the truth that comes to light when you don’t have money

In life, the real meaning of money suddenly appears one day.
It’s not just a number on a piece of paper,
It is an invisible force that quietly determines our day.
When money disappears, we only see its true nature.
What you can dream of, where you can head,
How freely you can breathe.

When the desire to do what you want runs into a wall of reality,
When you have to put up with it worrying about the cost of treatment even if you’re sick,
Even relationships cringe in the face of financial difficulties,
Only then do we realize.
That money is not a desire, but a small shield that protects dignity.

I can’t forget the years when I first came to America.
In a hard, dangerous, messy workplace that no one envies
It was a time when I worked day by day.
My hands were full of calluses in those days,
The clothes were soaked in sweat, blood, and the smell of life.
That’s when I learned.
Money is not just wages,
It’s the crystal of labor, it’s a testament to perseverance,
It is a sign of self-esteem that supports itself.

The experience taught me moderation.
How to spend money precious,
I learned how to understand the meaning of life in it.
Money spent wisely isn’t just a means of survival
It becomes a bridge to calmness.
There is a way to live freely even if it is not fancy.

True happiness is not in abundance, but in balance.
Having only enough not to be swayed by money–
Only then does freedom begin.

Even now, I tell myself every morning I head to the hospital.
Working is not just for a living.
It’s an act of self-reliance,
It is a gesture of resistance to prevent life from getting smaller.
Every drop of sweat I shed
It’s a price that buys tomorrow’s freedom little by little.

Money is not a measure of life, it is a mirror of life.
Our moderation, compassion, and choice are reflected in the mirror.
Don’t let money dominate us,
We have to govern it–
With gratitude and dignity, and more than “freedom to do what you want to do.”
To protect “the freedom to not have to do anything you don’t want to do”.

So I work again today.
It’s not to earn more,
To protect myself fully.
And as far as possible,
It’s not someone else’s standard
To live by the standards of my mind.