My Abundant Life 2-13-26

On By Heather HoustonIn My Abundant LifeLeave a comment

February 13th, 2026

You Have a Unique Point of View: Loving Your Authenticity

“A sobering thought: what if, right at this very moment, I am living up to my full potential?”

Jane Wagner (American writer, Director and Producer; February 26th, 1935 ~ )

“One of the most important milestones we’ll hit along the way is the moment when we finally own our unique point of view and realize how priceless it is.”

“I’d gone through life believing in the strength and competence of others; never my own…Now, dazzled, I discovered that my capacities were real. It was like finding a fortune in the lining of an old coat.”

Joan Mills (Musical Artist; UNKNOWN)

“Today, or as soon as you can, indulge yourself with one of my favorite perk-ups. Get $25 from the bank in $5 notes and place then in the pockets of all your coats and jackets. Now forget about it. The next time you wear a coat and find $5, laugh and let it remind you that each day that you love, honor, and respect your own unique point of view, you’re a step closer to finding a fortune.”

“Now do one thing more. Start to treat yourself more generously. Begin with $5…Just do something out of the ordinary that you normally wouldn’t do that will lift your spirits.”

“Love yourself first and everything else falls into line…You really have to love yourself to get anything done in this world.”

Lucille Ball (American Actress, Comedian, and Producer; August 6th, 1911 ~ April 26th, 1989)

“Before my story began…” (Heather Houston 2-13-22)

1972 Me…at my Aunt Carrie’s Baby Shower

“Love myself ‘eh? Well that has been a battle my entire life.”

“My story began at 3-4 years of age at my maternal grandmother’s house. My parents were sitting on the blue couches holding my new baby brother and sharing newborn pictures of my brother and myself while surrounded by my maternal aunts and uncles. Somebody mentioned how cute my brother was and my parents beamed with pride. Someone said out loud, “He is a perfect Gerber Baby.” I knew who the Gerber Baby was from the baby food jars we had on hand. I thought how nice to know my brother is so cute. I was proud to be his big sister.”

“Then it happened…my parents said something like this…”It is amazing how he came out. Heather never looked like this. Frankly, when she was born, I thought she was a monkey. Covered in hair, wrinkled and curled up.” my dad stated. My mom piped in, “She had a pointy head.” I was shocked. My world seemed to melt away from me. What did they mean? I was a monkey…an ugly monkey? Not even human.”

“I immediately started to resent my brother fiercely. How dare he own all the beauty and affection? I was never the same after that day. My story was set…I knew I was ugly and repulsive…not enough. I felt shameful for existing and knew that being me was not enough. So, I knew had to be more then me…different. In my survival mode, I gravitated to perfectionistic behaviors in a way to clamor to be “SEEN”.”

“Alas, I spent most my life here and it led me down a very unhappy life path…sexual harassment, domineering abusive spouse, self-loathing, imposter syndrome on any achievement and low self worth. I fight every day to win the day over my story and find I still fail…even now almost 50-years since that day. My parents were young naive and learning to be parents. None of us as parents were given the parent manual…LOL! All of us as parents made mistakes…even me. I only hope my mistakes don’t plague and paralyze my children as much as my story has. I forgive my parents for their harsh statements as I know I can’t go back in time to change what I heard or wished someone noticed the pain on my face and showed me compassion. Instead, I was left to my own 3-4 year old mind devices, which led to me making meaning of the incident and creating a story. It is what it is.”

“But, I do wonder about that little girl…I wonder what her life might have been like if she loved and believed in herself. What might she had become? What might she be doing today? That is a fantasy and doesn’t exist. Claiming and owning my story by bringing it into the light allows it to be less powerful and affords me power to put it aside as not reality. I forgive myself also, I was just a 3-4 year old trying to make sense of a moment when I had little understanding of the grey parts of conversations and saw it only as black or white…good or bad…ugly or pretty. As such, my story latched onto this and filtered my entire life. I am trying to not live in my rearview mirror and live into the present by finding worth in myself now…newly. Pray for me to find my true love…of myself before I leave this dirtball. Thank you for listening.”

Gerber Baby
Heather Houston-DOB 3-30-68

–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 47-48 of 501.

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

Daily Gratitude 2-12-26

On By Heather HoustonIn 5 Daily GratitudesLeave a comment

February 12th, 2026

  • “I appreciate my administrative assistant felt comfortable enough to be vulnerable with me today in keeping me in the loop on her interest to applying to an internal position within our foundation at HQ.” (Heather Houston 1-12-26)
  • “I am thankful that I am tech saavy and was able to figure out how to use the following apps: NotebookLM, Google Gemini and Trello.” (Heather Houston 1-12-26)
  • “I am blessed there was hardly any traffic today on my commute home…WINNING!” 🏆(Heather Houston 1-12-26)
  • “I am grateful my husband strategizes how to maximize our time together and he had our dinner (Pizza) all ready to go so practically when I walked in the door, he was putting it into the oven. HE is a magician!” ❤️ (Heather Houston 1-12-26)
  • “I appreciate watching TV series for pure entertainment at the end of the day…Bridgerton!” (Heather Houston 1-12-26)
  • I appreciate the random country selector that helps us determine which country we will cook from on our world chicken journey. (Heather Houston 2-12-22)
  • I am grateful that this winter has been mild and not super icy when I drive to work at 4:00AM. (Heather Houston 2-12-22)
  • I am thankful for the weekends to get caught up on sleep and rest. (Heather Houston 2-12-22)
  • I am blessed to have good eyesight…Thank you Lasix!😁 (Heather Houston 2-12-22)
  • I filled with joy that I have a loving partner who I love so hard!💕 (Heather Houston 2-12-22)

My Musical Life 2-12-26

On By Heather HoustonIn My Musical LifeLeave a comment

February 12th, 2026

#27 Love Child (Diana Ross & The Supreme) 👍🏼

Lyrics:
Tenement slum
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
Ahhhhh🪄
You think that I don’t feel love
But what I feel for you is real love
In other’s eyes I see reflected
A hurt, scorned, rejected🪄
Love child, never meant to be
Love child, born in poverty
Love child, never meant to be
Love child, take a look at me🪄
Started my life
In an old, cold run down tenement slum (Tenement slum)
My father left, he never even married mom
I shared the guilt my mama knew
So afraid that others knew I had no name
Ahhhh, ah🪄
This love we’re contemplating
Isn’t worth the pain of waiting
We’ll only end up hating
The child we maybe creating🪄
Love child, never meant to be
Love child, (scorned by) society
Love child, always second best
Love child, different from the rest (Hold on, hold on, just a little bit)
Mm, baby (Hold on, hold on, just a little bit)
Mm, baby (Hold on, hold on, just a little bit)🪄
I started school
In a worn, torn dress that somebody threw out(Somebody threw out)
I knew the way it felt, to always live in doubt
To be without the simple things
So afraid my friends would see the guilt in me
Ahhh, ah🪄
Don’t think that I don’t need you
Don’t think I don’t wanna please you
But no child of mine’ll be bearing
The name of shame I’ve been wearing🪄
Love child, love child, never quite as good
Afraid, ashamed, misunderstood🪄
But I’ll always love you (Love child)
I’ll always love you (Just a little bit longer)
I’ll always love you (Wait, wait, won’t you wait, just hold on)
I’ll always love you (Just a little bit longer, love child)
I’ll always love you (Wait, wait, won’t you wait, just hold on)
I’ll always love you (Just a little bit longer)

My Abundant Life 2-12-26

On By Heather HoustonIn My Abundant LifeLeave a comment

February 12th, 2026

Once Upon A Time You Trusted Yourself

“Just trust yourself, then you will know how to live.”

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (German Poet, Playwright, Novelist, Scientist, Statesman, Theatre Director, and Critic; August 28th, 1749 ~ March 22nd, 1832)

“Today, try to find a photograph of yourself when you were about ten…Send love to that young girl. Try to travel back in time and imagination. See yourself at ten: at home, at school, and at play.”

“…age ten was probably the last time you trusted your instincts. You didn’t listen to the opinions of your mother, your sister, or your friends because you had your own.”

“Try to contact the girl you once were. She’s all grown up now. She’s your authentic delf and she’s waiting to remind you how beautiful, accomplished, and extraordinary you really are.”

“The task today was to find a picture of myself when I was ten. The idea is that at ten we still trusted our instincts and didn’t let the opinions of others rule us. Regrettably, my story began at three or four-years old, so I had many stories by the time I hit ten. I included a picture when I was 4, which is likely the time when I last trusted myself. The other picture are closer to ten, but I was already manipulating myself by what I imagined others thought of me.“ (Heather Houston 2-12-22)

1972 Me…at my Aunt Carrie’s Baby Shower
1976 Christmas-Me, Santa & my brother

“See yourself at ten: at home, at school, and at play.” (Heather Houston 2-12-22)

  • “Where did you live?”
    • 1324 Sunny Drive, Eugene, OR. 97404
  • “Can you see your house or apartment, and the street?”
    • Yes. Hedges lined the yard perimeter. An ancient golden locus tree in the front yard. The 2-Story garage in the side yard. The fat backyard had 2 filbert trees and a huge garden. A rock garden was nearest the house in the center of the backyard. Raspberry bushes lined the edge of the backyard with the far backyard. The street we a dead end and our house was located halfway down the length of the drive.
  • “Walk through your rooms in your childhood home. What did your bedroom look like?”
    • My room had oak floors. My bed was a separated bunk bed with drawers along the sides. I had a white bedspread with bright pink and orange butterflies printed on it. I had a small round wooden table, made by my father, with 4 red plastic chairs in the corner of the room. I had a family maple dresser with an oval mirror. Upon my bookshelf sat my phonograph.
  • “Who were your friends?”
    • Hannah Huntley
    • Lisa Humphreys
    • Clark Schaffer
    • Kyle Grey
    • Theresa Moso
    • Shari Shaffer
  • “Did you have a best pal?”
    • Theresa Moso
  • “Who was she?”
    • Classmate
  • “How did you play?”
    • Tag, dodgeball, hot lava
  • “What was your favorite color in the Crayola pack?”
    • Midnight Blue
  • “Did you play a musical instrument?”
    • Violin
  • “Who was your favorite doll?”
    • Stuffed Dumbo
    • Raggedy Ann & Andy
  • “Can you recall the scent of Play-Doh?”
    • Ohhhhh yes and silly putty.
  • “What were your favorite foods?”
    • Chicken Fried Steak
  • “What subject did you like best in fifth grade?”
    • Writing

–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 46-47 of 501.

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

Daily Gratitude 2-11-26

On By Heather HoustonIn 5 Daily GratitudesLeave a comment

February 11th, 2026

  • “I appreciate my husband fixing my faux pas when I emptied the dishwasher. I thought it was clean and instead they were all dirty. He went through the kitchen and collected all the dishes with a smile and gently kissed my forehead and said, ‘I love you!'” (Heather Houston 2-11-26)
  • “I feel blessed to live in a place where eagle sightings are a regular occurrence.” (Heather Houston 2-11-26)
  • “I appreciate that even with the celebration parade in downtown Seattle today, traffic to and from work was a breeze.” (Heather Houston 2-11-26)
  • “I am thankful that my Rx were ready at the pharmacy when I arrived…in and out!” (Heather Houston 2-11-26)
  • “I am thankful my husband made the flag of Italy pasta with a pesto (green), alfredo (white) and spicy marinara (red) sauces…YUM!” (Heather Houston 2-11-26)
  • I appreciate a peaceful morning getting ready for work. (Heather Houston 2-11-22)
  • I am grateful that my commute was without any agro-drivers. (Heather Houston 2-11-22)
  • I am thankful for the time my partner and I make after work to enjoy a cocktail together and share our day. (Heather Houston 2-11-22)
  • I appreciate watching mindless movies on a Friday night to unwind the week. (Heather Houston 2-11-22)
  • I am blessed to have an incredibly loving partner to build a life with. (Heather Houston 2-11-22)

My Musical Life 2-11-26

On By Heather HoustonIn My Musical LifeLeave a comment

February 11th, 2026

#26 Spooky (Classics IV) 👍🏼

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!

My Abundant Life 2-11-26

On By Heather HoustonIn My Abundant LifeLeave a comment

February 11th, 2026

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.”

Illustrated Discovery Journal

Night Paddle Boarding
Temples of Bagan, Myanmar

My Bucket List

“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.

Daily Gratitude 2-10-26

On By Heather HoustonIn 5 Daily GratitudesLeave a comment

February 10th, 2026

  • “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)