Starting Simply, Living Fully
Photo by Diane Fanucci
As this is my first post on my new blog, I would like to provide an overview of where I see this going and a glimpse into how I try to live my life. But let’s start by defining Unpretentious Abundance. Unpretentious - not pretentious; free from ostentation, pomp, elegance, or affectation; modest. Abundance - a great quantity, overflowing fullness, plentiful supply of means or resources. Unpretentious Abundance sounds very much like an oxymoron…and it is. It is because Unpretentious Abundance is about living a life of balance. Over my lifetime, I have experienced times of financial poverty, as well as times of financial wealth. But what I have learned about myself is that I want the least that I need to be comfortable and happy. The more you have, the more you have to take care of. I don’t like feeling burdened by “stuff.” At times, my posts may reflect a minimalist slant. However, I do feel that I truly live abundantly.
There are a wide range of areas that I will be exploring in this blog. There will be discussions on finances - debt, budgeting, credit cards, thoughtful giving; media literacy - fake news and bias, clickbait, scams and fraud; consumerism - consumer protection, product reviews, discounts, bartering; “green” consumerism - sustainability, repurposing, up-cycling; and all things home - hospitality, cooking, decorating, parenting, fashion, fitness, gardening; and so much more.
There is another integral and essential piece to this puzzle of living an abundant life. It isn’t just about material possessions. To live a happy and balanced life, we must also seek spiritual abundance, including joy, peace, love and hope. This is the abundance that results from a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. John 10:10 says, The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. Our God wants us to have full, prosperous, and happy lives. And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day. (Deuteronomy 8:18) We must trust in His promises to provide for us.
God is the source of all provision. He wants us to have faith in that provision. And in that provision, we need to be grateful; we must demonstrate good stewardship; and we must exhibit generosity. Unpretentious Abundance is about being open to all of God’s bounty, living your best life, and seeing Christ in and throughout your daily life. I hope you take this journey with me.
