Month: January 2026

My Abundant Life 1-22-26

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January 22nd, 2026

The Prosperity of Living

“Woman must be the pioneer in this turning inward for strength. In a sense she has always been the pioneer.”

Anne Spencer Morrow Lindbergh (American Author and Aviator; June 22nd, 1906 ~ February 2nd, 2001)

“The return of good times is not wholly a matter of money. There is a prosperity of the pocketbook,”

Ladies’ Home Journal (Editorial; October 1932)

“”It is not enough to be willing to make the best of things as they are. Resignation will get us nowhere. We must build what amounts to a new country. We must revive the ideals of the founders. We must learn the new values of money. It is a time for pioneering—to create a new security for the home and the family…Where we were specialists in living.”

Ladies’ Home Journal (Editorial; October 1932)

“Are you ready to become a pioneer?”

“I am committed to being a pioneer to find my new place in this portion of my life. It is all new territory, but I am brave, courageous and persistent. I am in action to create new possibilities in my life toward a life of abundance.” (Heather Houston 1-22-22)

“Wow…flash forward and I am living abundantly. Merely BEing present in my life in each moment has given me access to see and appreciate the abundance everywhere. I am so thankful to have learned this skill.” (Heather Houston 1-22-26)

–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 22-24 of 501.

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

Daily Gratitude 1-21-26

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January 21st, 2026

  • “I am grateful to watch “The Ocean” on Netflix which is narrated by Barrack Obama. Needing this positive energy right now in these uncertain times.” (Heather Houston 1-21-26)
  • “I appreciate having a bit of fudge on hand in the house to fill my need for something sweet. Neil has a brilliant idea to take a square and cut it into smaller portions to enjoy throughout the day. BRILLIANT!” (Heather Houston 1-21-26)
  • “I am thankful there was little to no traffic this morning on my commute.” (Heather Houston 1-21-26)
  • “My lovely husband crafted a dish from our World Tour of Chicken to enjoy for dinner tonight…Singapore Chicken. Thank you my love!” ❤️(Heather Houston 1-21-26)
  • (Heather Houston 1-21-26)
  • “I appreciate my commitment to pursuing student loan forgiveness by calling and waiting on hold for 3 hours to get the answers to begin the process.  The forgiveness of my loans would be a fiscal abundance to be free of that has been on my back for over 25 years.” (Heather Houston 1-21-22)
  • “I am grateful to being successful at inputting over 120 appointments for my athletes so they would be afforded training time without other conflicts.” (Heather Houston 1-21-22)
  • “I am thankful the federal student loan consolidation process toward loan forgiveness was a quick 15-minute process.” (Heather Houston 1-21-22)
  • “I appreciate my partner’s patience with me as I texted him numerous questions during my grocery shopping.  I was poopy tired and needed his input to decipher the Asian characters in the Uwajimaya Market in order to get the makings for Pork Lo Mein for dinner.” (Heather Houston 1-21-22)
  • “I am blessed to be able to travel the world with my partner via our cooking.  Tonight we made Pork Lo Mein and it was YUMMY!” (Heather Houston 1-21-22)

My Musical Life 1-21-26

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January 21st, 2026

#5 People Got to Be Free (The Rascals) 👍🏼

Lyrics:
All the world over, so easy to see
People everywhere just wanna be free
Listen, please listen, that’s the way it should be
There’s peace in the valley, people got to be free🪄
You should see
What a lovely, lovely world this’d be
Everyone learned to live together, ah hah
Seems to me
Such an easy easy thing it should be
Why can’t you and me learn to love one another?🪄
All the world over, so easy to see
People everywhere just wanna be free (wanna be free)
I can’t understand it, so simple to me
People everywhere just got to be free🪄
If there’s a man
Who is down and needs a helpin’ hand
All it takes is you to understand and
To pull him through, ah hah
Seems to me
We got to solve it individually, ah ah
And I’ll do unto you what you do to me
Said, no🪄
Hear the shoutin’ from the mountains on out to the sea
No two ways about it, people have to be free (they gotta be free)
Ask me my opinion, my opinion will be
Natural situation for a man to be free🪄
Get right on board now, huh, huh🪄
Yeah oh, what a feelin’s just come over me
Love can move a mountain, make a blind man see
Everybody sing it now come on let’s go see
Peace in the valley now, we all can be free🪄
See that train over there?
Now that’s the train of freedom
It’s about to ‘rrive any minute, now
You know it’s been’a long, long overdue
Look out ’cause it’s a’comin’ right on through
Ha, ha, yeah, ha, ha, yeah

My Abundant Life 1-21-26

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January 21st, 2026

Letting Go of Limiting Illusions

“I like living. I have sometimes been wildly, despairingly, acutely miserable, racked with sorrow, but through it all I still know quite certainly that just to be alive is a grand thing.”

Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie (known as: Lady Mallowan or DBE) (English Writer; September 15th, 1890 ~ January 12th, 1976)

“For some of us the thought of trusting a power outside ourselves to help make our dreams come true is definitely a threatening concept, especially if we’re used to being in control—or rather, used to the illusion of being in control.”

“This is a challenging idea, as I do not believe in a god/God. However, I do believe the universe has an energy within it that links us all to one another. Tapping into this is the key to “flow”. I strive to find my “flow” each and every day.” (Heather Houston 1-21-22 & 1-21-26)

–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 21-22 of 501.

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

Daily Gratitude 1-20-26

On By Heather HoustonIn 5 Daily GratitudesLeave a comment

January 20th, 2026

  • “I am thankful my love gets up at the crack of dawn with me to make me breakfast for after my rowing workout. His care with making sure I am fed before work is priceless. Thank you my love!”❤️ (Heather Houston 1-20-26)
  • “I am grateful we have a meeting at work today where they are bringing in box lunches. I was in a hurry this morning and neglected to make my lunch before leaving for work.” (Heather Houston 1-20-26)
  • “I appreciate that tonight is Gringo Taco night and my love has made fresh Pico de gallo…YUM!” (Heather Houston 1-20-26)
  • “I am blessed to have such a wonderful husband who creates yummy meals.” (Heather Houston 1-20-26)
  • “I am thankful I have a warm home as I see the temperature beginning to fall to freezing tonight.” (Heather Houston 1-20-26)
  • “I am thankful to be working with a group of swimming athletes who are committed to improving.” (Heather Houston 1-20-22)
  • “I am thankful for my Spotify subscription to veg out to music on my commute home after a frustrating day at work.” (Heather Houston 1-20-22)
  • “I am grateful to have a partner that listens to me without judgement as I melt down with frustration at learning my employer had renewed my contract at a wage that didn’t even meet the basic Cost Of Living Adjustment (COLA).  at a lowly 2.5% per year, my wage increase equated to .5% for the next 5 years.  UGH!  Time to find a new job!” (Heather Houston 1-20-22)
  • “I am blessed to have a partner who shows me his love by giving me time to relax on the couch while he creates a delectable fillet and roasted potato dinner.” (Heather Houston 1-20-22)
  • “I appreciate being wrapped up in the arms of my love at night, making me feel safe, supported and loved before I drift to sleep.  A great way to bookend the day together.”💖 (Heather Houston 1-20-22)

My Musical Life 1-20-26

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January 20th, 2026

#4 (Sittin’ On) the Dock of the Bay (Otis Redding) 👍🏼

Lyrics:
Sittin’ in the mornin’ sun
I’ll be sittin’ when the evenin’ come
Watching the ships roll in
And I watch ’em roll away again, yeah🪄
I’m sittin’ on the dock of the bay
Watching the tide roll away
Ooh, I’m just sittin’ on the dock of the bay
Wastin’ time🪄
I left my home in Georgia
Headed for the ‘Frisco bay
‘Cause I’ve had nothing to live for
And look like nothing’s gonna come my way🪄
So I’m just gonna sit on the dock of the bay
Watching the tide roll away
Ooh, I’m sittin’ on the dock of the bay
Wastin’ time🪄
Look like nothing’s gonna change
Everything still remains the same
I can’t do what ten people tell me to do
So I guess I’ll remain the same, yes🪄
Sittin’ here resting my bones
And this loneliness won’t leave me alone
It’s two thousand miles I roamed
Just to make this dock my home🪄
Now, I’m just gonna sit at the dock of the bay
Watching the tide roll away
Ooh-wee, sittin’ on the dock of the bay
Wastin’ time

My Abundant Life 1-20-26

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January 20th, 2026

Acres of Diamonds

“Your diamonds are not in far distant mountains or in yonder seas; they are in your own backyard, if you but dig for them.”

Russell H. Conwell (American Baptist Minister, Orator, Philanthropist, Lawyer, and Writer; February 15th, 1843 ~ December 6th, 1925)

“…within each of us lies a wellspring of abundance and the seeds of opportunity. For each of us there is a deeply personal dream waiting to be discovered and fulfilled. When we cherish our dreams and then invest love, creative energy, perseverance, and passion in ourselves, we will achieve an authentic success.”

“Where is your acre of diamonds? If you could do anything in the world, what would it be?”

“My acre of diamonds is time spent with the love of my life. Wherever we are together is my acre of diamonds. What I would love to do is have a beach front diner/bar in a tropical location. We would serve only the tequila, mezcal and scotch we love along with a selection of our favorite meals. We would host live music to dance to on a sand floor. Our private residence would be on the property. I would furnish it simply and modestly to focus my energy on the beauty around. We would have a few bungalows on site to offer lodging to visitors or to host guests. My focus would be on creating memories with my partner. In a perfect world, my children and family would visit and vacation at our resort. We would travel and host workshops while podcasting in interesting locations.” (Heather Houston 1-20-22 & 1-20-26)

“We all have an acre of diamonds waiting to be discovered, cherished, and mined. We all have a place from where to begin. Let your imagination soar, for it is your soul’s blueprint for success.”

–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 20-21 of 501.

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

Daily Gratitude 1-19-26

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January 19th, 2026

  • “I am thankful my husband puts out the rowing machine each night as a caretaker of our health and wellness. This allows me to get up early and take care of my own well being first thing in the morning by getting in my workout. Thank you my love!❤️ (Heather Houston 1-19-26)
  • “Grateful we had leftover sourdough pancakes from yesterday’s breakfast to enjoy today for breakfast.” (Heather Houston 1-19-26)
  • “I appreciate my husband making up the bacon to go with my morning pancakes.” (Heather Houston 1-19-26)
  • “I am blessed to have a healthy active body which can row 5000m in 27:15 which created a 12.7 strain (1 minute @ 162 bpm; 11 minutes @ 152-161 bpm; 6 minutes @ 142-151 bpm; 5 minutes @ 132-141 bpm; 1 minute @ 111-131 bpm & 1 minute <11 bpm).” (Heather Houston 1-19-26)
  • Grateful we returned to our World Tour of Soup and made a Thai soup (Lemongrass Chicken with Coconut Soup) (Heather Houston 1-19-26)
  • “I am thankful for my early morning cuddle time with my partner before finally having to get up at 4:00AM. Thank you honey.”♥️ (Heather Houston 1-19-22)
  • “I am grateful I make enough money to buy a homeless kid a breakfast this morning. He was sitting with his sign at the McDonald’s Drive-thru. I think I startled him when I asked if I could buy him breakfast. We should all take notice of our sisters and brothers more often  to help when we can.” (Heather Houston 1-19-22)
  • “I am thankful my commute home was not wall-to-wall traffic.” (Heather Houston 1-19-22)
  • “I appreciate my partner sharing some of his fries at dinner so I could dip them in my chocolate milkshake. 🍟YUM!!!” (Heather Houston 1-19-22)
  • “I am blessed to have the world’s best dog in my life. Who plays a night game with me to see who can beat one another to bed. Tonight I won!!!”🏆 (Heather Houston 1-19-22)

My Musical Life 1-19-26

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January 19th, 2026

#3 Honey (Bobby Goldsboro) 👍🏼

Lyrics:
See the tree, how big it’s grown
But friend it hasn’t been too long
It wasn’t big
I laughed at her and she got mad,
The first day that she planted it
Was just a twig
Then the first snow came and she ran out
To brush the snow away
So it wouldn’t die
Came runnin’ in all excited
Slipped and almost hurt herself
And I laughed till I cried🪄
She was always young at heart
Kinda dumb and kinda smart
And I loved her so
And I surprised her with a puppy
Kept me up all Christmas Eve two years ago
And it would sure embarrass her
When I came in from workin’ late
‘Cause I would know
That she’d been sittin’ there and cryin’
Over some sad and silly late, late show🪄
And honey, I miss you and I’m bein’ good
And I’d love to be with you if only I could🪄
She wrecked the car and she was sad
And so afraid that I’d be mad
But what the heck
Though I pretended hard to be
Guess you could say she saw through me
And hugged my neck
I came home unexpectedly
And caught her cryin’ needlessly
In the middle of a day
And it was in the early spring
When flowers bloom and robins sing
She went away🪄
And honey, I miss you and I’m bein’ good
And I’d love to be with you if only I could🪄
One day while I was not at home
While she was there and all alone
The angels came
Now all I have is memories of honey
And I wake up nights and call her name
Now my life’s an empty stage
Where honey lived and honey played
And love grew up
And a small cloud passes overhead
And cries down on the flower bed
That honey loved🪄
And see the tree how big it’s grown
But friend it hasn’t been too long
It wasn’t big
And I laughed at her and she got mad
The first day that she planted it
Was just a twig

My Abundant Life 1-19-26

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January 19th, 2026

Joy: Learning Life’s Lessons with a Light Heart

“I cannot believe that the inscrutable universe turns on an axis of suffering; surely the strange beauty of the world must someshere rest on pure joy.”

Louise Bogan (American Poet; August 11th, 1897 ~ February 4th, 1970)

“We learn each day how cultivating gratitude tills the soil of our soul and then how the seeds of simplicity and order send their roots down deep into the earth of our everyday existence. As we progress, harmony inspires us with quiet courage to create an authentic life for ourselves and those we love. With patience, beauty blossoms and our hearts experience not only happiness, which is often fleeting, but a wellspring of joy that refreshes and renews. We have found our true place in the world.”

“With an eye made quiet by the power of harmony, and the deep power of joy, we see into the life of things.”

William Wordsworth (English Romantic Poet; April 7th, 1770 ~ April 23rd, 1850)

“Learning to live in the present moment is part of the path of joy. But this requires a profound inner shift in our reality. Many of us unconsciously create dramas in our minds, expecting the worse from a situation only to have our expectations become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Inadvertently, we become authors of our own misfortune. And so we struggle from day to day, from crisis to crisis, bruised and battered by circumstances without realizing that we always have a choice.”

“Oh geez! I am committed to living in the present, even if I struggle with the human tendency to look back and use my “evidence” to support why financial scarcity looms in my life. I do have a choice and I am committed through my daily gratitude practice to see the abundance in my life ongoingly. Access to abundance is a choice that I may fulfill if I allow myself to see it and create it as a possibility.” (Heather Houston 1-19-22)

“Wow has my shift occurred in an unexpected way and it is DIVINE! I see abundance all around me in everything I do everything I see and every possibility I create. BEing is the juice of life with the story on tape playing in your head. It is true freedom and true access to happiness.” (Heather Houston 1-19-26)

“But what if you learned how to stop the dramas and started to trust the flow of life and the goodness of Spirit? What if you began to expect the best from any situation? Isn’t it possible that you could write new chapters in your life with happy endings? For many of us this is such a radical departure from the way we have been behaving that it seems unbelievable. Yet it is possible. Suspend your disbelief. Take a leap of faith. After all, what have you got to lose but misery and lack?”

“Well living in lack and upset is no way to “LIVE”. I will need to be mindful as I have a deeply rooted bad habit. I am committed to living in the present, relishing what I do have and forecasting the best of scenarios for experiences, circumstances, tasks, etc.” (Heather Houston 1-19-22)

“Beingness is a learned skill that I have honed and find it easier to remain in longer and longer throughout the day. A true transformation is possible with intentional effort and attention.” (Heather Houston 1-19-26)

–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 19-20 of 501.

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