đ Recognizing Abundance
Seeing what we already have
âThe real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.â âMarcel Proust
âThe Lord is my shepherd; I shall not wantâ (Psalm 23:1, ESV).
Halloween night in Montréal meant bundling up against the cold. I remember stepping into November darkness at 5:30 p.m., the temperature hovering around 35 degrees, drizzle turning to sleet. Trick-or-treating felt like an endurance test. Kids shuffled door to door in winter coats over costumes, plastic masks fogging with breath, hands going numb. The reward at the end was getting back inside to warmth.
Last Friday here in Melbourne, Florida, the sun didnât set until after 6:30 p.m. The temperature stayed near 80 degrees. Kids ran freely through neighborhoods in full costume, no jackets required, laughing and visible in the lingering daylight. Parents chatted on sidewalks. The evening felt easy, joyful, abundant.
The contrast captures something essential about recognizing abundance. The same holiday. The same human desire for celebration and community. Different circumstances revealing different possibilities. I moved to a place where November feels generous, and that decision changes how I experience daily life.
We spent October in threshold spaces, pausing at doorways of change. Now we step through. The hallway ends. We see abundance before us, full of gifts waiting for our attention.
Living with a generous spirit begins with attention. We notice whatâs already around usâthe warmth of sunlight, the wag of a dogâs tail, the sound of a neighborâs laughter. These details remind us that joy rarely hides; it only waits to be seen. My dogs greet each morning with unbridled enthusiasm, tails wagging, ready for the day. They teach me something about abundance: the best time is always now.
Technology offers another example. Yes, devices frustrate us. Updates interrupt work. Passwords multiply. The learning curve for new tools can feel steep. These irritations are real. Yet consider what these same tools enable: I write from anywhere, research instantly, connect with readers across distances, collaborate with people Iâll never meet in person. The benefits outweigh the annoyances when we frame them properly.
Many people wake each day focused on whatâs missing, whatâs wrong, whatâs declining. They scroll through news feeds, collecting evidence of disaster. They rehearse grievances and catalog disappointments. Negativity feeds itself, growing stronger with each complaint and each cynical comment.
Weâre choosing differently this month. Weâre practicing recognition of what surrounds us. We can acknowledge struggle while still seeing what sustains us. A half-full glass still holds water. We decide where to direct our attention and energy.
Abundance recognition starts with noticing. Look around right now. What works? What brings comfort? Who loves you? What systems support your daily life? The roof overhead, the food in your kitchen, the friend who checks in, the body that carries you through each day. Taking these for granted diminishes them. They form the foundation of a good life.
Practice reframing this week. When frustration rises, pause and ask: whatâs working here? When a complaint forms, add: what am I grateful for in this situation? These questions widen perspective. They train us to see the whole picture. A generous spirit grows each time we notice whatâs already good; let that awareness guide our next choice.
This article appeared in FLORIDA TODAY as Why itâs important to recognize abundance | Spirituality Today.