When I first started thinking about what it meant to live a rich life, of course money was part of the conversation.
Money matters.
It pays the bills. It lets us travel. It creates experiences. It can make life a whole lot easier.
But the older I get, the more I realize that one of the greatest things money can give you isn’t actually a thing at all.
It’s options.
And money isn’t the only way we create them.
The real luxury might be being able to choose
There’s something powerful about being able to look at your life and say:
This isn’t working for me anymore. What else can I do?
That’s an option.
Having money saved so one unexpected expense doesn’t completely derail you is an option.
Building skills that allow you to pivot in your career is an option.
Taking care of yourself so you’re not constantly running on empty gives you options.
Being comfortable spending time alone means you don’t have to keep people around simply because you’re afraid of being by yourself.
Even learning to say no creates options because suddenly your time doesn’t automatically belong to everybody else.
That’s wealth too.
This is why I care so much about building
I’m always working on something.
My career. My finances. My businesses. My health. My little corner of the internet. 😂
And sometimes I have to remind myself that I’m not doing all of this just so I can accomplish more things.
I’m building.
Every dollar saved creates a little more breathing room.
Every new skill gives me another way to move.
Every boundary protects a little more of my time.
Every time I choose myself, I get clearer about the kind of life I actually want.
That’s the part of building a rich life we don’t talk about enough.
The goal isn’t just more.
Sometimes the goal is simply having enough freedom to choose.
Options don’t mean you have to use them
This part is important.
You can love your job and still want enough financial security to know you don’t have to stay there forever.
You can love where you live and still want the freedom to move.
You can enjoy your current season and still prepare for whatever comes next.
Having options doesn’t mean you’re unhappy with what you have.
It means you’re not trapped by it.
And whew…there’s a difference.
That’s the kind of rich I’m after
Of course I like nice things.
Y’all know who you’re talking to. 😂
I’m going to enjoy the trip. I’m going to buy the cute bag. I’m going to order the matcha. And I’m absolutely going to romanticize a regular Tuesday if I feel like it.
But none of those things are the ultimate goal.
I want the kind of rich where I can make decisions based on what is right for my life, not simply what I can afford to lose.
The kind where changing my mind doesn’t automatically create a crisis.
The kind where I can walk away, start over, slow down, try something new or stay exactly where I am because I chose to.
Maybe that’s what financial freedom is really supposed to feel like.
Maybe that’s what a rich life looks like too.
Not having everything.
Having options.
Now go live your richest life, and we’ll talk soon 💋
– Tiah
