Lyrics: A long time ago, when the earth was still green And there were more kinds of animals than you’ve ever seen They’d run around free while the earth was being born But the loveliest of all was the unicorn There was green alligators and long-necked geese Some humpty-backed camels and some chimpanzees Some cats and rats and elephants, but sure as you’re born The loveliest of all was the unicorn Now god seen some sinnin’ and it gave him pain And he says, “stand back, I’m going to make it rain” He says, “hey, brother Noah, I’ll tell you what to do Build me a floating zoo” And take some of them green alligators and long-necked geese Some humpty-backed camels and some chimpanzees Some cats and rats and elephants, but sure as you’re born Don’t you forget my unicorn” Old Noah was there to answer the call He finished up making the ark just as the rain started fallin’ He marched in the animals two by two And he called out as they went through “Hey, Lord” I’ve got your green alligators and long-necked geese Some humpty-backed camels and some chimpanzees Some cats and rats and elephants, but Lord, I’m so forlorn I just can’t see no unicorn” Then Noah looked out through the driving rain Them unicorns was hiding, playing silly games Kicking and splashing while the rain was pouring Oh, them silly unicorns There was green alligators and long-necked geese Some humpty-backed camels and some chimpanzees Noah cried, “close the doors ’cause the rain is pourin’ And we just can’t wait for no unicorns” The ark started movin’, it drifted with the tide Them unicorns looked up from the rock and they cried And the waters came down and sort of floated them away And that’s why you’ll never see a unicorn, to this very day You’ll see green alligators and long-necked geese Some humpty-backed camels and some chimpanzees Some cats and rats and elephants, but sure as you’re born You’re never gonna see no unicorn
“Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else.”
Judy Garland (American Actress and Singer; June 10th, 1922 ~ June 22nd, 1969)
“You see, whether we are consciously aware of it or not, we’re constantly programmed by the world to be other women, not ourselves. …With this pervasive social schizophrenia, it’s no wonder that most women are terribly confused about the issue of authenticity.”
“According to Webster’s Dictionary, to be authentic is to be ‘not imaginary, false or imitation.’ To be authentic is to be ‘genuine, veritable, bona fide, being actually and precisely what is claimed.’ The only thing that we can genuinely claim to be is ourselves. But our best is good enough, even on a bad day.”
“We are all hard on ourselves. We not only want to be other people, we want to be perfect versions of them.”
“We should only strive to be a first-rate version of ourselves. And our best is always good enough.”
“Before my story began…” (Heather Houston 3-23-22)
1972 Me…at my Aunt Carrie’s Baby Shower
“Where do we learn this odd behavior of trying to be someone we are not. We reach for the ideal of being someone other than ourselves. I have spent a lifetime trying to be someone…anyone other than myself. Makes me sad to think I never thought I was enough.” (Heather Houston 3-23-22)
“Growing up in a family of quilters, the below quote speaks volumes to being your authentic self and that perfection is ridiculous…” (Heather Houston 3-23-26
“…Amish quilters will deliberately add a mismatched patch to each quilt to remind themselves that only Spirit can create perfectly/”
–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 89-90 of 501.
I challenge each of you on this blog series to post comments so we all can grow together.
My Distilled Life 