By Godwin Mose
To those who have never known the real meaning of financial hardship, money means security, comfort, and the ability to enjoy life.
But to those who have fought their way out of poverty, money is more than just a means to an end; money is survival itself.
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It is a fragile lifeline that must be stretched, multiplied, and fiercely protected.
Consider a man who has finally saved enough to sustain himself for 10 months.
To an outsider, this should bring relief- a moment to breathe.
Yet, for him, it signals the start of another battle. He does not see stability; he sees a countdown to financial ruin.
If he does not act before his savings run out, he knows he will be pulled back into the relentless cycle of struggle.
This is why those who have endured poverty develop an acute financial awareness.
Every expense is scrutinized, every opportunity assessed, and every move made with the urgency of someone being pursued by an invisible threat.
They understand that financial security is never guaranteed and must be defended, reinforced, and constantly expanded.
Even after escaping poverty, many continue to chase wealth, not out of greed, but out of fear.
Extravagance is not the aim, but distance; not getting rich but being safe.
They are trying to stretch the 10 months into a lifetime.
“Unfortunately, the scar of poverty will create a self-contradicting outcome: no amount of money in the bank was ever enough, and the ache of losing seemed to linger after gathering more of it.”
–Godwin Mose
This is the very reason why the richest still fight for any opportunity that should go to the hustlers.
It’s not selfishness entirely; in most instances, it’s the lingering paranoia in the psyche that one day it just might come again.
The trauma of having once lived with nothing never dies out, it just turns into an unending drive for more.
Men and women often approach this financial hardship from different angles.
While men may have a more long-term outlook on survival, many women concentrate on the here and now: as long as the basic needs are met.
A well-groomed appearance, a small indulgence here and there, they can carry themselves with confidence that is at odds with their financial status.
They realize that survival involves not just accumulating wealth but adaptability, perception, and the making of something out of little.
Poverty is a psychological, and not an economic condition.
And the toughest part of escaping from it is not to make money but to learn when to stop running from its fear of loss.
-The author is a university student specializing in brand positioning and political communication.
