Month: January 2026

My Musical Life 1-28-26

On By Heather HoustonIn My Musical LifeLeave a comment

January 28th, 2026

#12 Little Green Apples (O.C. Smith) 👍🏼

Lyrics:
And I wake up in the mornin’
With my hair down in my eyes and she says “Hi”
And I stumble to the breakfast table
While the kids are goin’ off to school, goodbye🪄
She reaches out and takes my hand
And squeezes it and says, “How you feeling hon?”
And I look across at smiling lips
That warm my heart and see my morning sun🪄
And if that’s not lovin’ me then all I’ve got to say🪄
God didn’t make a little green apples
It don’t rain in Indianapolis in the summertime
No such thing as Doctor Seuss
Disneyland or Mother Goose is no nursery rhyme🪄
God didn’t make a little green apples
And it ain’t gonna rain in Indianapolis in the summertime
When myself is feelin’ low
Think about her face aglow and ease my mind🪄
Sometimes I call her up at home knowing she’s busy
And ask if she could get away and meet me and grab a bite to eat
Then she drops what she’s doin’ and hurries down to meet me
And I’m always late but she sits waitin’ patiently
And smiles when she first sees me ’cause she’s made that way🪄
And if that’s not lovin’ me then all I’ve got to say🪄
God didn’t make a little green apples
It don’t snow in Minneapolis when the winter comes
There’s no such think as make believe
Puppy dogs and autumn leaves and BB guns🪄
God didn’t make a little green apples
And it ain’t gonna rain in Indianapolis in the summertime
When myself is feelin’ low
I think about her face aglow and ease my mind
To ease my mind, to ease my mind

My Abundant Life 1-28-26

On By Heather HoustonIn My Abundant LifeLeave a comment

January 28th, 2026

The Illustrated Discovery Journal

“Knowledge of what you love somehow comes to you; you don’t have to read nor analyze nor study. If you love a thing enough, knowledge of it seeps into you, with particulars more real than any chart can furnish.”

Jessamyn West (American Author of Short Stories and Novels; July 18th, 1902 ~ February 23rd, 1984)

“The key to loving how you live is in knowing what it is you truly love.”

“To know what you prefer instead of humbly saying Amen to what the world tells you you ought to prefer, is to keep your soul alive.”

Robert Louis Stevenson (Scottish Novelist, Essayist, Poet and Travel Writer; November 13th, 1850 ~ December 3rd, 1894)

“One of the most pleasurable ways to start finding out your personal preferences is by creating an illustrated discovery journal. This is your explorer’s log as you begin to make your way into the darkest terra incognita: your authentic inner world. We feed our imaginations and get in touch with our authenticity by gathering together beautiful images that speak to our souls.”

“Meditating on one visual image a day can jump-start your creativity and lead to revealing insights.”

“At night before you go to bed, when you’re in a drowsy, relaxed, and receptive state,…” select images and place in your “Illustrated Discovery Journal.” = My Bucket List…”Soon they will give you directions about where your heart wants you to go.”

My Bucket List

Positano, Italy (2022)
Iguazú Falls, Argentina and Brazil (2026)

“I found a couple new job opportunities that seem to have fallen into my lap today. All three are within my professional expertise and potentially advance my career while paying me what I am worth. I am revamping my resume to market myself specific to these positions. I know a few people with in two of the organizations I am applying to who I am reaching out to for referrals. Here goes my hat…throwing it into the ring.”🤞(Heather Houston 1-28-22)

“I am at a point in my career where making a difference and having an impact is paramount. Today, One of our social workers was planning a visit to an indigenous youth and wanted to develop a connection. This youth is transexual and 9-years old. I encouraged the social worker to connect with the youth’s tribe who offered to provide him a quilt. I also suggested he visit 8th Generation in Seattle to purchase a blanket for the youth. She picked a purple toned blanket. I also encouraged the social worker to connect with the youth’s identity by gifting her a hair accessory. The social worker was not sure what to get so I offered to make her something as an indigenous elder. Below is what I created and I hope this gift will help her be seen as she sees herself.” (Heather Houston 1-28-26)

–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 29-30 of 501.

I challenge each of you on this blog series to post comments so we all can grow together.

Daily Gratitude 1-27-26

On By Heather HoustonIn 5 Daily GratitudesLeave a comment

January 27th, 2026

  • “I am grateful to not have to workout today…Doctors orders. As my chest is pretty sore.” (Heather Houston 1-27-26)
  • “I am blessed my husband has been on cleaning duties to give me a break while I heal from my puncture wound…LOL!” 🏹 (Heather Houston 1-27-26)
  • “I am thankful to witness a colleague come to a transformative realization about her BEingness in life and sharing that tidbit with me. So powerful!” (Heather Houston 1-27-26)
  • “I am blessed to live in a time when medical care can be advanced enough to help prevent life ending diseases when caught early.” (Heather Houston 1-27-26)
  • “I am thankful my husband plays an audiobook to put me to sleep at night so my mind has little time to wander.” (Heather Houston 1-27-26)
  • “I am blessed to have the time in the morning to get the house in order so when my partner rises in the morning, he as a clean home to start his day in.” (Heather Houston 1-27-22)
  • “I am grateful that a swimming pool has hours that align with the coaching hours for my athletes.” (Heather Houston 1-27-22)
  • “I am thankful the traffic on my commute home today was unusually light.  Seems like I got home in less than an hour today.  WINNING!”🏆 (Heather Houston 1-27-22)
  • “I appreciate the simple things in life.  My partner and I settled on loaded baked potatoes for dinner which was simple, easy and fabulous!” (Heather Houston 1-27-22)
  • “I am thankful for the softest sheets in the universe on my bed.  It makes going to bed each night a joy!” (Heather Houston 1-27-22)

My Musical Life 1-27-26

On By Heather HoustonIn My Musical LifeLeave a comment

January 27th, 2026

#11 Harper Valley P.T.A. (Jeannie C. Riley) 👍🏼

Lyrics:
I wanna tell you all a story ’bout
A Harper Valley widowed wife
Who had a teenage daughter
Who attended Harper Valley Junior High
Well, her daughter came home one afternoon
And didn’t even stop to play
And she said, “mom, I got a note here from the Harper Valley PTA”🪄
Well, the note said, “Mrs. Johnson
You’re wearin’ your dresses way too high
It’s reported you’ve been drinking
And a-running ’round with men and goin’ wild
And we don’t believe you oughta be a-bringin’ up
Your little girl this way”
And it was signed by the Secretary
Harper Valley PTA🪄
Well, it happened that the PTA was gonna meet
That very afternoon
And they were sure surprised
When Mrs. Johnson wore her miniskirt into the room
And as she walked up to the blackboard
I can still recall the words she had to say
She said, “I’d like to address this meeting of the Harper Valley PTA🪄
Well, there’s Bobby Taylor sittin’ there
And seven times he’s asked me for a date
And Mrs. Taylor sure seems to use a lotta ice
Whenever he’s away
And Mr. Baker can you tell us why
Your secretary had to leave this town?
And shouldn’t widow Jones be told to keep
Her window shades all pulled completely down🪄
Well, Mr. Harper couldn’t be here
‘Cause he stayed too long at Kelly’s Bar again
And if you smell Shirley Thompson’s breath
You’ll find she’s had a little nip of gin
And then you have the nerve to tell me
You think that as the mother I’m not fit
Well, this is just a little Peyton Place
And you’re all Harper Valley hypocrites”🪄
No, I wouldn’t put you on because it really did
It happened just this way
The day my mama socked it to the Harper Valley PTA
The day my mama socked it to the Harper Valley PTA

My Abundant Life 1-27-26

On By Heather HoustonIn My Abundant LifeLeave a comment

January 27th, 2026

The Daily Dialogue

“I will write myself into well-being.”

Nancy Mair (Author; July 23rd, 1943 ~ December 3rd, 2016)

“I took a spiral notebook and began having a conversation with myself on the paper. Everything I was worried about just pilled out in a rapid stream of consciousness. What I was doing was not so much recording the events in my life as much as eliminating the mental minutiae that was depleting my creative energy and driving me crazy.”

“Groan and forget it.”

Jessamyn West (American Author of short stories and Novels; July 18th, 1902 ~ February 23rd, 1984)

“I call this ritual the daily dialogue because you are really conversing with someone much wiser and saner as you write: your authentic self.”

“Try writing a daily dialogue as an experiment for twenty-one days. That’s the length of time psychologists tell us we need to perform a new behavior before it becomes habitual….Stressed souls need the reassuring rhythm of self-nurturing rituals.”

“Just get down on paper whatever’s hovering on the horizon of your brain disguised as a dull headache.”

“With pencil and paper, I could revise the world.”

Alison Lurie (American Novelist and Academic; September 3rd, 1926 ~ December 3rd, 2020)

“The last few weeks have been frustrating as I learned my salary for the next 5-years in my current contract was not even near the COLA (2.5%) increase annually. What is did for me was give me clarity on my next steps in my career. With this shift, I was able to let go of some of the frustrations in my current workplace. I am still doing complete work, but I am not going above and beyond. This has given me relief in the level of stressors in my work environment. My co-workers are beginning to realize what I was actually doing for the team and what is now left for them to complete without my assistance. I am on a quest to find the perfect fit for my new career chapter. This excites me and I am committed to strive toward this without fear or reservation. I appreciate knowing how much my employer values me so I can find a place and a position where my efforts and contributions will be valued for what they are.”🙏 (Heather Houston 1-27-22)

“My biopsy really zapped my energy. It is not everyday you get a puncture wound the size of a 1/4-thikness of an arrow. Yes, I said an arrow like Robin Hood. I found at the end of he day I felt like I collapsed into bed from the sheer ongoing ache and soreness. I can’t wait until my histology results are complete so I can close this chapter.” (Heather Houston 1-27-26)

–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 27-29 of 501.

I challenge each of you on this blog series to post comments so we all can grow together.

Daily Gratitude 1-26-26

On By Heather HoustonIn 5 Daily GratitudesLeave a comment

January 26th, 2026

  • “I am grateful I had sick leave in order to take off today as ai prepared mentally for my biopsy.” (Heather Houston 1-26-26)
  • “I am thankful to be able to meditate twice today.” (Heather Houston 1-26-26)
  • “ I am thankful my husband drove me to my appointment.”❤️ (Heather Houston 1-26-26)
  • “I am grateful that the medical team was thoughtful and kind as I asked my many confirming questions at my appointment.” (Heather Houston 1-26-26)
  • “I am blessed to have a husband who cares for me and made a lovely pazole for dinner.” (Heather Houston 1-26-26)
  • “I appreciate getting nearly 8-hours of sleep to start my day (7-hours & 41-minutes). When I am rested, everything is better in my day and how I experience it.” (Heather Houston 1-26-22)
  • “I am thankful that my food hankerings align with my partner.  He mentioned having loaded hot dogs for dinner and I was all in!” (Heather Houston 1-26-22)
  • “I am grateful my employer allows teleworking from time to time.” (Heather Houston 1-26-22)
  • “I love having an afternoon delight moment with my love before dinner.  HOT!!!” (Heather Houston 1-26-22)
  • “I am blessed to have a dog who loves me enough to try to be a parrot.  He will perch himself on the back of the couch looking over my shoulder to be as close as possible to his #1 playmate.” (Heather Houston 1-26-22)

My Musical Life 1-26-26

On By Heather HoustonIn My Musical LifeLeave a comment

January 26th, 2026

#10 Tighten Up (Archie Bell & The Drells) 👍🏼

Lyrics:
Hi everybody
I’m Archie Bell of the Drells, from Houston, Texas
We don’t only sing
But we dance just as good as we walk
In Houston, we just started a new dance
Called the Tighten Up
This is the music we tighten up with🪄
First tighten up on the drums
Come on now, drummer
I want you to tighten it up for me now, oh, yeah
Tighten up on that bass now
Tighten it up, ha, ha, yeah
Now let that guitar fall in
Oh, yeah
Tighten up on that organ now
Yeah, you do the tighten up, yeah, now🪄
I said, if you can do it now
It sure would be tough
Now look here, come on now
Now make it mellow🪄
Let’s tighten it up now
Do the tighten up
Everybody can do it now
So get to it
We’re gonna tighten up
Let’s do the tighten up
You can do it now
So baby, get to it🪄
Look to your left now
Look to your right
Everybody can do it
But don’t you get too tight
Come on and tighten up
Let’s tighten it up now
Let’s tighten it up now
Tighten it up
Oh, do the tighten up
Come on and tighten it up
Tighten it up now, come on now, Billy🪄
Tighten it up, oh, yeah
Sock it to me now, tighten it up
Come on and tighten up that bass, oh, yeah
Now look here, I want that guitar to fall in on there
Tighten it up now
Oh, yeah
Now tighten it up, organ🪄
Yeah, now everybody tighten it up now
Now look here, we gonna make it mellow for you now
We gonna make it mellow now🪄
Oh, tighten it up
You can get it
Move to your left, move to your right
Tighten it up now
Everything will be outta sight
Come on and tighten it up
Tighten it up now
You can do it

My Abundant Life 1-26-26

On By Heather HoustonIn My Abundant LifeLeave a comment

January 26th, 2026

Simple Abundance: The Basic Tools

“Take the gentle path.”

George Herbert (Poet, Orator, and Priest of the Church of England; April 3rd, 1593 ~ March 1st, 1633)

“There is no companion so companionable as Solitude.”

Henry David Thoreau (American Naturalist, Essayist, Poet, and Philosopher; July 12th, 1817 ~ May 6th, 1862)

“See if you can’t give yourself the gift of one hour a day to journey within.”

“This much I know: if you go deep enough, often enough, something good is bound to come back to you.”

“I have committed to daily journaling and reflection. I don’t make it a hard fast start stop as I add doses of it throughout my day instead of a concentrated hour. This enables me to feel like I am addressing and being attentive to my own self-care on an ongoing basis throughout my day vs. being a task to check off my list.” (Heather Houston 1-26-26)

–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 26-27 of 501.

I challenge each of you on this blog series to post comments so we all can grow together.

Daily Gratitude 1-25-26

On By Heather HoustonIn 5 Daily GratitudesLeave a comment

January 25th, 2026

  • “I am grateful my husband muddled through my sourdough pancakes even though I messed up on the amount of flour.” (Heather Houston 1-25-26)
  • “I am blessed to spend the day relaxing with my love.” ❤️ (Heather Houston 1-25-26)
  • “I appreciate our strategy for achieving the perfect grocery shop. Creating a weekly menu, categorizing the needed items and shopping at the stores which offer the best ingredients.” (Heather Houston 1-25-26)
  • “I am thankful for my husband’s inspiration to create an Agog Pizza tonight.” 🍕(Heather Houston 1-25-26)
  • “I am thankful for our nightly getting ready for sleep routine each night to express our gratitude for the day and set our bodies up for a restful sleep. Go Sleep Hygiene!” Heather Houston 1-25-26)
  • “I am thankful for the deep love of my partner.  He surprised me this morning with a commissioned work of digital art.  It is of a sexual context and an image rendition of me, so I will keep it to myself.  However, not in a million years would I have ever thought some would commission a piece of art just for me.  It is beautiful and a fabulous expression of our love.  I love you Neil!”💖 (Heather Houston 1-25-22)
  • “I am blessed to work with Dave Iuli with our field athletes today.  We both have gifts to offer these athletes and we compliment one another’s coaching style.  Thanks Dave!” (Heather Houston 1-25-22)
  • “I am grateful to have swimming athletes who are so coachable.  I asked them to do an interval outside of their normal mode and they both had a break through in their swimming form and pacing.  Excellent job Dustin and Stacey!” (Heather Houston 1-25-22)
  • “I am thankful that my partner and I made our favorite meal for dinner…breaded pan fried fillet of sole.  It is what we affectionately call “crack.”  It is addictive like a drug it is so delectable.” (Heather Houston 1-25-22) 1-25-22 Breaded Pan Fried Fillet of Sole
  • “I appreciate the pre sleep cuddle moments with my love each night as I drift to sleep safe, secure and loved.” (Heather Houston 1-25-22)

My Musical Life 1-25-26

On By Heather HoustonIn My Musical LifeLeave a comment

January 25th, 2026

#9 Mrs. Robinson (Simon & Garfunkel) 👍🏼

Lyrics:
And here’s to you, Mrs. Robinson
Jesus loves you more than you will know
Whoa, whoa, whoa
God bless you, please, Mrs. Robinson
Heaven holds a place for those who pray
Hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey🪄
We’d like to know a little bit about you for our files
We’d like to help you learn to help yourself
Look around you, all you see are sympathetic eyes
Stroll around the grounds until you feel at home🪄
And here’s to you, Mrs. Robinson
Jesus loves you more than you will know
Whoa, whoa, whoa
God bless you, please, Mrs. Robinson
Heaven holds a place for those who pray
Hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey🪄
Hide it in a hiding place where no one ever goes
Put it in your pantry with your cupcakes
It’s a little secret, just the Robinson’s affair
Most of all, you’ve got to hide it from the kids🪄
Coo, coo, ca-choo, Mrs. Robinson
Jesus loves you more than you will know
Whoa, whoa, whoa
God bless you, please, Mrs. Robinson
Heaven holds a place for those who pray
Hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey🪄
Sitting on a sofa on a Sunday afternoon
Going to the candidates debate
Laugh about it, shout about it
When you’ve got to choose
Every way you look at this, you lose🪄
Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio?
Our nation turns its lonely eyes to you
Woo, woo, woo
What’s that you say, Mrs. Robinson?
Joltin’ Joe has left and gone away
Hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey