two contrasting experiences!

True worth

For most of my childhood, my father traveled extensively for work. When I was nine, he was adamant about ensuring our home was as secure as possible. One day, while discussing additional security options with the home contractor, the man asked him, Sir: What are you keeping in this house that you are obsessively securing? Without skipping a beat, my dad responded, my wife and our daughters!
His response stunned the contractor! He seemed to expect my dad to allude to material wealth, such as a reserve of gold bars and diamonds. Instead, my dad said his family was the invaluable goods! The priceless treasure!

That day, I gained a better understanding of self-worth: I realized that real value is not in top grades, beauty, accolades, or anything money can buy. Instead, as with all of us, my true worth is encapsulated in who I am.

Fast forward a few decades! I learned about another type of worth.

The other type

One sunny Thursday afternoon, I went to a coffee shop. Once I was seated with a cup of iced tea, a man came and sat next to me. Quickly, he asked me where I was from. As we conversed, he told me he was an author. Then he pulled out a copy of the last book he published from his jacket, autographed it, and handed it to me. To me, authorship is peculiar. Like a team sport in which a single player plays most of the game solo! For this reason, I am intrigued by those who wholeheartedly venture into the craft. Therefore, I was eager to learn more.

But as we conversed, he changed the direction and scope of our discussion! He said he lived nearby in a neighborhood known for expensive homes and public figure residents. Then he added, come with me. I’ll take you wherever you want. We can go to Hawaii! I have a gorgeous home on the beach. I smiled, chuckled, and allowed the topic to drift away unceremoniously. Several minutes later, I had to leave. Before I did, I thanked him for the book and assured him I would read it. And curious, I did!

What is your worth?

That evening, I reflected on the experience with the man at the coffee shop. And I remembered the one with my dad decades earlier. The difference was stark!
In the former, my dad expressed my worth as who I was. In the latter, the man expressed his worth as what he had. But as he only revealed what he had, I never saw or knew who he was. – Hence, I did not see his true worth!

Fellow explorer: may we remember for ourselves and remind our friends that true worth is in who we are.

For you and to you!
Aké

Image credit: Pexels | Anthony Shkraba Production