"The word prosperity comes from the Latin root word which literally translates to 'according to hope' or 'to go forward hopefully.'  Thus, it is not so much a condition in life as it is an attitude toward life." -Eric Butterworth, Spiritual Economics 

A friend of mine was at my home the other day for lunch.  As usual, my dogs Bear and Beau were hanging around the kitchen, hoping one of us would drop something they could lunge at and devour before we could yell "no!"

As Bear inched slowly toward the pot of soup I'd left simmering on the stove, my friend smiled and said, "He's prospering with such charm and character!"

Huh?

I asked her to repeat what she'd said. I didn't understand her choice of words.  Did she mean 'prospecting' or 'proceeding'?

"Prospering," she repeated.  "It means going forward hopefully."

I'd never heard that definition.  To me, prosperity is always about money and STUFF.  And, how could a dog have anything to do with prosperity?  Most of them don't own anything and, as Jerry Seinfeld says, they can't have their own money because they don't have any pockets in their coats to carry it in. 

My friend is "into metaphysics" and told me she knows many people who are, in fact, 'prospering' this year.  I think I'll join them.

May you also "go forward hopefully" in 2011 and enjoy an abundant year!