Enough Is Enough: Finding Purpose Beyond Wealth

 

At this stage of my life, I can say something I wish more people would come to realize sooner: I have enough.

I’m not interested in the blatant acquisition of monetary wealth for personal desires beyond my current and projected needs. More money will not make me happier, healthier, or more fulfilled. What matters to me now—and what I believe will matter to all of us, sooner or later—is what we do with the time and influence we already have.

I am interested in establishing, maintaining, and deepening personal and professional relationships, and in enrolling others to make positive differences in the health and longevity of a vibrant planet, its vital ecosystems, and the endangered biodiversity we share it with.

At my age, I care less about accumulating things and more about building legacies—legacies of compassion, curiosity, and contribution. My platform, built over decades of work with orangutans and the people who protect them, is not something I see as mine alone. It’s a tool to inspire others—to help people discover their own passions, their own sense of purpose, their own way to make a difference.

You don’t need to be rich to make an impact. You don’t need to wait until retirement. You don’t need to have all the answers.
If you feel called to act, start now.

One powerful way is to create your own nonprofit, even a small one, as a vehicle to channel your energy into something meaningful. But if running a foundation isn’t for you, there are countless organizations that would welcome your support as a volunteer, advocate, or board member.

And even if you can’t give money or time, your voice still matters. You can make a difference simply by consistently speaking out—in public spaces, online or offline—about what matters most to you. Advocacy begins with awareness, and awareness begins with someone willing to say, “This is important.”

The world doesn’t need more billionaires chasing the next yacht. It needs more everyday people living intentionally, guided by love for life itself.

So let’s stop measuring success by how much we earn—and start measuring it by how much we care.