Good ol’ Broke-Ass Stuart says, “What makes life interesting is not the things you own, but the shit you do.” He’s an SF resident who writes/blogs/tweets about the joys of broke-itude and the fascinating things broke-ass people do.

Each week, he writes a little feature about a fellow broke-ass; this week, he ran an interview with me. Woohoo!

Talking about being broke is painful and personal, of course — but if you’ve never been broke or if you won’t relate those stories, you’re missing out on a humbling and ultimately educational part of life. Being broke — and I have been ever so broke in my time — taught me to enjoy the moment, to always be grateful for small things, to appreciate food that costs less than a dollar, to be compassionate to people in need (especially the homeless), and to always retain my dignity and sense of self when in the company of the high and mighty, because money can buy a lot of things, but it can never procure joy.

So, thanks to Broke-Ass Stuart for reminding me how awesome it is to learn to appreciate life in spite of being poor!

And you — whether you’re broke or flush right now, I hope you are truly happy. =)

If you think you’ve got what it takes to be a Broke-Ass of the Week, contact Stuart and his crew. And buy his book. If you live in New York, this version is probably best for you.