Hi, my name is Vaibhavi Goyal, and welcome to Choose Fullness.

When you look up the meaning of the name Vaibhavi, you’ll find a few different definitions. But they all circle around the same themes: prosperity, wealth, and fortune. The name is closely associated with Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth and good fortune.

When I was little and my parents explained this to me, I used to joke that I was destined to grow up rich. I pictured myself in a mansion, driving nice cars, decorated in jewelry, and living with a limitless budget. After all, wasn’t that what my name meant? I thought my name itself was a promise that I would grow into a woman defined by luxury. Of course, that was childhood thinking, and I no longer dream of that kind of lifestyle. But even today, I find myself thinking strategically about money. I save what I make from my part-time jobs, I’m working toward building dependable credit, and I’ve been setting aside money in my Roth IRA for over a year now. I don’t have a salary or a steady income yet, but I’ve spent time learning about investing and preparing for when that season of life comes.

During the summer, I occasionally work as a server at a local restaurant to make extra money. One evening, I had an older couple sit in my section. At first, it was a normal table—they asked me about college, what I’m studying, and my plans for the future, all things I love talking about. But then the wife asked me something no one else ever had: the meaning of my name.

I explained that Vaibhavi means wealth and prosperity, then jokingly added that I wasn’t sure my serving job was going to get me there, but it was good enough for now. She laughed and told me that even if that wasn’t the path to riches, I was excellent at my job and she could tell I worked hard. I smiled, thankful for her kind words, but in the back of my mind I thought, Hopefully there’s something beyond food service for me.

Toward the end of their meal, she reached out, grabbed my hand, and told me something that has continued to resonate with me. She said my name was beautiful, but that wealth doesn’t always have to mean money. She encouraged me to think about what wealth means to me personally. For her, she saw it in me through the way I served and cared for others. I was surprised to say the least, how could she pick that up in just a couple hours? But she was older and wise, and a part of me trusted her words.

Since that night, I’ve thought about her often. She reminded me that serving people—even in something as simple as waiting tables—is not small or meaningless. In fact, it makes sense why I enjoy it so much. My favorite part of the job is talking with people, making them feel cared for, and knowing they appreciate their experience because of how I treated them. It makes me realize that even though I once joked that my name was a manifestation of a luxurious lifestyle, maybe that did come true—but in a different way. I’ve been given the luxury of helping others, of looking outside myself, of being a person who can give.

But it’s important to note, that’s something not everyone can afford. There are people who are so consumed by survival—homeless individuals, for example—that every single dollar must go toward their own needs. When survival takes everything you have, there’s no room left to think about anyone else. Your world shrinks to yourself. And with that, happiness becomes harder to reach. Once your basic needs are met, that’s when you can begin to look outward. That’s when life expands again.

So even though I don’t live in a mansion or drive a Porsche, I realized I am already wealthy. I have more than enough, and I have the gift of being able to serve the people around me. That kind lady helped me see that wealth is not what I imagined as a child, it’s not about possessions, it’s about my purpose. And for me, that purpose could take form in service.

I don’t know exactly what she saw in me that night, but her words gave me something to live out. I may not see waiting tables as my lifelong career, but it has shaped me. It’s taught me how important it is to be attentive, kind, and helpful. It’s taught me that real wealth is defined not by what I have, but by what I give. Whether I’m serving food, studying with a friend, or one day working at my future “big-girl” job, service will always be the way I feel rich.

In a world consumed by materialism, we need to push back against the wave and decide for ourselves what wealth really means. Maybe for you it’s giving your time, sharing your talents, or simply showing kindness. Whatever it is, wealth should be something that makes you feel prosperous in any season, not just when life looks perfect from the outside.

If you have food, water, shelter, and people who love you, you already have more than enough. Don’t let greed or comparison steal that truth. Redefine what it means to be wealthy.

So remember—your glass is full. Whether you see it that way is up to you.