From Dirt Floors to Time Wealth: A Journey of Valuing Life’s True Currency

Growing up in the Dominican Republic, I never imagined that the most valuable lesson I’d learn about life would come from reflecting on my childhood poverty. We were dirt poor—literally. Until I was about five or six, we lived in a house with dirt floors. Yet, despite our material lack, we were rich in something far more precious: time.

The Wealth of Time in Poverty

Our days in the Dominican Republic had a rhythm that now seems luxurious. School occupied only half a day, leaving ample time for housework, play, and family. We gathered for dinner every night, and Sundays were sacred—a time for church, family visits, and community.

Sure, I didn’t have many toys. The ones I did have were cherished, repaired when broken, and played with until they fell apart. But what I remember most vividly isn’t the scarcity of things, but the abundance of moments—laughing with neighborhood friends, watching Chespirito on TV, and the simple joy of being present with my family.

The Paradox of Plenty: When Abundance Steals Time

At 12, my family moved to the United States. Suddenly, we had access to more material goods than ever before. But something else changed too—our time became scarce. School days stretched longer, and the pace of life accelerated to a dizzying “go-go-go.” As I grew older, from middle school through college and into adulthood, time seemed to slip through my fingers like sand.

I found myself caught in the American rhythm of constant busyness, always chasing the next thing, the next purchase, the next achievement. It took years before I realized a profound truth: we were trading our most precious resource—our life energy—for things that often brought little lasting joy.

Redefining Money as Life Energy

It wasn’t until I encountered Joe Dominguez’s book “Your Money or Your Life” that I had a paradigm shift. Dominguez defined money in a way that resonated deeply with me: Money is your life energy.

This simple statement is revolutionary when you really think about it. Every dollar we earn represents a portion of our limited time on this planet. When we spend money, we’re not just exchanging currency—we’re trading away moments of our lives.

Prioritizing Life Energy: A Personal Journey

This realization led my wife and I to make some countercultural choices. Instead of pouring our life energy into a large house with a mortgage that would tie us down, we opted for a smaller living space that gives us the freedom to travel and spend quality time together.

We’ve learned to ask ourselves before every purchase: “Is this the best use of our life energy?” Often, the answer is no. We’ve found that experiences, relationships, and personal growth bring us far more joy than accumulating possessions.

The Trap of Inefficient Life Energy Use

Consider this scenario: Tony, flush with excitement from a new job, buys a $3,000 pool table on credit. His weekly salary is $520. It will take him at least 6 weeks of work to pay for this purchase—and that’s not counting interest, the space needed to house it, or potential moving costs.

Is a pool table he’ll use occasionally worth six weeks of his life? Might he find more joy in occasional visits to a pool hall with friends, while saving his life energy for experiences or investments that align more closely with his values and long-term happiness?

Empowerment Through Intentional Spending

When we start viewing money as life energy, something transformative happens. We become the drivers of our own lives, making decisions based on our true values rather than societal expectations or fleeting desires.

This mindset brings a profound sense of freedom. Advertisements lose their power over us. The fear of job loss diminishes because we’ve saved our life energy wisely. We might even find ourselves in a position to take time off, reflect on our lives, and pursue what truly makes us happy.

From Dirt Floors to Time Wealth

My journey from a home with dirt floors in the Dominican Republic to a life of intentional choices in the United States has taught me this: true wealth isn’t measured in possessions, but in how we spend our most valuable currency—our time.

We can have anything we want, but we can’t have everything. Life is about choices. By viewing money as life energy, we can make those choices wisely, investing in what brings us genuine fulfillment and joy.

So, I ask you: How are you spending your life energy? Where are you getting the most value for this precious, finite resource? The power to shape your life lies in your answers to these questions.

Remember, it’s your life energy. Use it wisely!