“I am grateful I listened to my body and spirit upon rising at 5:00AM and chose not to row and instead healed my mind with some baking. I made a Chocolate Banana Tahini Bread before work.” (Heather Houston 3-12-26)
“I am blessed to listen to blues tunes and cook in the quiet of the morning.” (Heather Houston 3-12-26)
“I am grateful to get 48 gift bags created for the Social Worker Appreciation Luncheon next week.” (Heather Houston 3-12-26)
“I am blessed to have a sexy clever loving husband.” (Heather Houston 3-12-26)
“I appreciate how our dog, Kiva, curls up in the well of my knees to sleep for the night.” (Heather Houston 3-12-26)
“I appreciate questions in emails that can be resolved with one sentence.” (Heather Houston 3-12-22)
Lyrics: Thrown like a star in my vast sleep I opened my eyes to take a peek To find that I was by the sea Gazing with tranquility ‘Twas then when the Hurdy Gurdy Man Came singing songs of love Then when the Hurdy Gurdy Man Came singing songs of love “Hurdy gurdy, hurdy gurdy, hurdy gurdy gurdy” he sang “Hurdy gurdy, hurdy gurdy, hurdy gurdy gurdy” he sang “Hurdy gurdy, hurdy gurdy, hurdy gurdy gurdy” he sang Histories of ages past Unenlightened shadows cast Down through all eternity The crying of humanity ‘Tis then when the Hurdy Gurdy Man Comes singing songs of love Then when the Hurdy Gurdy Man Comes singing songs of love “Hurdy gurdy, hurdy gurdy, hurdy gurdy gurdy” he sang “Hurdy gurdy, hurdy gurdy, hurdy gurdy, hurdy gurdy, hurdy gurd Hurdy gurdy, hurdy gurdy, hurdy gurdy gurdy” he sang “Hurdy gurdy, hurdy gurdy, hurdy gurdy gurdy” he sang Here comes the Roly Poly Man He’s singing songs of love “Roly poly, roly poly, holy poly poly” he sang “Hurdy gurdy, hurdy gurdy, hurdy gurdy gurdy” he sang “Hurdy gurdy, hurdy gurdy, hurdy gurdy gurdy” he sang
“How women look and how their looks change in the course of their lives, is not a frivolous question…’How do I look?’ she asks as her eyes meet the eyes in the mirror. She listens carefully for an answer, because it might prove quite illuminating.”
Kennedy Fraser (American Essayist, and Fashion Writer; 1948 ~ )
“‘How do I look?’ Is a question all of us have spent our lives asking others. But now that you are on a path towards your authenticity you have reached the point when you need to gently ask yourself this loaded question. And, once having asked, you need to listen carefully for the answer. Better yet, when you gaze into the mirror you should ask, ‘How do I feel?’ because how you feel about yourself on any particular day will influence how you look more than what you are wearing.”
“…we need to change our approach to beauty completely. Personal transformation begins with a strong inner life. We need to let Spirit show us the way…Twenty minutes of meditation a day, quiet reflection, or a restorative walk seeking your authentic self will do more for your looks than you will believe.”
“If we go down into ourselves we find that we possess exactly what we desire.”
Simone Adolphine Weil(French Philosopher, Mystic, and Political Activist; February 3rd, 1909 ~ August 24th, 1943)
“Before my story began…” (Heather Houston 3-12-22)
1972 Me…at my Aunt Carrie’s Baby Shower
“I think my meditation needs to include a mantra of self-love. I often wonder what it would be like to love yourself…love your protein sack…HHHhhhmmmmmm.” (Heather Houston 3-12-26)
“I find my inner beauty routine involves my morning meditation and devotion to my sacredness and the blessing I am. Remembering to judge nothing that occurs and remain in the world of acceptance has really started my days in better peace and tranquility. It quiets the noise so I can start the daily newly without the recording playing in the background.”
–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 79-80 of 501.
I challenge each of you on this blog series to post comments so we all can grow together.
My Distilled Life 