#34 Lady Willpower (Gary Puckett & The Union Gap) 👍🏼
Lyrics: Lady Willpower, it’s now or never Give your love to me and I’ll shower Your heart with tenderness endlessly I know you want to see me but you’re afraid Of what I might have on my mind One thing you can be sure of I’ll take good care of your love If you will let me give you mine Lady Willpower, it’s now or never Give your love to me and I’ll shower Your heart with tenderness endlessly Did no one ever tell you the facts of life Well there’s so much you have to learn And I would gladly teach you If I could only reach you And get your lovin’ in return Lady Willpower, it’s now or never Give your love to me and I’ll shower Your heart with tenderness endlessly
“The heart is a lonely hunter that hunts on a lonely hill.”
William Sharp (known as: Fiona Macleod) (Scottish Writer, of Poetry and Literary Biography; September 12th, 1855 ~ December 12th, 1905)
“You could expect many things of God at night when the campfires burned before the tents….You were alone when you sat and talked with the others—and they were alone. …WHat you say has no ready ear but your own, and what you think is nothing except to yourself. The world is there and you are here—and these are the only poles, the only realities. You talk, but who listens? You listen, but who talks?”
Beryl Markham(English-Born Kenyan Aviator, Adventurer, Racehorse Trainer and Author; October 26th, 1902 ~ August 3rd, 1986)
“A safari of the self and Spirit is at times lonely. But we know we are never alone. It is a comfort to realize that this sense of isolation is necessary if we are to encounter Mystery, and mystery is very much a part of safari. Each day in the wilderness brings with it the struggle to survive and a heightened awareness of how wonderful it is just to see the sun set and rise again in the morning. Each day on safari is lived to the fullest because it is all that is guaranteed.”
“Today, expect many things as you sit around the campfire of your heart. Someone is listening. Someone is talking to you, encouraging you to take the next step as you embrace the Mystery of the wilderness within.”
“Expect to have hope rekindled. Expect your prayers to be answered in wonderous ways. The dry seasons in life do not last. The spring rains will come again.”
“Before my story began…” (Heather Houston 2-18-26)
1972 Me…at my Aunt Carrie’s Baby Shower
“My life has really transformed the last three years. I am the happiest I have ever been, the most confident and living into my authentic self.” (Heather Houston 2-18-22)
“The Mystery of the wilderness within…such a deep concept. The safari dry season I have been navigating within has brough forth the rains again. My mother shared so authentically yesterday it brought tears to my eyes. She contributed profoundly to my life in her sharing. To learn the name of the town my great grandmother lived was a timely and heartfelt sharing. I plan to visit my ancestors homelands and reconnect to my cultural community. I dream of walk the ground of my ancestors and mingling with my people…5-weeks and counting.” (Heather Houston 2-18-26)
–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 51-52 of 501.
I challenge each of you on this blog series to post comments so we all can grow together.
“I am again thankful for a light commute to work.” (Heather Houston 2-17-26)
“I am thankful it did not snow today.” (Heather Houston 2-17-26)
“I appreciate being able to make a point in a meeting that usually I get shut down in by my management colleagues.”(Heather Houston 2-17-26)
“I am blessed that my administrative assistant made Lithuania pancakes for breakfast.” (Heather Houston 2-17-26)
“I am grateful for the spicy garbanzo bean burrito my husband concocted for our dinner…YUM!”(Heather Houston 2-17-26)
“I appreciate me sticking up for myself when my supervisor inadvertently uploaded a file to SharePoint and wiped out 2-3 hours of my work completed the previous day. (Heather Houston 2-17-22)
“I am thankful I was able to put aside my frustration with my supervisor and move forward in my work day, productively. (Heather Houston 2-17-22)
“I am grateful my partner is a selfless sounding board for my frustrations and challenges. (Heather Houston 2-17-22)
“I am thankful to have been selected for an interview with the Wounded Warriors Project as the Adaptive Sports Director position. (Heather Houston 2-17-22)
“I am blessed to have had all my professional experiences to make me an asset to any organization as I am versatile and have many soft/hard skills to draw upon. (Heather Houston 2-17-22)
Lyrics: Cowboys to girls I remember when I used to play shoot ’em up (Shoot ’em up, bang, bang baby) I remember when I chased the girls and beat ’em up But I was young and didn’t understand But now I’m a grown up man I know girls are made for kissing Never knew what I was missing Now my life is not the same My whole world has been rearranged I went from (cowboy to girls) Oh yes I did (Cowboys to girls) I remember when I used to see you jumping rope (Jumping rope up and down baby) And I remember when you got your first baby coach But you were young and didn’t understand Now you’re a woman and I’m a man And it’s me that you’re kissing Ain’t it fun reminiscing Now our lives are not the same Our whole world has been rearranged You went from (pretty dolls to boys) Oh yes you did And I went from (cowboys to girls) Oh yes I did And it’s me that you’re kissing Ain’t it fun reminiscing And my life life is not the same This whole world has been rearranged I went from (cowboys to girls) Oh yes I did You went from (pretty dolls to boys) Oh yes I did I went from (cowboys to girls)
Sam Walter Foss (American Librarian and Poet; June 19th, 1858 ~ February 26th, 1911)
“…not only desolate with grief but bereft of purpose.”
Mary Henrietta Kingsley (English Ethnographer, Scientific Writer, and Explorer; October 3rd, 1862 ~ June 3rd, 1900)
“In Africa, to go on safari—the Swahili word for journey—is to leave the comfort and safety of civilization to venture into the wilderness. Each time you listen to the woman within—your authentic self—you do the same.
“You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition…What you’ll discover will be wonderful. What you’ll discover will be yourself.”
Alan Alda (American Actor and Comedian; January 28th, 1936 ~ )
“Reading this today I found myself dreaming of adventure. Riding my motorcycle down the length of PCH. Going on a walk-about. Creating my own vision quest through my indigenous roots. Being free of debt to wander and explore would be glorious!” (Heather Houston 2-17-22)
“I find myself bereft with purpose in my career. I feel an urge to find my place in this world. Particularly since the life I lived for 30 years was far from authentic. I am not in a hurry, but feel a deep wanderlust inside me. My husband has been very supportive and offered for us to get our instruments out of storage to begin exploring our musical interests. I am game as I have not really focused on my music in years. I have spent the last 8-years on a safari of my authentic self and spirit. I yearn for new adventures to explore this beautiful world we inhabit. I am in action of this presently as I soon will be visiting Oklahoma City for an indigenous conference. This will be the first time I am able to sit and commune with people from my culture…Cherokee/Choctaw. I am beyond thrilled! I am hoping I will have time to also visit the town my grandfather and great grandparents resided to simply touch the earth of my ancestors. This is the exploration I am on.” (Heather Houston 2-17-26)
–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 51-52 of 501.
I challenge each of you on this blog series to post comments so we all can grow together.
“I appreciate I make time at the beginning of my work day to get in a walk outdoors.” (Heather Houston 2-16-26)
“I am thankful that there was little to no traffic today due to President’s Day. However, I have no president!” (Heather Houston 2-16-26)
“I am grateful to use NotebookLM to help me save time in writing a letter of recommendation for an employee.” (Heather Houston 2-16-26)
“I am blessed to have such a loving husband!” ❤️(Heather Houston 2-16-26)
“I appreciate my innovative husband’s chefness in creating a delicious shrimp pizza.”(Heather Houston 2-16-26)
“I am thankful to have trusted my instincts to not fill my RSC tires. They felt full and I need to get them checked by a professional since the have an automatic inflation monitoring system. (Heather Houston 2-16-22)
“I am grateful I didn’t end my work day with a flat tire, since my warning light is alerting me of a low tire. (Heather Houston 2-16-22)
“I appreciate my creativity to create new cocktails for my partner and I to enjoy…Mela d’Alba (Apple Brandy Old Fashioned).🥃 (Heather Houston 2-16-22)
“I am grateful I am in generally good health. Of course, I could always do better. Thank you family gene pool! (Heather Houston 2-16-22)
“I appreciate having an indoor secure parking garage space. It makes me feel safer when I leave at 5:00AM for work. (Heather Houston 2-16-22)
Lyrics: Get your motor runnin’ Head out on the highway Lookin’ for adventure And whatever comes our way Yeah, darlin’, go make it happen Take the world in a love embrace Fire all of your guns at once and Explode into space I like smoke and lightnin’ Heavy metal thunder Racin’ with the wind And the feelin’ that I’m under Yeah, darlin’, go make it happen Take the world in a love embrace Fire all of your guns at once and Explode into space Like a true nature’s child We were born, born to be wild We can climb so high I never wanna die Born to be wild Born to be wild Get your motor runnin’ Head out on the highway We’re lookin’ for adventure And whatever comes our way Yeah, darlin’ go make it happen Take the world in a love embrace Fire all of your guns at once and Explode into space Like a true nature’s child We were born, born to be wild We can climb so high I never wanna die Born to be wild Born to be wild
Thomas Stearns Eliot OM (Known as: T.S. Eliot) (Poet, Essayist, Publisher, Playwright, Literary Critic and Editor; September 26th, 1888 ~ January 4th, 1965)
“When we live our lives authentically, we discover our true place in the world for the first time.”
“It takes tenacity and daring to travel to the darkest interior of one’s self. Who knows what we might find there?”
“It does not do to leave a live dragon out of your calculations, if you live near him.”
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien CBE FRSL (known as: J. R. R. Tolkien) (English Writer, Poet, Philologist, and Academic; January 3rd, 1892 ~ September 2nd, 1973)
“Our dragons are our fears : our day stalkers, our night sweats. Fear of the unknown. Fear of failing. Fear of starting something new and not finishing. Again. Or the real fear, the one that sends shivers up our spines: the fear of succeeding, of becoming our authentic selves and facing the changes that will inevitably bring. We ight not be happy with the way we are living now, but at least it’s daftly familiar.”
“…there is really nothing to fear from self-awareness because at the end of all our personal ecploration, we will arrive back where we started and know in our hearts that we finally belong there.”
Thomas Stearns Eliot OM (Known as: T.S. Eliot) (Poet, Essayist, Publisher, Playwright, Literary Critic and Editor; September 26th, 1888 ~ January 4th, 1965)
“Today, if you feel frightened or unsure about the future, pick up the double-edged sword of Light and Love. Always remember, it’s simple not an adventure worth telling if there aren’t any dragons. But as in the best old tales, at the end of your exploring, you will live happily ever after.”
See the King Penguins on Volunteer Point, Falkland Islands
Before my story began…(Heather Houston 2-16-22)
1972 Me…at my Aunt Carrie’s Baby Shower
“I drove the MINI Cooper out of the garage tis morning for the first time since I purchased it last night. Wouldn’t you know it, As I pulled out the garage a warning light came on…”Low Tire”. UGH! I got out checked all the tires and they felt just fine. I choose to drive to work and check the pressure and then reset the light. I think during the detailing a setting malfunctioned. This is new for me to not worry myself to death about something minor. YEAH ME!” (Heather Houston 2-16-22)
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“The dragons that lurk in the shadows of our lives can only be slayed with the double edge sword of love and light. Lately, I have been feeling empty in my job. It is not using my skills and I am surrounded by extremely needy people who suck the energy from people like myself. As an empath, I have to buffer myself from people who are vampires. I need to find something that fulfills my purpose and what gifts I can provide the world. Funny how when we age we must reinvent ourselves.” (Heather Houston 2-16-26)
–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 50-51 of 501.
I challenge each of you on this blog series to post comments so we all can grow together.
“I am thankful my 2nd attempt to get my sourdough pancake recipe spot on happened today!” (Heather Houston 2-15-26)
“I am blessed that we had a successful grocery shop for the week and got to enjoy a Dick’s burger for lunch.” (Heather Houston 2-15-26)
“I appreciate being able to enjoy the Olympics and witness new sports that I have never seen before in the Winter Games.” (Heather Houston 2-15-26)
“I appreciate my husband creating a salmon pizza which won a 2019 World’s Best Pizza status in Italy.” (Heather Houston 2-15-26)
“I am thankful I got the laundry done for the week.” (Heather Houston 2-15-26)
“I am thankful I was able to get clarification at my bank for the auto loan I was applying for.” (Heather Houston 2-15-22)
“I appreciate the dealership making the purchase of my car swift and easy.” (Heather Houston 2-15-22)
“I am grateful for BECU giving me a line of credit to create the opportunity to place a deposit down on the car I was purchasing.” (Heather Houston 2-15-22)
“We are blessed that the Honda dealership was able to take back the leased car the same day as I purchased the new car.” (Heather Houston 2-15-22)
“I am grateful for a partner supporting me in my first auto purchase.” (Heather Houston 2-15-22)
Lyrics: Once upon a time there was a tavern Where we used to raise a glass or two Remember how we laughed away the hours Think of all the great things we would do? Those were the days, my friend We thought they’d never end We’d sing and dance forever and a day We’d live the life we choose We’d fight and never lose For we were young and sure to have our way La-la-la-da-da-da La-la-la-da-da-da Da-da-da-da, la-da-da-da-da Then the busy years went rushing by us We lost our starry notions on the way If by chance I’d see you in the tavern We’d smile at one another and we’d say Those were the days, my friend We thought they’d never end We’d sing and dance forever and a day We’d live the life we choose We’d fight and never lose Those were the days, oh yes, those were the days La-la-la-da-da-da La-la-la-da-da-da Da-da-da-da, da-da-da-da-da Just tonight I stood before the tavern Nothing seemed the way it used to be In the glass I saw a strange reflection Was that lonely woman really me? Those were the days, my friend We thought they’d never end We’d sing and dance forever and a day We’d live the life we choose We’d fight and never lose Those were the days, oh yes, those were the days La-la-la-da-da-da La-la-la-da-da-da Da-da-da-da, da-da-da-da-da La-la-la-da-da-da La-la-la-da-da-da Da-da-da-da, da-da-da-da-da Through the door, there came familiar laughter I saw your face and heard you call my name Oh, my friend, we’re older but no wiser For in our hearts, the dreams are still the same Those were the days, my friend We thought they’d never end We’d sing and dance forever and a day We’d live the life we choose We’d fight and never lose Those were the days, oh yes, those were the days La-la-la-da-da-da La-la-la-da-da-da Da-da-da-da, da-da-da-da-da La-la-la-da-da-da La-la-la-da-da-da Da-da-da-da, da-da-da-da-da La-la-la-la-la-la-la La-la-la-la-la-la-la La-la-la-la-la-la-la
My Distilled Life 