The True Meaning of Wealth

Many, many years ago, seemingly in a life before this one, I worked as a travel guide, taking Study Abroad and Erasmus students throughout Spain, Gibraltar, Portugal, and Morocco.

At 22, I wasn’t much older than those whom I guided, which made it easy to share in their awe—that wide-eyed wonder of seeing a brand new world unfold before us.

Of all the trips we’d taken, one stood apart from the rest.

A small city, nestled in the Rif Mountains of Morocco.

Chefchaouen—otherwise known as The Blue Pearl.

A city draped in cascading shades of blue—walls, doors, alleys, stairs—every surface adorned by hues that concurrently drew a sense of calm and curiosity.

Recently, I had the gift of returning to Chaouen after 13 years—this time, with my beloved beside me.

As we wandered its labyrinthine streets, I watched the wonder dance in her eyes, heard her quiet (and not-so-quiet) gasps at every new twist and vista, and felt the way she placed her hands on the walls as if greeting something both old and familiar.

And in her awe, I was reminded of my own.

Reminded of a little shop I would often visit, tucked just around the corner from the main square.

And reminded of the shopkeeper there—a kind, old friend, Jalil.

Jalil was an elder Berber merchant who ran a small store filled with carpets, jewelry, and intricate paintings that told stories upon stories within their strokes.

We met on one of my early trips, and what began as a simple invitation for tea gradually transformed into a friendship, rekindled with each visit back.

Hailing from the sands and shades of the Sahara, Jalil spoke six or seven languages, each learned not in school, but through exchanges and interactions with travelers along his life.

He had a wisdom about him that was undeniable, and a sense of humor to match.

I still remember how he once explained the city’s color to me. He said,

“The blue around us represents the sky and the sea, so that we may remember what it means to be free.”

Then, with a twinkle in his eye, he added, “And, of course, to keep the mosquitos away. We must be free from their itchy bites too, my friend.”

While the students practiced their hands at bargaining around town, I would sit with Jalil to share in story and sweet, delicious mint tea.

One particular afternoon, I asked him how business was going.

Jalil wasn’t one to dance around the truth.

"Honestly, my friend, business has been slow this year. We have not sold nearly as much as before. But it is okay."

I still remember how he took a long, slow sip of his tea before proceeding.

"Even if we sell nothing, even if I have no money, I am still a wealthy man.”

“For as long as I can offer a smile, as long as I can invite a stranger in and turn them into a friend who feels welcome here, as long as we can share in the gift of a moment such as this—I am truly wealthy."

I felt the weightless gravity of his words settle into my chest, mending their way upon my slowing breath.

Jalil smiled as if he could see the exact instant when his truth found a home within me.

Welcomed and embraced.

An evolving definition of wealth—one that is not measured in currencies, properties, or possessions accumulated, but in the willingness to open, to offer, and to give.

Wealth is the smile given freely to our fellow travelers passing by.

It is the tea poured generously, no matter how much remains in the pot.

It is the act of greeting another, a stranger who could be a friend, and saying, “You belong here, too.”

It was something I had witnessed all throughout Morocco, and especially in this humbling, stunning blue city.

Perhaps, that’s what called me back and compelled me to share it with my love.

The lesson. The reminder that we are all much richer, so much wealthier than we often think.

That as long as we have something to give, we will never truly be without.

And that the deepest kind of wealth—the kind that cannot be lost—is the wealth of an open hand, an open heart, and a life lived in wise giving.

Reflections for Growth

• Redefining Wealth: How do you define wealth? If money wasn’t central to this definition, what makes you feel truly wealthy in your life?

• The Power of Giving: Think of a time when you gave something—your time, your presence, a small gesture—that felt more valuable than any material gift. What did that moment impart upon you?

• A Currency of Connection: My friend found wealth in the act of welcoming. What small, but meaningful, ways do you create space for others in your daily life?

• A Life of Overflow: If you lived as if you had everything you needed, how might that shift the way you give, love, and connect?

Invitations for Practice

• A Simple Gift: Give something unexpected this week. A smile, a kind word, a small token, or your undivided attention. Notice how it shifts both you and the recipient.

• The Gratitude of Enough: Each evening this week, take a moment to write down one non-material thing that made you feel "wealthy" that day.

• A Welcoming: Extend an invitation—to a friend, a stranger, or even yourself—to slow down, share a meal, perhaps some tea (mint’s a great choice), and simply be in the wealth of connecting in the present moment.

As you practice, please jot down your thoughts and experiences. And as always, feel free to share your reflections directly with me.

Eternally grateful to be offering you these words,

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