Abundance Positively Leads to Possibilities

Abundance is an interesting word.  Many people perceive the word in an negative way.  I presently view it in a positive way.

Veronica Roth, the host of this week's drawing challenge, has selected the word "Abundance" to be the inspiration for our art, and a tribute to our American friends and families, who have Thanksgiving filled tummies.

I hummed and hawed about what to draw all week.  I am grateful for many things, time, family, good health, friends, and so much more, but as I was sitting on the couch this evening looking for inspiration, I gazed desperately across the room and my book shelf grabbed my eyes.  "Hello,"  it said to me, "Look at all of the books on me.  Don't you think I would be an excellent model for your Abundance challenge?"

I began to ponder the idea of my abundance of books.  The question filled my mind, "Why is that we always want more, when we have so many?"

I have recently made a promise to myself that I am not to buy anymore books until I have read the ones I have.  I have an abundance of books, art, painting, historical, picture, children's books and even books in languages I don't even know.  Why?

I love the smells, the textures, the colours, the graphics and illustrations and fonts.  Most of all, I adore the possibilities that rest between the pages and the possibilities that may jump into my mind and dive into reality.

One Thanksgiving, I asked my grade four and five students, "What is one thing you could never live without?" I was expecting family, food, but of course most of them said computers or Game Boys (Okay, it was a long time ago,  Do they even have those anymore?)  Surprisingly, one quirky wonderful girl said, "I could never live without the alphabet?"

I questioned, "The alphabet?"  It thought it strange for a girl her age, who had mastered the alphabet many years prior to that day, to be grateful for the alphabet.

She said, "The alphabet has endless possibilities.  I can arrange them to write anything I want, and I can read anything I want!"

I had to agree with the clever, insightful girl that indeed the alphabet is something I could not live without.  It is even important for playing and writing music and songs.

Books fill my shelves, my drawers, my treasure chests, my life, and I am grateful for the people who spill out their guts to write books and transport us into new worlds and helping our minds to be fresh with ideas and possibilities, keeping us learning, exploring and reflecting, creating and growing.  I , for one, will always positively have an abundant amount of books.

Thanks, Veronica for the idea and hosting this challenge!
Happy Paint Party Friday, too!