A Life of Abundance

Lately I’ve been considering the idea of scarcity versus abundance. Seems like I’m not the only one interested in this topic. Just do a quick search on your phone and you’ll see what I mean. I’ve come to realize that the concept doesn’t just pertain to finances and material things. Instead, it’s a mindset. Let me give you an example: 

When I convinced Houston that we should move to our farm a year and a half ago, several factors made this a good decision. It freed up a considerable amount of money that we were spending on rent, utilities and driving to the farm. The move also gave us a chance to see if we’d like living on the property full-time. It was easier to get up and do our chores. And being on-site when glampers were on the property made hosting much easier. 

On the flip side, it’s a 20 minute drive to hang out with friends and go to events. AND I’m discovering I’m more of an extrovert than I realized. The scarcity side of me said that I should just stay home on the farm and pass on get-togethers and events, that this is my life now. (Ridiculous, right?) It really became quite depressing. I love the farm - hosting guests and watching our animals graze in the field. I love the stillness of the mornings when orange and pink hues on the horizon signal the start of a new day. But I was missing something. 

Last week some friends took us to a Christmas concert in Dallas. After an inspiring performance, we got to hang out with dear friends and get to know some new people. We were all hungry and had planned to get something quick and eat in the car. But when my husband Houston found a cool taco spot that was still open, we unanimously decided to make time for a sit down meal. Over tacos and laughter my heart felt lighter. Great conversation on the way home brought a sweet close to a night that was just what my heart needed. It was after 1:00 AM when we got back to the farm. 

I did another thing this past week that was out of the ordinary for me. I bought myself some outrageously, brightly colored waterproof boots. Instead of getting the black or gray I tend to settle for because they’re practical, I chose lime green. And you know how I made the choice? I looked through the various options and chose the one that made me smile the biggest. 

For too long I’ve chosen to be practical and do what makes sense. Today I choose a mindset of abundance and possibilities. I choose to dip my toes in the waters of spontaneity. I hope you’ll join me.

This piece first appeared in Sherry’s column, Finding Myself in a Small Town, in the December 16, 2023 edition of the Corsicana Daily Sun.