Has anyone else ever found themselves staring into the night sky, wondering what’s out there—beyond the stars, beyond what we can see? Since I was young, I’ve felt a deep fascination with the mysteries of the universe: How vast is it? How long has Earth been dancing through the cosmos? What forces shaped this world, and how do we—so small, so fragile—fit into this grand design?

While my friends and family were often grounded in more practical realities, I found myself quietly obsessed with the abstract, the philosophical, the cosmic. It always made me feel a little different—like I was living halfway between this world and another. I often felt small in the face of such immensity, unsure if anything I did could ever truly matter.

Yet, even with these vast questions swimming in my mind, I also dreamed of a life filled with beauty, ease, and luxury. I’ve always been honest with myself about that. I love designer handbags, beautifully crafted clothes, and the idea of luxury travel—being able to treat myself and the people I love without hesitation. For a long time, I believed that if I ever became rich, I would simply enjoy life: indulge, travel, help my family, and finally feel free.

And I still love those things—there’s nothing wrong with appreciating beauty or aspiring for comfort.

But something within me began to shift.

A New Perspective on Wealth

Over the past few years—especially in this season of deep reflection and transformation—I’ve been returning to myself. I stopped numbing with distractions and started reading again, thinking again. I returned to the questions that once stirred my soul. And I began to understand something important: there’s a difference between being materially rich and being truly wealthy.

We often see people flaunting their riches—expensive cars, designer items, five-star vacations. It’s easy to idolize that lifestyle and dream of being one of them. I used to, too. But the more I reflect, the more I see that true wealth has little to do with spending—and everything to do with legacy.

Real wealth, conscious wealth, is quiet. It doesn’t shout. It preserves. It creates. It gives.

The wealthiest people in the world—those with vast fortunes—are often the ones devoting their resources to something greater than themselves. Philanthropists, visionaries, changemakers. They aren’t just spending for pleasure; they’re planting seeds for the future. They understand the energetic cycle of the universe: that what you give, you receive. That fulfillment isn’t in accumulation—it’s in contribution.

My Journey Away from the “Good Life”

For a long time, I struggled with guilt over not wanting the “good life” that others seemed to want for me. A stable job. A marriage. Children. A modest but steady home, the occasional vacation. These were the dreams my family quietly held for me—and the ones my friends were already living.

But deep inside, I knew that path was never truly mine.

It’s not that I don’t respect it. I admire the love, care, and commitment it takes to build a family and keep a stable life. But something in me yearned for more—not more in material terms, but more in meaning. I felt restless, like a wanderer in a world obsessed with maps. I didn’t want to live the life others wished for me if it meant abandoning the life my soul was whispering to me.

Maybe I was a gypsy in another life. A seeker. A mystic. Maybe that’s why I’ve always felt pulled toward the intangible, the sacred, the soul truths buried beneath the surface of daily life. I’ve come to understand that my purpose isn’t about fitting in. It’s about being true. True to my soul, my heart, my design.

Living with Purpose, Not for Perfection

Will I ever be rich in the conventional sense? Maybe. Maybe not. But now, that’s not what motivates me.

What drives me today is the quiet desire to do good. To help others who feel like outcasts. To use my voice, even if small, to speak on behalf of those who haven’t found theirs yet. I want to show that you don’t need to shout to be heard. That there is power in softness, in quiet courage, in choosing purpose over perfection.

I want to live a life that’s rich in meaning, not just in things. To offer love, understanding, and healing—to create spaces where women feel seen, valued, and empowered. I want to gently challenge the expectations society places on us—to remind others that it’s okay to want something different, to choose another path.

Because I now understand that the most powerful legacy we can leave is not in what we own, but in how we love, how we live, and what we awaken in others.

With love and light,

Seraphine Duong

I may not have all the answers, but I’m no longer afraid of the unknown. I walk this path now with trust—knowing that I’m aligning with something greater. I am no longer chasing a perfect life. I am creating a meaningful one. One small, kind, intentional act at a time.