Month: April 2026

My Abundant Life 4-15-26

On By Heather HoustonIn My Abundant LifeLeave a comment

April 15th, 2026

Discovering the Momentum of Creative Movement

“The body is shaped, disciplined, honored, and in time, trusted.”

Martha Graham (American Dancer and Teacher; May 11th, 1894 to April 1st, 1991)

“The world as I know it is divided into two types of women–those who exercise and those who don’t.”

“Those who do exercise seem to have more energy, less stress, fewer weight problems, and generally a more positive and optimistic outlook on life. Women who are fit will tell you that regular exercise is the single most important thing they have ever done to improve their life.”

“Women who do not exercise don’t believe them and have every excuse in the world for why they can’t or won’t find out for themselves: they don’t have the time, they’re too out of shape, they’re coming down with the flu, it’s too cold or too hot, they’re too tired, they’re too depressed, maybe next week.

“Whenever I feel like exercise, I lie down until the feeling passes.”

Robert Maynard Hutchins (American Educator and Former Chancellor of the University of Chicago; January 17th, 1899 to May 17th, 1977)

“This is not good. This is not self-nurturing. This is not healthy. We know this intellectually.”

“Don’t refer to the activity as exercise or fitness any longer. If you must call it something, call it creative movement.”

“Think of creative movement as a life-enhancing, enjoyable pastime, because it is. Just pause for a moment and imagine all the ways that you could move creatively that bring you pleasure: dancing (ballet, jazz, or tap), swimming, fencing, horseback riding, racquetball. tennis, golf, riding a bike. …Start moving, a step at a time, step after step. The positive momentum will take if from there.”

“With enlightenment and self-awareness, we can reguide and realign our whole selves: our bodies, by finding new ways of moving and celebrating them and by adding good food in amounts they tell us they need; our souls, our sense of ourselves as good and worthwhile, by connecting them to the earth and to each other.”

Diana Roesch (Theater and Film Producer)

“I have always loved movement and feel more of myself when moving. I have learned to move in new ways in this chapter of my life. Specifically, my husband introduced me to rowing regularly which eases the stress on aging joints. BRILLIANT! I had coached rowing for years and in all that time, I rarely participated. Now I have an rowing ergometer in our living room. WINNING!”

–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 119 to 120 of 501.

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

My Musical Life 4-14-26

On By Heather HoustonIn My Musical LifeLeave a comment

April 14th, 2026

#98  Bend Me, Shape Me (The American Breed) 👍🏼

Lyrics:
You are all the woman I need
And baby, you know it (know it, know it, know it)
You can make this beggar a king
A clown or a poet (poet, poet, poet)
I’ll give you all that I own
You’ve got me standing in line
Out in the cold
Pay me some mind🪄
Bend me, shape me
Anyway you want me
‘Long as you love me
It’s all right
Bend me, shape me
Anyway you want me
You got the power
You to turn on the light🪄
Everybody tells me I’m wrong
To want you so badly (badly, badly, badly)
But there’s a force driving me on
I follow it gladly (gladly, gladly, gladly)
So, let them laugh, I don’t care
‘Cause I got nothing to hide🪄
All that I want
Is you by my side🪄
Bend me, shape me
Any way you want me
‘Long as you love me
It’s all right
Bend me, shape me
Any way you want me
You got the power
To turn on the light🪄
And bend me, shape me
Any way you want me
‘Long as you love me
It’s all right
Bend me, shape me
Any way you want me
You got the power
To turn on the light

My Abundant Life 4-14-26

On By Heather HoustonIn My Abundant LifeLeave a comment

April 14th, 2026

When You Hunger and Thirst

“The body must ne nourished, physically, emotionally and spiritually. We’re spiritually starved in this culture–not underfed but undernourished.”

Carol Hornig

“When I first became aware that when I ‘swallowed’ life I was really hungry and thirsty for joy and serenity, it was a turning point for me in learning self-nurturance. Finally, I understood that I wasn’t underfed but spiritually undernourished. I realized I could go within and ask my soul–my authentic self–what I needed. I learned to stop and ask myself the questions ‘How can I care for you? What is it you truly need?'”

“As you nurture your spirit with kindness, your physical cravings will loose their grip.”

“Realize today that your hunger and thirst for a reason. Ask your authentic self to reveal your deeper needs, so that Spirit can quench and satisfy your parched and ravenous soul.”

“I love food for all the ways it flirts with me in smell, taste, texture and sight. I used to only look as food as fuel and from a lens of scarcity. I have never been an overeater, more of a grazer. I eat when I’m hungry. I often get engrossed in whatever I am up to and forget to eat until my project is done. When this happens, I assess what my body needs and take in the fuel my body is demanding…usually protein. I really have never been much of an emotional eater. I notice more my desire based on cravings which usually point out other deficiencies in my daily diet. I do my best to listen.”

–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 118 to 119 of 501.

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

My Musical Life 4-13-26

On By Heather HoustonIn My Musical LifeLeave a comment

April 13th, 2026

#97 Suzie Q. (Creedence Clearwater Revival) 👍🏼

Lyrics:
Oh, Suzie Q, oh, Suzie Q
Oh, Suzie Q, baby, I love you, Suzie Q🪄
I like the way you walk
I like the way you talk
I like the way you walk
I like the way you talk, Suzie Q🪄
Well, say that you’ll be true
Well, say that you’ll be true
Well, say that you’ll be true
And never leave me blue, Suzie Q🪄
Well, say that you’ll be mine
Well, say that you’ll be mine
Well, say that you’ll be mine
Baby, all the time, Suzie Q🪄
Oh Suzie Q, oh Suzie Q
Oh Suzie Q, baby, I love you, Suzie Q🪄
I like the way you walk
I like the way you talk
I like the way you walk
I like the way you talk, Suzie Q🪄
Oh Suzie Q, oh Suzie Q
Oh Suzie Q, baby, I love you, Suzie Q

My Abundant Life 4-13-26

On By Heather HoustonIn My Abundant LifeLeave a comment

April 13th, 2026

The Only Weight-Loss Aid You’ll Ever Need

“Self-love is the only weight-loss aid that really works in the long run.”

Genevieve Marie Craig (Jenny Craig) (American Businesswoman; August 7th, 1932)

“…food is not our enemy. If we’re alive, we’re supposed to love to eat. Food is the source of vital fuel our bodies convert to energy in order to survive.”

“Don’t fight your hunger. Instead, respect it and respond to it with nutritious food that appeals to all your senses–not just taste but sight and smell as well.”

“..the more we starve ourselves, the more weight we eventually gain, and then we end up hating ourselves.”

“The only way to stop this heartbreaking cycle of self-loathing is to stop dieting and use our common sense. Eat when you’re hungry, drink when you’re thristy, sleep when you’re tired, get in harmony with your body through regular exercise, and nourish your soul through prayer and meditation.”

“Be really whole, and all things will come to you.”

Lao-Tzu (Chinese Philosopher; 571 B.C.)

“Taoism–the Eastern philosophy of Lao-Tzu–teaches that the only way to be made Whole is to yield. Yield to the fact that your body answers to a Wisdom that’s higher than wanting to look like the waif on the cover of Vogue.”

“Every woman has an ideal weight that’s ideal for her opposed to an ideal weight. This is the weight at which you feel the most comfortable, have the mot energy, can stay well and feel good about how you look. We can achieve that weight whenwe begin to trust our bodies. Forget size and abandon the scale. Instead, of weighing yourself, let your favorite clothes tell you how you are doing. Above all, trust the guidance of your authentic self. Go within and visualize her. See what weoght she carries. Ask her to help you achieve your perfect weight through the power of Love. Today, be willing to believe that self-love is the only weight-loss aid you’ll ever truly need, because it’s the only one that works.”

“All of this advice is true. For the last 30+ years I have been counseling and working alongside all types of people desiring to get to their full potential. Whether that be weight, athletics, mental toughness, etc. they all had to let go or yield to what they thought they knew and listen to their bodies.”

–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 117 to 118 of 501.

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

Daily Gratitude 4-12-26

On By Heather HoustonIn 5 Daily GratitudesLeave a comment

April 12th, 2026

  • I am thankful my commute is short as gas prices skyrocket.
  • I am grateful the sun has shown itself even though it is quite chilly today.
  • I am blessed to have my vision such that I don’t need reading glasses yet.
  • I am thankful for my health as I watch my peers struggle.
  • I appreciate being able to wear my running shoes to work. My body thanks me every day.

My Musical Life 4-12-26

On By Heather HoustonIn My Musical LifeLeave a comment

April 12th, 2026

#96 Piece of My Heart (Big Brother & The Holding Company and Janis Joplin) 👍🏼

Lyrics:
Oh, come on, come on, come on, come on🪄
Didn’t I make you feel like you were the only man? Yeah
And didn’t I give you nearly everything that a woman possibly can?
Honey, you know I did
And each time I tell myself that I, well I think I’ve had enough
But I’m gonna show you, baby, that a woman can be tough🪄
I want you to come on, come on, come on, come on and take it
Take another little piece of my heart now, baby (whoa, break it)
Break another little bit of my heart now, darling, yeah, yeah, yeah (whoa, have a)
Have another little piece of my heart now, baby
You know you got it if it makes you feel good
Oh, yes indeed🪄
You’re out on the streets looking good
And baby, deep down in your heart, I guess you know that it ain’t right
Never, never, never, never, never, never hear me when I cry at night
Babe, and I cry all the time
But each time I tell myself that I, well I can’t stand the pain
But when you hold me in your arms, I’ll sing it once again🪄
I said come on, come on, come on, come on and take it
Take another little piece of my heart now, baby
Break another little bit of my heart now, darling, yeah
Have another little piece of my heart now, baby
Well, you know you got it, child, if it makes you feel good🪄
I need you to come on, come on, come on, come on and take it
Take another little piece of my heart now, baby (whoa, break it)
Break another little bit of my heart, now darling, yeah, c’mon now (whoa, have a)
Have another little piece of my heart now, baby
You know you got it, whoa🪄
Take it
Take another little piece of my heart now, baby (whoa, break it)
Break another little bit of my heart, now darling, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah (whoa, have a)
Have another little piece of my heart now, baby, hey
You know you got it, child, if it makes you feel good