#018 - The Wealthy Mental Health Advocate
What is True Wealth? Build. Share. Heal.
Don’t want to read? No problem! You can listen to me reading to you by clicking the play button above.
Welcome to the 18th edition of The Wealth Letters, a crowdsourced Anthology on how to find enough in a noisy world.
If you haven’t done so, please read or listen to the manifesto before diving in to the collection, as it will give a clear vision of the project; the Who, What, and Why.
The following is a letter written by JD Murgolo for The Wealth Letters community. JD writes what “true wealth” is in his life, and what he has found that leads to a fulfilling and meaningful life. He hopes that others can take his findings and apply to their own situation to find meaning and fulfillment.
Who is JD?
JD is first and foremost a husband and father of two.
He is the founder of the mental health ecosystem, Fragile Moments, which seeks to create the tools and community for the mind that advances the conversation towards one of healing.
He is also the charismatic host of the mental health podcast "What's Your Story?" a storytelling podcast that connects people who are struggling with their mental illness, with strangers who share their lived experience.
Before reading or listening to JD’s letter…
Be willing to be vulnerable and open your mind to ideas and suggestions that have proven worthwhile in another’s journey. Do not blindly accept any and all advice given, but rather take in the information and distill it down to if & how it can be applied to YOU and your unique self.
Michael Jordan said that he imitated Dr. J.
Kobe Bryant said he studied and imitated Jordan.
But, they mixed in their own uniqueness.
While not everything will relate directly to one’s current situation at the exact moment, there may be some gems that will be worthwhile in time.
What is True Wealth?
By: JD Murgolo
Wealth is a term that is often associated with financial prosperity and material possessions. However, I believe that wealth encompasses much more than just how much money is in a person's bank account or the number of luxury cars they own. To me, wealth is about having an abundance of happiness, love, and opportunities in life. In this letter, I will discuss what wealth means to me on a personal level after searching for 42 years.
Pursuing Passions and Dreams
One of the things that I consider wealth to be is the ability to pursue my passions and dreams without financial constraints. Being able to do what I love without worrying about how much money it will bring in is something that I value greatly. I believe that true wealth lies in the freedom to pursue our passions and make a meaningful impact in the world.
For 10 years of my life, I thought that impact was had by being a Montessori middle school teacher. To a large extent, it was. I made good money, students thrived and enjoyed their time in the classroom and I felt my wealth internally was supposed to be filled with accolades, accomplishments and furthering my presence in the field of education.
What I’ve since learned after leaving teaching and founding my own company, Fragile Moments, is that all of that “wealth” I thought I had, didn’t even matter. Ultimately there was no internal gratification like I had thought; instead I was seeking external gratification without realizing it.
Strong Relationships
Another aspect of wealth that I place a high value on is strong relationships with family and friends. Having people in my life who love and support me unconditionally is something that brings me immense joy and contentment. I consider myself fortunate to have a close-knit family and a wonderful group of friends who are always there for me. To me, this is true wealth - having people in my life who make me feel loved, accepted, and supported.
I’m 42 years old now. I’ve been married for almost 5 years, and my wife and I have a 2yo son and a 7mo old daughter. A lot of people say their confidence wavers after becoming a parent — I guess they feel that, in a way, they lose a sense of themselves — but for me, it’s been quite the opposite.
As soon as we were pregnant with our son, I knew that I didn’t want him to feel the way I had felt about myself almost my whole life. I didn’t want him to think, I can’t do that because I’m not smart enough, or I can’t do that because I don’t have friends, or even worse, feel that he had to define his success or wealth by any other means than what he holds inside.
In short: I didn’t want what held me back to hold him back, so I gave myself no choice but to go after what I wanted and to be happy.
I have found that having these strong relationships has helped me through some of the toughest times in my life. When I made the decision to leave teaching, it was my family and friends who encouraged me and helped me to keep going. They reminded me of my strengths and talents, and this gave me the confidence to pursue new opportunities. Without their support, I would not be where I am today and I most certainly would not be as fulfilled.
Good Health and Well-being
The final aspect of wealth that is important to me is good health and well-being. Having a healthy mind and body is crucial to living a fulfilling life. I believe that wealth is not just about having financial stability, but also about taking care of ourselves physically and emotionally. When we are healthy and happy, we are better equipped to pursue our passions, maintain strong relationships, and live life to the fullest.
For me, this means eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and making time for self-care activities such as meditation and yoga. It also means seeking professional help when I need it, such as seeing a therapist or a doctor when I am feeling overwhelmed or unwell. Taking care of my physical and emotional well-being has allowed me to be more present and engaged in all aspects of my life.
In conclusion, wealth means different things to different people. While financial stability is certainly important, I believe that true wealth comes from pursuing our passions and dreams, having strong relationships with loved ones, and maintaining good health and well-being. These are the things that bring true joy and fulfillment in life and are, therefore, the things that I consider to be the greatest forms of wealth.
In today's world, it is easy to get caught up in the pursuit of material possessions and financial gain. However, I have found that true wealth is found in the things that cannot be bought with money - love, happiness, and good health. By prioritizing these things in my life, I have been able to live a fulfilling and meaningful life, and I believe that others can do the same.
- JD Murgolo
My Takeaways from JD
“One of the things that I consider wealth to be is the ability to pursue my passions and dreams without financial constraints. Being able to do what I love without worrying about how much money it will bring in is something that I value greatly. I believe that true wealth lies in the freedom to pursue our passions and make a meaningful impact in the world.”
“What I’ve since learned after leaving teaching and founding my own company, Fragile Moments, is that all of that “wealth” I thought I had, didn’t even matter. Ultimately there was no internal gratification like I had thought; instead I was seeking external gratification without realizing it.”
As soon as finding out that JD and his wife were pregnant with his son, he said: “I didn’t want what held me back to hold him back, so I gave myself no choice but to go after what I wanted and to be happy.”
What are your takeaways?
Connect with JD
Thank You for Your Support
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I look forward to hearing from you!
Jordan
Thank you JD for being vulnerable and sharing your story!