how I became rich.

To some people, being rich may mean that they have expensive cars, or they travel the world, or live in big luxurious houses. Other times it may be that your family has their own private jet and you get everything you could ever ask for. Growing up, these material things made up what my idea of happiness was. I used to envy the kids in elementary school getting dropped off in their escalades and sports cars. When I was a kid, I think when everyone was kid, you thought at some point, you could buy happiness. When you wanted that big swimming pool in your backyard so bad and you just couldn’t understand why your parents couldn’t give it to you. You remember thinking how happy you would be to have that pool. Nothing else mattered, not the friend you had over 3 hours ago, not the treat your grandmother bought you after lunch, or the new bicycle your dad bought you the week before. Nothing would make you happy in that moment except a pool. It takes a while to realize that you really can’t buy happiness, even though sometimes you think you can.

I used to envy people with money, I hate when I say it. I’m ashamed, because what gives me the right to wish for something that I think is better than what I already have? I stopped myself one day, and said to myself why does being rich define how happy I am. Why did I ask God everyday why he couldn’t give me wealthier parents, or why could’t I have a nice house and car. Then it dawned on me just how rich I already was.

I had parents who loved me, and never hurt me, never laid a hand on me, and never ever made me feel like I wasn’t loved. Did you know that some rich people don’t even have that? Then I thought about the house I already had, and how perfect the amount of space it was for my little family. Did you know that some rich people feel lonely stuck by themselves with all that square footage. I thought about my talents. I was a really good dancer, and I loved skipping rope, and how I could tell a great story. Do you know that some rich people don’t even know who they are anymore?

I had so many things in my life that made me rich, only I was too busy looking at what I didn’t have that I completely forgot what I was already blessed with. Who’s to say, a big house and nice car can define how rich you are. Why do we wish for more than we already have, when people are just wishing to live, or that their loved one will get better, or for some food for the night. If you stripped me down to skin and bones, I’d still be the richest girl in the world, because I have got everything I have ever needed. I have a family who loves me, I love myself, I love the person I’m becoming, and i’m so thankful for what I have been blessed with while I enjoy my stay on this earth. That’s what makes me rich, Groucho Marx once said “While money can’t buy happiness, it certainly lets you choose your own form of misery.” and that’s exactly why I’m telling you to recognize what you have. Your bank account does not define you, your car does not define you, the person you are defines you, and who’s to say that person can’t be rich? Do not let yourself believe that life is unfair and that theres lucky people and unlucky people because when you get down to the bottom line, happiness really is what you make it.