Eritrea
"where time is gold"
Some phrases can transcend borders and carry universal truths. But from one country to the next, they begin to adapt, magnify, or transform to reflect the diverse cultural nuances that underline the uniqueness and values of a region. As we discover different values and lifestyles, we begin to unpack these nuances—starting to see how even one word can dramatically shift how we see ourselves or more so, how we view the world. On this journey, I want to consider the familiar phrase I'm sure many, if not all, of us have heard before: “time is money.”
During my most recent trip to Eritrea, a relative welcomed me with three words during our car ride home: "time is gold." Thinking he was mistaken, I attempted to correct him by saying, “Oh, you mean time is money.” He responsed with a nonchalant shrug followed by, "Yeah, sure, same thing." Then I heard it again when another cousin echoed the same words a week or two later. This time, however, I recognized there was more beneath the surface of what I thought was a simple and universally defined phrase.
During my most recent trip to Eritrea, a relative welcomed me with three words during our car ride home: "time is gold." Thinking he was mistaken, I attempted to correct him by saying, “Oh, you mean time is money.” He responsed with a nonchalant shrug followed by, "Yeah, sure, same thing." Then I heard it again when another cousin echoed the same words a week or two later. This time, however, I recognized there was more beneath the surface of what I thought was a simple and universally defined phrase.
I started to ask, what was this "gold" they're talking about? An obvious answer is that gold is treasure and time itself is the gold we chase and maybe even pay for, but there was something nudging at me, that there was more to it. So I spent the next month in Eritrea trying to fully grasp this slightly shifted phrase.
Was it in the mornings and evenings enjoying boon (traditional coffee) that brought loved ones together to pause and connect? Was it in the work harvesting throughout each day and season to bring savory meals to the table and fill any stomach that entered one's home? Was it in the trek of a journey, like the four-hour hike to witness the birth of a grandchild at the nearest hospital? Perhaps "gold" symbolized the richness of their time spent rather than chasing time itself. Their perception of time extended beyond financial gain; it was about nurturing what truly mattered to them, finding the gold presented in the everyday and not in the strategic maneuvering that brings forth monetary or materialistic wealth.
It’s easy to identify time as treasure, but it's in how we define our gold that brings value to the time we spend doing anything. When I think of the phrase "time is money," I think of how it gives value in having enough money to buy you time, to buy those precious moments. But when replacing money with gold, you're not thinking about how you'll make the time, but rather how to spend the time you already have.
So, I started to understand the phrase "time is gold" as a beautiful reminder of what truly matters, that the richness is yours to define, especially in a world often overshadowed by the pursuit of money. It serves as a reminder that draws us back to the essence of what it means to truly live—living in the moments that make the time we have worthwhile.
It’s easy to identify time as treasure, but it's in how we define our gold that brings value to the time we spend doing anything. When I think of the phrase "time is money," I think of how it gives value in having enough money to buy you time, to buy those precious moments. But when replacing money with gold, you're not thinking about how you'll make the time, but rather how to spend the time you already have.
So, I started to understand the phrase "time is gold" as a beautiful reminder of what truly matters, that the richness is yours to define, especially in a world often overshadowed by the pursuit of money. It serves as a reminder that draws us back to the essence of what it means to truly live—living in the moments that make the time we have worthwhile.