Little Belle's Mama

There’s a quote I’ve heard countless times, and every time I hear it, it hits differently: “If you’re born poor, it’s not your fault. But if you die poor, it is.” At first, it feels harsh. Almost cold. But when you sit with it for a while, peel it apart, and really think deeply, you begin to see layers in it. Some true. Some questionable. Some even painful. But it’s worth exploring.

We don’t choose where we are born. None of us gets to select the family, the city, the country, or the environment we start in. Some are born into wealth, others into struggle. And that first chapter of our lives — being born poor — is clearly out of our hands. So yes, it’s not our fault. But the second part of the quote raises a tough question: What happens after? If we stay in that same place, live through life poor, and die poor, is that really on us?

Many people believe this statement to be true. And I can understand why. We live in an age where opportunity is supposedly everywhere. You can learn new skills online for free. You can build businesses with just a smartphone. You can network, sell, connect, and grow in ways people from past generations couldn’t even imagine. The internet has leveled the playing field — at least on the surface. So, in that context, dying poor sounds like a failure to take initiative. A failure to act. A failure to adapt. That’s the argument many people make. And to a large extent, I agree. But it’s not that simple.

Let’s be real. Poverty isn’t just about money. It’s about access. It’s about education, mental health, safety, and the people around us. When you’re born into poverty, you’re not just lacking money — you’re often lacking guidance. You may not have role models. You may not even know what’s possible because your world has been so small for so long. That doesn’t mean you’re stuck forever, but it does mean you’re starting the race miles behind everyone else. And before we judge someone for not making it to the finish line, we have to consider how far they had to run just to reach the starting point.

But here’s where my belief kicks in: While it’s not our fault to be born poor, it is our responsibility to try to change it. No one is coming to save us. Not the government. Not some rich mentor. Not luck. If we want better, we have to want it bad. And that desire has to be stronger than the pain, the exhaustion, the fear, and the doubt. Life’s not fair — we all learn that. But we still have to play the game. We can’t use unfairness as a reason to stay where we are.

There are people who rise from nothing and make something. And no, not everyone becomes a millionaire. That’s not what this is about. This isn’t about yachts and private jets. It’s about rising above survival mode. It’s about being able to live a life of freedom, choice, and dignity. That, to me, is real wealth. And that is possible. I’ve seen it. I’ve read the stories. I’ve met the people. The difference? They didn’t stop. They didn’t accept the script they were handed. They rewrote it, even if it was hard. Especially when it was hard.

But I’ll also say this: it’s not fair to measure everyone’s journey with the same ruler. Some people carry burdens we can’t see — trauma, illness, family responsibilities, or deep generational wounds. Not everyone moves at the same pace. Not everyone has the same capacity. And I have deep respect for that. But even within those limitations, growth is still possible. Maybe you won’t be “rich,” but you can be richer in opportunity, mindset, and self-worth than where you began. And that matters.

The truth is, we all have a choice. Not an equal one, but a choice nonetheless. We can choose to stay still or move forward. We can choose to blame or to build. We can choose to repeat the patterns or break them. The process will look different for each of us, but the principle stays the same: we are not prisoners of our past unless we choose to be.

I do believe in this quote — but not in a judgmental way. I believe in it as a wake-up call. As a challenge. As a reminder that we hold more power than we often realize. Power in our decisions, our discipline, our mindset. Power to say “no more” to the cycle. Power to educate ourselves. Power to grind, even when no one is watching. And eventually, that power can change the entire trajectory of our lives.

So if you’re reading this and you’re still in the struggle, don’t beat yourself up. But don’t stay comfortable there either. Get angry if you have to. Get hungry. Use whatever fire you have inside to fuel your climb. Start small. Read. Learn. Try. Fail. Try again. Say yes to opportunities even when you’re scared. Say no to things that drain your energy. Protect your peace. Build your skills. Choose better habits. Bit by bit, brick by brick, you can climb out.

And if you ever doubt it’s possible, look around. There are people just like you who did it. Not because they were lucky, but because they were relentless. Be relentless. You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to keep going.

At the end of the day, you may not control where you started, but you absolutely influence where you end up. And if you have the chance to change your story, even a little — take it. Not just for you, but for the ones coming after you. So no, it’s not your fault if you’re born poor. But if you have the opportunity to rise and you let it pass by, that part might be on you. Not because you failed, but because you didn’t even try.

Try. That’s all I’m saying. Try hard. Try smart. Try again. Your future self will thank you. And maybe, just maybe, someone else will look at your story one day and think, “If they did it, so can I.”