Ramblings, ideas and memoirs of a joyous adventurer.
Author: Heather Houston
Absinthe aficionado. Empathetic thinker-feeler. Verbose writer. Avidly authentic. Hydrangea fanatic. Snow leopard lover. Joy huntress. Promising my devotees a honest glimpse into my life as I live with freedom, power and full self-expression in an unfiltered and sometimes distilled way. CHEERS!
26th Golden Globe Awards: Best Comedy or Musical Film
41st Academy Awards: Best Film
41st Academy Awards Best Director: Carol Reed
26th Golden Globe Awards Best Actor in a Comedy or Musical: Ron Moody
41st Academy Awards Best Original Score: Johnny Green
“I enjoyed watching this film and I had not seen this since I was a young child. Amazing how many songs I remembered. I even remember soliciting my cousins to replicate the carriage scene with the young pickpockets for Nancy. A memory I had totally forgotten. Nice to see again and this one is put to bed.”
“I appreciate my commitment to row this morning, even though I was feeling punky.” (Heather Houston 3-4-26)
“I am thankful I listened to my body and followed my Mom’s sharing of resting when your body needs it. Thanks Mom!” ❤️ (Heather Houston 3-4-26)
“I appreciate my supervisor being supportive of my need to take a half-day at work due to an overwhelming migraine.” (Heather Houston 3-4-26)
“I am blessed to have a supportive husband who took care of me while I rested.” (Heather Houston 3-4-26)
I am grateful my husband ❤️ who created a yummy meal to nourish my sick body.” (Heather Houston 3-4-26)
“I appreciate hot 🍎apple cider on a rainy day…hell…cold hard cider is just as good!” (Heather Houston 3-4-22)
“I am grateful for laundry as it means I have warm clean clothes to wear.” (Heather Houston 3-4-22)
“I am blessed to have a kitchen to clean and dishes to wash as it means I had the means to prepare a delicious meal.” (Heather Houston 3-4-22)
“I am grateful for daily laughter. Before meeting the love in my life, I don’t remember much joy or laughter. Thank you Neil!”💗 (Heather Houston 3-4-22)
“I love the seashore, it brings such meditative peace to me every time I visit.” (Heather Houston 3-4-22)
Lyrics: I was born in a cross-fire hurricane And I howled at my ma’ in the driving rain But it’s all right now, in fact, it’s a gas But it’s all right, I’m jumpin’ Jack Flash It’s a gas, gas, gas I was raised by a toothless, bearded hag I was schooled with a strap right across my back But it’s all right now, in fact, it’s a gas But it’s all right, I’m Jumpin’ Jack Flash It’s a gas, gas, gas, uh I was drowned, I was washed up and left for dead I fell down to my feet and I saw they bled, yeah yeah I frowned at the crumbs of a crust of bread Yeah, yeah, yeah I was crowned with a spike right through my head But it’s all right now, in fact, it’s a gas But it’s all right, I’m Jumpin’ Jack Flash It’s a gas, gas, gas Jumping Jack Flash, it’s a gas Jumping Jack Flash, it’s a gas Jumping Jack Flash, it’s a gas Jumping Jack Flash, it’s a gas Jumping Jack Flash, it’s a gas Jumping Jack Flash, it’s a gas
“Soaking in an aromatherapy-infused bath in the outdoors is the ultimate luxury and path to Providence.” (Heather Houston 3-4-22)
“I find when I prepare my blog writings ahead so that in the moment I can be with my thoughts and creatively write is the best for me. The week can get away from me quickly. Today I was unwell and had probably my 3rd migraine ever and this one had the whole halo and colors to boot. I ended my day at noon, travelled home, changed into comfortable clothes and napped on the couch for several hours. I followed this up with a lazy watching of ‘The Lion In Winter’. The most important thing is I listened…listened to what my body and the Universe was screaming at me.”
–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 71-72 of 501.
I challenge each of you on this blog series to post comments so we all can grow together.
Lyrics: I think it’s so groovy now That people are finally getting together I thinks it’s wonderful and how That people are finally getting together I think it’s so groovy now That people are finally getting together I thinks it’s wonderful and how That people are finally getting together Reach out in the darkness Reach out in the darkness Reach out in the darkness And you may find a friend I knew a man that I did not care for And then one day, this man gave me a call We sat and talked about things on our mind And now this man, he is a friend of mine Reach out in the darkness Reach out in the darkness Reach out in the darkness And you may find a friend I think it’s so groovy now That people are finally getting together I thinks it’s wonderful and how That people are finally getting together I think it’s so groovy now That people are finally getting together I thinks it’s wonderful and how That people are finally getting together Don’t be afraid of love Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid to love Listen to me… Everybody needs a little love Everybody needs somebody That they can be thinking of Reach out in the darkness Reach out in the darkness Reach out in the darkness And you may find a friend I think it’s so groovy now That people are finally getting together I thinks it’s wonderful and how That people are finally getting together I think it’s so groovy now That people are finally getting together I thinks it’s wonderful and how That people are finally getting together I think it’s so groovy now That people are finally getting together I thinks it’s wonderful and how That people are finally getting together I think it’s so groovy now That people are finally getting together
“Anybody can observe the Sabbath but making it holy surely takes the rest of the week.”
Alice Malsenior Tallulah-Kate Walker (American Novelist, Short Story Writer, Poet, and Social Activist; February 9th, 1944 ~ )
“Some keep the Sabbath going to Church, I keep it, staying at Home.”
Emily Elizabeth Dickinson (American Poet; December 10th, 1830 ~ May 15th, 1886)
“It doesn’t matter what day of the week you set aside as your own personal Sabbath, it just matters that you keep one.”
“…meditation is intentional concentration on one thing, which can be either secular or spiritual.”
“This is what the Sabbath is for: reverence, rest, renewal, rejuvenation, reassuring rituals, recreation, rejoicing, revelation, remembering how much you have to be grateful for, and saying ‘thank you!'”
“My church is anytime I commune with nature…simple…sweet!” (Heather Houston 3-3-22)
“My Sabbath is for: gratitude, sexy-time, imbibing, pleasuring, devouring, relaxing, passion, creativity and most of all…LOVING my husband.” ❤️ (Heather Houston 3-3-26)
–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 70-71 of 501.
I challenge each of you on this blog series to post comments so we all can grow together.
“I am thankful for the yummy breakfast my husband provides me post my rowing workout: Hard Boiled Egg, English Muffin and Cantaloupe.” (Heather Houston 3-2-26)
“I am blessed to see an eagle on my morning commute.” (Heather Houston 3-2-26)
“I am thankful to share in my birthday celebration with my husband as one of our pronouns is ‘WE’.” (Heather Houston 3-2-26)
“I am blessed as my husband made Pho this week and a benefit by-product was a lovely Pho flavored brisket which we made into Pho French Dip Sandwiches…BRILLIANT! (Heather Houston 3-2-26)
“I appreciate my husband being supportive when I needed to retire early for the night. I used the whole day up and was wiped out!” (Heather Houston 3-2-26)
“I am grateful for my legs.” (Heather Houston 3-2-22)
“I am thankful for my insights.” (Heather Houston 3-2-22)
“I am blessed to have hard-earned wisdom.” (Heather Houston 3-2-22)
“I appreciate my paychecks.” (Heather Houston 3-2-22)
“I am thankful for clean and plentiful water.” (Heather Houston 3-2-22)
Lyrics: Drop your silver in my tambourine Help a poor man fill a pretty dream Give me pennies, I’ll take anything Now listen while I play My green tambourine Watch the jingle jangle start to shine Reflections of the music that is mine When you toss a coin, you’ll hear it sing Now listen while I play My green tambourine Drop a dime before I walk away Any song you want, I’ll gladly play Money feeds my music machine Now listen while I play My green tambourine Listen and I’ll play
“Meditation is simply about being yourself and knowing about who that is. It is about coming to realize that you are on a path whether you like it or not, namely the path that is your life.”
Jon Kabat-Zinn (American Professor Emeritus of Medicine and the creator of the Stress Reduction Clinic and the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society at the University of Massachusetts Medical School; June 5th, 1944 ~ )
“…there are compelling physiological, psychological, and spiritual reasons why we should engage in regular meditation. It is the mortar that holds mind, body, and Spirit together.”
“…meditation is intentional concentration on one thing, which can be either secular or spiritual.”
“In this state creativity flowers, intuition leads to a deeper wisdom, the natural healing system of the body is engaged, our best physical and mental potentials manifests itself and we feel psychologically satisfied.” …Spiritual meditation, on the other hand…”will help you become aware of the presence of the divine in nature, in yourself and in other people. The love and joy that are inherent in Spirit–that are the very essence of Spirit–will begin to permeate your life.”
Dr. Joan Borysenko (Author; October 25th, 1945 ~ )
“…many different ways of meditating, depending on my inner needs: the golden mirror meditation, writing my daily dialogue pages, gazing into the flame of a candle, concentrating on a sacred word in a centering prayer, focusing on a poetic phrase to find deeper personal meaning, or setting out on a walking meditation.”
“…all-time favorite meditation is a small, moist piece of chocolate cake eaten with exquisite attention and tremendous gratitude. Any time we are fully present in the moment we are meditating.”
Dr. Joan Borysenko (Author; October 25th, 1945 ~ )
“I have a meditation practice I follow: 10-minutes in the morning and at lunch with a 5-10 minute Spiritual time-out to reflect on my day before bed. I also commune with nature daily for 30-minutes which consists of a walk or quiet sitting outdoors. Putting meditation in small chunks throughout my day reduces stress and keeps me centered.” (Heather Houston 3-2-22)
“If being present is meditation, then my life is mostly meditation. How magical is that?” (Heather Houston 3-2-26)
–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 68-70 of 501.
I challenge each of you on this blog series to post comments so we all can grow together.
My Distilled Life 