Real Talk: Chasing Price Tags or Living with Purpose?

Real Talk: Chasing Price Tags or Living with Purpose?

By Kateb Nuri-Alim Shunnar

Let’s be honest life in the city runs on one fuel: the grind. Everywhere you look, folks are chasing that next big thing bigger checks, shinier cars, flashier status. The vibe is all about getting yours, making it, and letting the world know you’ve arrived. But here’s the thing: we’re so caught up in this cycle of wanting and flexing that we’ve forgotten something crucial. We’ve got the price of everything memorized, but the true worth of it? That’s slipping right through our fingers.

Take a look around. People can quote the cost of the latest kicks before they even hit shelves, know the resale value of designer bags, and can rattle off the price per square foot of a penthouse. But ask them to put a number on the things that actually matter the people who’ve held them down, the quiet moments of peace, or the faith that keeps them steady and you’ll get blank stares. That’s where we’re at: valuing what’s loud and shiny over what’s steady and real.

I’m not saying wanting nice things is wrong. I mean, who doesn’t want to treat themselves? But when we start measuring our self-worth by the labels we wear or the zeroes in our bank accounts, we’re on dangerous ground. Those things can’t hug you back when you’re struggling. They won’t sit with you in the dark nights when life feels heavy. A diamond-encrusted watch might catch the light, but it won’t remind you of your purpose.

I learned this the hard way. There was a time when I thought the grind was everything. I’d push myself to exhaustion, convinced that the next payday or milestone would finally make me feel complete. And yeah, I hit some goals, but the more I achieved, the emptier it felt. All that effort, and I was still looking for something deeper. Spoiler alert: you can’t find soul food on a menu of materialism.

You know what’s crazy? We never truly appreciate what we have until life pulls it away. Think about it. You don’t notice how amazing clean air feels until you’re stuck in smog. You don’t cherish a friend’s loyalty until you’re betrayed. And you definitely don’t think about the value of quiet, peaceful moments until your world is full of noise.

I remember a guy I knew back in the day a big shot in his own right. Dude had everything: the cars, the house, the status. But when he got sick, none of that mattered. His phone stopped ringing. The people who used to laugh at his jokes suddenly had “other plans.” The money he’d worked so hard to stack couldn’t buy back the moments he wished he’d spent differently.

Compare that to someone who lives simply but deeply. Think about that one friend or family member who might not have a lot but gives everything they’ve got. Their love is steady, their faith unshakable, and their presence? Man, that’s priceless. They’re not out here trying to prove anything because they’ve already tapped into the Creator’s real blessing: purpose over possessions.

This isn’t just a pep talk; it’s a wake-up call. The Creator didn’t put us here to chase glitter and ignore gold. Real wealth isn’t something you can stash in a safe. It’s in the way you treat people, the love you give freely, and the faith that grounds you when the world feels like quicksand.

Let me break it down another way. Imagine you’re stuck in the desert, and someone offers you a suitcase full of cash or a jug of water. Which one are you picking? Exactly. That cash might be worth a lot on paper, but in the moment, it’s useless. The water? That’s life. We do the same thing in our day-to-day, chasing the sparkly stuff while forgetting the things that sustain us.

And the wild part? All this chasing leaves us exhausted. We’re running full speed on a treadmill, sweating buckets but going nowhere. We think the next achievement or purchase will fix it, but it’s like drinking saltwater when you’re thirsty it doesn’t satisfy; it just leaves you craving more.

If we keep defining our worth by what we own, we’ll never feel like we have enough. The city teaches us to keep climbing, keep buying, and keep proving ourselves. But if you step back for a second, you’ll realize that the ladder you’re climbing might be leaning against the wrong wall.

Here’s where the Creator flips the script. You’re not defined by your grind, your possessions, or your status. Your worth comes from your heart, your faith, and the love you pour into the world. That’s the real flex the kind of wealth that lasts, that can’t be stolen, that doesn’t fade.

I’ve been reflecting on this a lot lately. One time, I was walking through the neighborhood and saw an older man sitting on his stoop. His clothes were simple, his hands were worn, but his smile? It was radiant. I struck up a conversation with him, and he said something I’ll never forget: “I don’t have much, but I have everything I need.” That hit me. It wasn’t about what he owned; it was about what he valued.

So, here’s my challenge: stop chasing the price tag and start chasing purpose. Call up that friend you’ve been meaning to check on. Spend time with your family without scrolling through your phone. Sit with yourself, no distractions, and ask the tough questions: “What do I value? What am I chasing? And is it feeding my soul?”

Because at the end of the day, it’s not about how much you’ve got it’s about how much you’ve given, how deeply you’ve loved, and how fully you’ve lived. The streets might tell you otherwise, but don’t let the noise drown out the truth. What’s priceless can’t be bought, sold, or flexed it’s felt, shared, and lived.

Keep it real. Keep it grounded. Keep it priceless.