When I look at the Swiss twenty-franc banknote, I see the Swallowtail butterfly depicted on it. The Swallowtail — or Schwalbenschwanz, as it is called in German — is my favorite butterfly. A majestic creature with a wide wingspan. I rarely see them in the Netherlands, but in Switzerland they appear quite often. They are named after their elegant tail, shaped like the tail of a swallow.

Of course, seeing them regularly doesn’t mean it’s guaranteed for everyone. If you don’t have a heart connection with nature, you might not even notice them. That which you love and connect with, you begin to attract — like a magnet. Perhaps that’s why the Swallowtail often graces me with its presence.

A few weeks ago, on a sunny April day, I was sitting in the permaculture garden of Schloss Glarisegg. For me, gardens are sacred places of meeting — with life itself. As I sat there, doing nothing but observing, a deep calm settled over me. Bumblebees and honeybees floated from flower to flower. I felt grateful, at peace, fully present.

And then he arrived — the Swallowtail. He circled me, gently, as if in greeting, and then glided onward to explore the garden. Moments like this feel like nature’s gift. My heart opens, my face softens into a smile. These small miracles remind me of what true wealth is.

How fitting, I thought, that this butterfly is printed on Swiss currency. The Swiss seem to understand: this is value — beauty, life, abundance. I remembered how the Netherlands once depicted the Black-tailed Godwit (grutto) on our hundred-guilder banknote — a lovely symbol of our natural heritage.

Sitting there in the garden, I began to muse: What is truly valuable to me? Where do I feel at home?

I want to be where
the Swallowtail flutters,
the goldfinches drink from the brook,
the skylark sings its jubilant song,
the kingfisher dives in a flash of blue,
the wren builds its tiny nest,
the scent of thyme and rosemary lingers in the air,
the blueberries stain your fingertips,
and you wake to a choir of birdsong.

I want to be where shells and shark teeth can be found on the shore.
Where you can roam, listen, taste, and simply be.
Because that is where I feel the true richness of life:
in the abundance and beauty of Mother Nature.

During the past seven years of traveling and volunteering in eco-communities, I’ve experienced a different kind of wealth — the kind that money can’t buy. I rarely had to worry about income. A roof over my head and delicious organic meals were often my reward for the work I offered.

I felt incredibly rich through the many beautiful encounters with nature on my journey through Europe. Not having to think about money — what a luxury! My mantra has always been: There is enough. And indeed, whenever I truly needed money, it found its way to me. Most of the time, though, I wasn’t even thinking about it.

And you?
What feels valuable to you?
When do you feel rich?
Do you also, like me, feel the presence of abundance, beauty, and deep fulfillment in nature?