Hope, Community, and a New Definition of Wealth

A reflection on how hope is reshaping my understanding of wealth, community, and what truly makes a life rich.

I used the fall season to rest and heal. In that quiet, I had time to sit and think.

What has become clear to me is this: while there is an objective view of wealth—assets, income, opportunity—there is also a deeper, more expansive understanding that is often left unnamed. Wealth can be described in many ways.

Over the next few days, I’ll be sharing reflections as I clarify for myself what wealth truly means—and how I want to be intentional about creating a life that feels wealthy in ways that align with my values.

One aspect of wealth, for me, is connection.

More and more, people are asking what it means to belong to a village. What does it mean to be a villager? We are beginning to notice how the village has slowly been dismantled and sold off for parts—replaced with technologies that promise convenience, often at the cost of community.

I’ve seen posts reflecting on how we no longer give each other rides to the airport or gather in ways that don’t require spending hundreds of dollars. Somewhere along the way, accessible connection became optional.

But building back that sense of community feels necessary.

I’ve been asking myself:
What do I need to feel like I am thriving?
How do I feel after outsourcing tasks to algorithms and robots—while still scrambling to find time to connect with the people I love?

This question isn’t new for me. In my early twenties, I realized that if everything went “the way it’s supposed to go”—if I followed the path we are told to aspire to—I would likely spend less and less time with the people who make me feel seen, whole, and appreciated.

Out of that realization, a dream was born: a space where family and friends could live in proximity, where we could shift how we relate to each other and to the larger systems around us.

That dream became Sankofa Wellness.

Sankofa Wellness has many threads. But one central strand is this: community is not a luxury. It is foundational to wellness.

So when I think about wealth—when I imagine what would make me feel like a wealthy woman—acknowledging and nurturing my village rises to the top. I spend a lot of time thinking about how to create more spaces where community can thrive intentionally.

I want to challenge you to ask yourself:

In my personal definition of wealth, how is community integrated?

The path of convenience and efficiency may have made us more productive. But has it made us more connected?

If we continue to use efficiency as the primary barometer for success, what does that forecast for our future?

It seems that a collective redefinition of wealth is emerging—one that includes intentional connection. Whether that’s community, chosen family, biological family, or some yet-to-be-named form of belonging, we are being invited to ask:

What is the value of human connection in my life?
What would my life look like if I re-centered connection over convenience?
What is one small step I can commit to today?

Thank you for reading. I would love to hear what surfaced for you as you reflect on your own definition of wealth.

Thank you, and Asé.