A couple of years ago, I had the opportunity to attend the Grammy awards with some friends. Our suite was a floor above where all the stars enter from the notorious red carpet, so we gazed at the stars as they entered Staples Center and rode up the escalator. Many celebrities were remarkably dressed in the finest jewels and attire money could buy. What surprised me most as they arrived at what was to be a celebration — this awards ceremony for the best in the music industry — was that very few were smiling.

As much as I hate to admit it, I expected to come home from the Grammys feeling a little like Cinderella’s ugly stepsister. I thought I’d feel on the outside of the glamour, talent, and success associated with stardom. Surprisingly, as the long, white limo stopped to return me to the dimly lit porch of my tiny little home, I realized that I would not have traded places with any of the stars I’d seen that night. For me, having an awareness of what the bare essentials are in this life is key to a joy that is not based on what others have or have achieved, or on what is happening around me.

— Jennifer Perkins