The world places a value on everything. An ounce of a soft yellow metal is worth much more than an ounce of the finest steak. Some values are place due to supply and demand, and some are arbitrary and change over time.

When it comes to people, society places value on us based on age, beauty, knowledge, net worth and a myriad of other things. If you are among those that the world treasures, you know that it is transitory. Beauty fades and our net worth changes daily and there is always someone out there with more. There are always new things to learn, and there will always be others who are smarter or working in the “newest” field.

Those societal definitions are worthless.

A psychiatrist friend once shared with me: “simply by surviving the birth process you have value.” Simply put, you as an individual are of infinite worth. You have emotions, creativity and identity. You have the ability to forge your own future and have it be filled with joy and purpose. Those demonstrate that you have value far above any gem.

As I have told individuals for many years now;

You are a person of worth and value.