Breaking the Broke

What usually comes to mind when you hear the word "broke"? If you're like most, you might say, "Ughhh, it's that sinking feeling you get when there's no money to pay a bill, buy some food, a nice outfit, or even a toy for your child; credit cards maxed, bank account empty, and you can't even count on next pay day!"

But, as bad as this all sounds, I believe that being broke can be so much more. 

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​Allow me to share a story to kinda show you what I mean! Picture me, a little girl growing up in Jamaica. Travel five miles off the main, along a narrow road, you get to my home -- 2 bedrooms, a living and dining room (kitchen and toilet were outside), 9 boys, 3 girls, and 2 grandparents. My mother, a factory worker, lived across the street in her one room dwelling. Need I say, when it came to money, we didn't have much. Interestingly though, from the outside looking in, anyone would have thought we were the richest people on Earth! What I remember we did have was a matter-of-fact type of love (that's the type you don't speak of; it's just supposed to be understood) and belly-aching, teary-eyed, ROTF laughter!

On any given day, we could go outside and pick from a number of fruit or food trees when we needed something to eat. And I don't know how, but the neighborhood children always knew when it was dinner time, because too many of them would show up then and we HAD to share. (Whether instinct or wisdom, we learned to eat our meat first…and fast). And when there was no mischief to create or participate in, I  would be so free as to sit under the shade of a mango tree, look up high into a big, deep-blue sky with its lazy white clouds and just knew there was nothing better!

And boy, was I right in thinking that that was the best life! I didn't start to understand 'lack' until I was getting older and living in a different part of the world; which ironically, is considered to be among the wealthiest. I came to know that one of the lowest feelings one can have is that of feeling broke -- money-wise or other-wise.  Here, houses are bigger with less people in them. There are no bountiful fruit trees in my backyard. And life has gotten too busy and way too full of responsibilities to look up into the sky -- albeit grayish-blueish, has too many chem-trails in the days and star-less at nights.

There were times when I wondered why do some people seem to have so much, while others feel hunger pains daily and they don't even know their neighbors.

Don't get me wrong; I love my life! I do believe that no matter what my circumstances, or the experiences I've been through, my life is abundantly wealthy.

I define Broke as a situation we sometimes find ourselves in. It can be physical, mental or spiritual. It can also be a system -- one in which we’ve been taught to survive, but not thrive. Broke does not define us. And for those who open up to its experience, they can quickly find out both their tenacity and resourcefulness. Breaking the Broke, however, is that moment when we contemplate on what's next as we feel the potential for so much more. It shifts us into a new mindset -- showing up, being in the right place at the right time, hearing from the right people...and then taking inspired action. 

At an early age, I wasn't 'taught' to identify myself with things I didn't have! So I didn't feel less-than, insufficient, or broke. Together, my family, my neighbors, and my entire village, focused on what we did have and that made life good.
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I do believe that wherever life leads, with the right state of mind we can experience a brand new level of wealth and well-being. And for any of us who dare to dream bigger, I say "yes, we can break the broke"!

Live prosperously,
Empress Judith

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