Love
“When I became disabled, I suddenly lost a lot of my ability and freedom, but I also gained a huge amount of love and care. Abundance to me is all the love my family and friends show in supporting me and keeping me laughing.” – Emily, Midlands, UK
“Abundance means loving my partner with my whole heart. Abundance means loving myself and knowing that I am enough.” – Camilla, Georgia, US
Time
“I took a massive pay cut to work from home, but it feels like I am richer. I sleep better, I have time to take care of myself, I can go for a walk in the park, and I am home when my little one returns from school. No exhausting commute, dusty office air, irritating LED light or smelly office toilets. No sense of missing out on life. Just doing my work and then attending to my life. Peace. This is abundance for me.” – Lola, UK
Nature
“When I think about abundance, I just look at nature. Oak trees never make just one acorn, they make so many you wade through them. Same with so many other trees, like fruit trees – so much abundance you can’t pick quickly enough. Plenty for all.” – Sam, Winchester, UK
Green energy
“We recently had a heat pump fitted and when the sky is bright it is powered by our solar panels. Our energy bills are lower than they were with gas central heating, and we will set aside some of the savings towards a battery energy storage system.” – Terry, Cornwall, UK
Art
“Living in a home full of beautiful handmade things that I have made over the years, and artwork my friends have made and gifted me.” – Wendy, Shropshire, UK
Music
“When I retired aged 60, I remembered my daughter’s cello, which had never been sold and started to learn. Now 10 years on I play in a band, an orchestra, attend music summer school and join friend to play cello trios, quartets and quintets. It is the most fulfilling and joyful thing to play with other people. I was a complete beginner, but the work involved in learning is as nothing compared to the pleasure, fun and friends it has brought.” – Wendy, Devon, UK
Having enough
“I live a simple, economical life but I still feel like I live with great abundance.” – Sharon, Nanaimo, Canada
Connection
“Abundance means connection to me. I get high from connecting with humans, animals and nature. A brief friendly encounter or a deep and meaningful with a loved friend. The appearance of a robin red breast in a moment of solitude that reconnects me with loved ones that have passed. Duck-diving under the surface of the ocean, salty brine on my skin, a symbiotic relationship with the waves. I collect connections and in this area of my life I feel abundance.” – Cathy, Dublin, Ireland
Knitting
“I love knitting. It helps to keep me calm. So, I knit and give it away, whether it’s hats, blankets, jumpers or toys. I have used up several lifetimes’ worth of wool, but the pile doesn’t seem any less, somehow.” – Susan, Shetland, Scotland
Altruism
“I am a retired, 76-year-old female. To me, abundance is having the ability to be helpful to others, as I have an abundance of time and a willingness to share this with others … by driving folks to various appointments, grocery shopping, visiting people in their homes. It’s a real win for me as well as for them.” – Christy, New York, US
“Every time I do something kind for someone else, I realise so quickly that kindness is limitless, and each kind act generates others, and increases the capacity of my heart to keep giving.” – Ciara, Perth, Scotland, UK
Abundance is a mindset that there is more of everything. There are more connections to be made, more adventures to be had, more love to be felt
Possibility
“Abundance is a mindset that there is more of everything. There are more connections to be made, more adventures to be had, more love to be felt. When you tap into this mindset, you receive more of whatever it was that you thought you were lacking.” – Tori, Perth, Australia
Gardening
“Avid gardener here – having extra veggies to share with family, friends and neighbours makes me feel like I’m living in abundance.” – Linda, Alberta, Canada
Books
“I see abundance in the library and my desire to learn about the world. To have the mental space and time to engage with the library is abundance to me. My library card beats my credit card any day.” – Isabella, Vancouver, Canada
Simple pleasures
“Living a full, contented, happy life. Embracing the simple pleasures, like hearing the laughter of children and birds singing, or looking at clouds in the sky.” – Carla, Devon, UK
Main image: Antonino Visalli
