I turned 44 this year. A Bob Marley interview I watched years ago has been sitting with me ever since, and this birthday finally made it land.
There’s a clip from an interview with Bob Marley where he’s asked whether he considers himself rich or wealthy. His answer has always stayed with me.
Bob Marley is probably the most famous Jamaican who ever lived, alongside Usain Bolt. His legacy is undeniable. And yet he passed away at just 36.
This year I turned 44. Birthdays have a way of making you pause, and this one more than most.
Rich isn’t the goal
I’m not chasing rich in the traditional sense. I’m aiming to age gracefully and live a fulfilling life.
For me, having the most money was never the goal. Having enough money to give you time; that’s the real goal.
Wealth isn’t a number. It’s a feeling.
It’s measured in the legacy you leave. The people you’ve made a lasting impression on. The children you’ve raised. The relationships and memories that live long after you.
The moment it hit me
This year my birthday fell alongside Emancipation Day and Jamaican Independence Day. I celebrated with family and friends who were fully present in those moments with me.
That’s when it landed. That feeling of being surrounded by the people you love; that’s where the real richness comes from.
Wealth is having the time to watch my daughter take her first steps and being truly present in that moment. That milestone happened on Independence Day, which felt like a special and fitting coincidence.
Still pushing forward
I’ve come a long way. I still have so much to learn and achieve.
But the simple things, family, love and community, are what keep me going every day.
“Having enough money to give you time. That’s the real goal.”
