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!
Lyrics: In the cool of the evening when ev’rything is gettin’ kind of groovy, I call you up and ask you if you want to go and meet and see a movie, First you say no, you’ve got some plans for the night, And then you stop, and say, “All right.” Love is kinda crazy with a spooky little girl like you. You always keep me guessin’, I never seem to know what you are thinkin’. And if a fella looks at you, it’s for sure your little eye will be a-winkin’. I get confused, ’cause I don’t know where I stand, And then you smile, and hold my hand. Love is kinda crazy with a spooky little girl like you. Spooky! If you decide someday to stop this little game that you are playin’, I’m gonna tell you all what my heart’s been a-dyin’ to be sayin’. Just like a ghost, you’ve been a-hauntin’ my dreams, So I’ll propose, on Halloween. Love is kinda crazy with a spooky little girl like you. Spooky, Spooky, Spooky, Oh-whoa, all right, I said Spooky!
Divine Discontent: Learning To Live By Your Own Lights
“Grace strikes us when we are in great pain and restlessness…Sometimes at that moment a wave of light breaks into our darkness, and it is as thought a voice were saying” ‘You are accepted.'”
Paul Johannes Tillich (German-American Christian Existentialist Philosopher and Lutheran Protestant Theologian; August 20th, 1886 ~ October 10th, 1965)
“Discontent and disorder are signs of energy and hope, not of despair.”
Dame Cicely Veronica Wedgewood, OM, DBE, FBA, FRHistS (known as: C. V. Wedgwood)(English Historian; July 20th, 1910 ~ March 9th, 1997)
“When we learn how to spin straw into gold. When we realize gratefully that we can live by our own lights if we access the Power.”
“T.G.I.F. This day always seems to fly by…thankfully. I am so excited to get home and reunite with my love!” (Heather Houston 2-11-22)
“I have been on a bit of a quest of late. Learning how to ask the Universe for what I want to manifest. Curiously, I have been intentionally asking the Universe to send me eagles. Like magic, I am sighting 1-3 eagles per day on the regular. The last 2weeks has been 10 total. My intention is to begin leaking this intention into other areas of my life. All very new and exciting. Watch me GROW!” (Heather Houston 2-11-26)
–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 45-46 of 501.
I challenge each of you on this blog series to post comments so we all can grow together.
Driving to work westbound, I spotted a beautiful bald eagle perched on the railway wind gauge pole facing the north at the midspan point of the bridge. It was facing me and the wind was ruffling his white head feathers.🦅
“I am thankful I have learned to listen to my body and rest when I need it. Today was one of those days.”(Heather Houston 2-10-26)
“I appreciate my supervisor acknowledging the disrespect and mistreatment by a colleague and offering suggestions on how to deal with this issue moving forward.”(Heather Houston 2-10-26)
“I am blessed to have a wonderful administrative assistant. She honored me today with public acknowledgement around her thankfulness of me as her manager at our staff meeting. Iwas moved touched and inspired by her acknowledgment.”(Heather Houston 2-10-26)
“I am thankful my husband made a fabulous chicken shawarma meal tonight. It was a food orgasm!”(Heather Houston 2-10-26)
“I am blessed to have such a kind conscientious husband. I have been in pain the last few weeks as I recover from my biopsy. Apparently, I was uncomfortable in my sleep…whining and crying. He woke me to give me Tylenyol to help ease the pain. Thank you honey!” ❤️ (Heather Houston 2-10-26)
I appreciate getting a coffee and the barista asking how my morning is going and is actually interested and listening. (Heather Houston 2-10-22)
I am grateful that my internet connection did not drop at work as I heard many other departments lost all connectivity. This makes it hard to keep caught up. (Heather Houston 2-10-22)
I am thankful for the weekend forecast of sunny weather. (Heather Houston 2-10-22)
I am grateful to have a home that feels like a sanctuary. (Heather Houston 2-10-22)
I am blessed to have indoor plumbing. I can’t imagine having to tramp out in the cold to a dump toilet all the time. (Heather Houston 2-10-22)
#25 Judy In Disguise (John Fred & His Playboys) 👍🏼
Lyrics: Judy in disguise, well that’s what you are A lemonade pie with your brand new car Cantaloupe eyes come to me tonight Judy in disguise, with glasses Keep a-wearing your bracelets and your new Rara And cross your heart, yeah, with your livin’ bra Chimney Sweep Sparrow with guise Judy in disguise, with glasses Come to me tonight, come to me tonight Taking everything in sight Except for the strings on my kite Judy in disguise, hey that’s what you are A lemonade pie, hey, got your brand new car Cantaloupe eyes come to me tonight Judy in disguise, with glasses Come to me tonight, come to me tonight Taking everything in sight Except for the strings on my kite Judy in disguise, what you aiming for? A circus of a-horror, yeah-yeah, well that’s what you are You made me a life of ashes I guess I’ll just take your glasses
Creating An Authentic Lifestyle For Yourself And Those You Love
“It’s a funniy thing about life; if you refuse to accept anything but the best, you very often get it.”
William Somerset Maugham CH (English Playwright, Novelist, and Short-Story Writer; January 25th, 1874 ~ December 16th, 1965)
“It’s far easier to live an elegant, beautiful life when you’re not on a budget. When cash is readily available, you don’t have to learn the lessons that delayed gratification teaches us. But having money does not guarantee that we live authentically. Nor does being surrounded by beautiful things guarantee a lifetime of happiness.”
“When you learn what you can live without, you are able to ask life for the very best because you possess the gift of discernment. You develop patience that enables you to wait gracefully and gratefully until the best arrives because you know it will. You are able to create an authentic life for yourself and those you love because you are able to make conscious choices.”
“Long afterwards, she was to remember that moment when her life changed its direction…It was not predestined; she had choice. Or it seemed she had. To accept or refuse. To take one turning down the crossroads to the future or another.”
Evelyn Bridgett Patricia Ward-Thomas, née Stephens (known as: Evelyn Anthony) (British Writer; July 3rd, 1926 ~ September 25th, 2018)
“Turning away from the world and toward your own happiness is the path of authenticity.”
“Today, my soldier-athlete in my sprinting group learned the lesson of proper warm-up and flexibility. She experienced a bit of a calf strain due to not being fit enough to handle 30m sprint drills…very basic. It was an opportunity to help her learn how to warm-up to be preventative and to approach her drills from a focus on form vs. speed. Great learning day!” (Heather Houston 2-10-22)
“I have spent a lifetime waiting and discerning what to add to my life. My fiscally challenged upbringing was a gift and taught me what I could live without and if I needed something how to budget and be patient. Learning early what I could live without made it possible for me to be living the life I love presently. 8 years ago I asked the Universe for the very best life and “TADA” I am living it.” (Heather Houston 2-10-26)
–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 44-45 of 501.
I challenge each of you on this blog series to post comments so we all can grow together.
Driving to work westbound, I spotted a beautiful bald eagle perched on the railway wind gauge pole facing the south at the midspan point of the bridge. IT was turned looking eastbound and I got to witness a beautiful profile of such a majestic bird!🦅
“I am grateful to have leftover buttermilk sourdough pancakes to enjoy for my breakfast. I adore the strawberry compote.”(Heather Houston 2-9-26)
“I appreciate that I made time for myself and my physical/mental health today by taking at least 6 walks around the block to get outside into the fresh air.” (Heather Houston 2-9-26)
“I am thankful that my commute home was quick (twice as fast on an average day) and seamless.”(Heather Houston 2-9-26)
“I am thankful the merging car, where the driver was not looking, did not in fact hit me. What an idiot!” (Heather Houston 2-9-26)
“I am blessed to have a husband who loves to cook and his pizza last night (Mortadella & Pistachio Pesto) was EPIC!” (Heather Houston 2-9-26)
I am grateful for my constant transformation. I am able to more and more live int he present and embrace the adventure of life as it’s fullness unfolds before me. (Heather Houston 2-9-22)
I appreciate remembering to bring my reusable shopping bags to the grocery store with me. Not wanting to PAY for a paper bag. (Heather Houston 2-9-22)
I am grateful to have a dog greet me at the door when I return home from work. Always joyful and enthusiastic. (Heather Houston 2-9-22)
I am thankful for NPR news that entertains me to and from my daily commute. (Heather Houston 2-9-22)
I am blessed to have the sexiest loving partner EVER!💖 (Heather Houston 2-9-22)
Lyrics: There is someone walking behind you Turn around, look at me There is someone watching your footsteps Turn around, look at me There is someone who really needs you It’s my heart in my hand Turn around (turn around) Look at me (look at me) Understand, understand And there’s someone to stand beside you Turn around, look at me And there’s someone to love and guide you Turn around, look at me Oh, I’ve waited and I’ll wait forever For you to come to me Look at someone (look at someone) Who really loves you, yeah, loves you Turn around, look at me Turn around, look at me
“Another real thing! I am not dead yet! I can still call forth a piece of soul and set it down in color, fixed forever.”
Keri Ann Ruhi Hulme (New Zealand Novelist, Poet and Short-Story Writer; March 9th, 1947 ~ December 27th, 2021)
“A picture that is beautiful or that works, looks ad if it was all made at one stroke. I don’t like to see the trail of a brushstroke or a drip of paint.”
Helen Frankenthaler (American Abstract Expressionist Painter; December 12th, 1928 ~ December 27th, 2011)
“Preparatory steps are necessary in all the arts. They are also necessary in life if we want to live authentically. Every twenty-four hours we are given a fresh canvas to prime, to make ready for the vision.”
“Today, don’t rush through your inner preparations as you get ready to set down a piece of your soul on life’s canvas.”
“HUMP DAY! I love making to this point in the week as I know the weekend is nearing and I am that much closer to be spending all my time with the love of my life…Neil!”😘 (Heather Houston 2-9-22)
“The idea of my life as a canvas to create is magical. Living in the moment allows me to have a virtual new canvas every new day. Painting my life into view is the magic of living a created life. I am thrilled that I get this concept and live into each day as if it was the best party/date ever. Remarkedly, each day unfolds exactly as that as I live an intentional life.” (Heather Houston 2-9-26)
–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 43-44 of 501.
I challenge each of you on this blog series to post comments so we all can grow together.
My Distilled Life 