Lyrics: I take two, okay You say you want a revolution Well, you know We all want to change the world You tell me that it’s evolution Well, you know We all wanna change the world But when you talk about destruction Don’t you know that you can count me out, in Don’t you know it’s gonna be all right? (Ah, shu-bi-do, ah) Don’t you know it’s gonna be all right? (Ah, shu-bi-do, ah) Don’t you know it’s gonna be all right? (Ah, shu-bi-do, ah) You say you got a real solution Well, you know We’d all love to see the plan You ask me for a contribution Well, you know We all doing what we can But if you want money for people with minds that hate All I can tell is, brother, you have to wait Don’t you know it’s gonna be all right? (Ah, shu-bi-do, ah) Don’t you know it’s gonna be all right? (Ah, shu-bi-do, ah) Don’t you know it’s gonna be all right? (Ah, shu-bi-do, ah) You say you’ll change the constitution Well, you know We’d all love to change your head (ah, shu-bi-do, ah) You tell me it’s the institution Well, you know You better free your mind instead (ah, shu-bi-do, ah) If you go carrying pictures of chairman Mao You ain’t gonna make it with anyone anyhow Don’t you know it’s gonna be all right? (Ah, shu-bi-do, ah) Don’t you know it’s gonna be all right? (Ah, shu-bi-do, ah) Don’t you know it’s gonna be all right? (Ah, shu-bi-do, ah) All, all, all, all (ah, shu-bi-do, ah) All, all, all, all right (ah, shu-bi-do, ah) All right, all right (ah, shu-bi-do, ah) All right, all right (ah, shu-bi-do, ah) All right, all right (ah, shu-bi-do, ah) All right, all right (ah, shu-bi-do, ah) All right (ah, shu-bi-do, ah) All right, all right (ah, shu-bi-do, ah) All right, all right (ah, shu-bi-do, ah)
“‘I haven’t got a thing to wear’ does not of course, mean that we must report to nakedness or seclusion; it means that our wardrobes contain nothing that might match our mood or offer a just reflection of our current lives.”
Kennedy Fraser (American Essayist, and fashion writer; 1948)
“Today, I only want you to consider your real life and the clothes you wear every day. Do they really reflect the woman within? What about the clothes that speak to you from the pages of your illustrated discovery journal? What about the clothes that hang abandoned in your closet?”
“Clothes have a life that is quite independent of their shape and color.”
Kennedy Fraser (American Essayist, and Fashion writer; 1948)
“Before my story began…” (Heather Houston 3-25-22)
1972 Me…at my Aunt Carrie’s Baby Shower
“I am sure my current wardrobe does not fit the inner woman I am. To create a wardrobe you need extra funds to invest in yourself and I have never been that lucky. I have had to rely upon practicality and function over my own self reflection. The clothing I have been posting in my illustrated journal actually reflect me more closely, but do not fit into my work life. Clothes abandoned in my closet are historical reflections of my past trying to show my true self. I haven’t purchased anything really new in almost a decade.” (Heather Houston 3-25-22)
“Because of my work, I default to wearing one pair of pants the entire work week and alternate new shirts everyday. I consider it a uniform of sorts. It greatly reduced laundry and I am mostly comfortable. However, it does not reflect my style. I think it is time to revamp my wardrobe over time and pick a new piece to add when I have the time and energy to go looking. Even if I purchase something I can modify to meet me in my style interests could be fun. I will put some further thought into this idea.” (Heather Houston 3-26-26)
–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 92 of 501.
I challenge each of you on this blog series to post comments so we all can grow together.
“I appreciate synchronicity that shows up in my life over and over again.” (Heather Houston 3-24-26)
“I am grateful for the signs sent by the Universe in my eagle sightings.” (Heather Houston 3-24-26)
“I am grateful for having synesthesia as it makes my experience of life technicolor.” (Heather Houston 3-24-26)
“I am thankful for the abundance of love in my life since I began loving myself.” (Heather Houston 3-24-26)
“I appreciate the positive core values I learned from others who have influenced me throughout my life.” (Heather Houston 3-24-26)
“I am blessed to wake up each morning with my two favorite beings…Neil my love and Kiva our dog.” (Heather Houston 3-24-22)
“I am thankful for my FitBit which reviews my sleep to help me find strategies to get the most rest each night.” (Heather Houston 3-24-22)
“I appreciate my mother offering to pay for my weekend trip to a summer family reunion. Thank you mom! This is a wonderful birthday present.” (Heather Houston 3-24-22)
“I am blessed that my head cold is not advancing into an infection. Thank you immune system for being so strong.” (Heather Houston 3-24-22)
“I am grateful for our neighborhood taco shop. Such a yummy meal when cooking dinner seems overwhelming.” (Heather Houston 3-24-22)
Lyrics: Set me free, why don’t you babe? Get out my life, why don’t you babe? You really don’t want me, you just keep me hanging on You really don’t need me, you just keep me hanging on Why do you keep coming around, playing with my heart? Why don’t you get out of my life When seeing you just breaks my heart again There ain’t nothing I can do about it You know I need love Set me free, why don’t you babe? Talkin’ ’bout love Get out my life, why don’t now? You really don’t want me, you just keep me hanging on Get out my life, why don’t you babe? Get out my life, why don’t you babe?
“Listening to your heart is not simple. Finding out who you are is not simple. It takes a lot of hard work and courage to get to know who you are and what you want.”
Sue Bender (Author; Unknown)
“When the dark days come, we need to remember that even if a secret saboteur–depression–is at work temporarily derailing our progress (or so it seems), each day offers us a gift if we will only look for it.”
“All the best transformations are accompanied by pain. That’s the point of them.”
Fay WeldonCBE, FRSL (English Author, Essayist and Playwright; September 22nd, 1931 ~ )
“Personal growth also comes in spasms: three steps forward, two steps back, and then a long plateau when it seems as though nothing happening. But it’s important to realize that this dormant period always seems to precede a growth spurt. Unfortunately, during the dormant period we vey often become depressed and decide to give up.”
“When dark clouds hover, what should you do besides holding on and riding out the storm? You have two choices. One is simply to give in, stop resisting. You’ve got the blues, so sing them, baby. But before you do, ask for grace. Then have a good cry.”
“Dark days come to all of us. Yet discouraging days bring with them golden opportunities when we can learn to be kind to ourselves. Believe it or not, today offers you a hidden gift, if you are willing to search for it.”
“Before my story began…” (Heather Houston 3-24-22)
1972 Me…at my Aunt Carrie’s Baby Shower
“When those dark days come, I often need an out loud crying moment. Then I need to seek out my partner to share. Usually if I speak my pain, within 24-hours, I am recharged to fight again.” (Heather Houston 3-24-22)
“Somedays feel like 3-steps forward and 2-steps back, and the truth it to stay the course and leave expectations sidelined. Committing to the process and BEing with the feels and occurrences as they unfold. I am here in the NOW and there is no other place to be.” (Heather Houston 3-24-26)
–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 90-92 of 501.
I challenge each of you on this blog series to post comments so we all can grow together.
Lyrics: A long time ago, when the earth was still green And there were more kinds of animals than you’ve ever seen They’d run around free while the earth was being born But the loveliest of all was the unicorn There was green alligators and long-necked geese Some humpty-backed camels and some chimpanzees Some cats and rats and elephants, but sure as you’re born The loveliest of all was the unicorn Now god seen some sinnin’ and it gave him pain And he says, “stand back, I’m going to make it rain” He says, “hey, brother Noah, I’ll tell you what to do Build me a floating zoo” And take some of them green alligators and long-necked geese Some humpty-backed camels and some chimpanzees Some cats and rats and elephants, but sure as you’re born Don’t you forget my unicorn” Old Noah was there to answer the call He finished up making the ark just as the rain started fallin’ He marched in the animals two by two And he called out as they went through “Hey, Lord” I’ve got your green alligators and long-necked geese Some humpty-backed camels and some chimpanzees Some cats and rats and elephants, but Lord, I’m so forlorn I just can’t see no unicorn” Then Noah looked out through the driving rain Them unicorns was hiding, playing silly games Kicking and splashing while the rain was pouring Oh, them silly unicorns There was green alligators and long-necked geese Some humpty-backed camels and some chimpanzees Noah cried, “close the doors ’cause the rain is pourin’ And we just can’t wait for no unicorns” The ark started movin’, it drifted with the tide Them unicorns looked up from the rock and they cried And the waters came down and sort of floated them away And that’s why you’ll never see a unicorn, to this very day You’ll see green alligators and long-necked geese Some humpty-backed camels and some chimpanzees Some cats and rats and elephants, but sure as you’re born You’re never gonna see no unicorn
“Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else.”
Judy Garland (American Actress and Singer; June 10th, 1922 ~ June 22nd, 1969)
“You see, whether we are consciously aware of it or not, we’re constantly programmed by the world to be other women, not ourselves. …With this pervasive social schizophrenia, it’s no wonder that most women are terribly confused about the issue of authenticity.”
“According to Webster’s Dictionary, to be authentic is to be ‘not imaginary, false or imitation.’ To be authentic is to be ‘genuine, veritable, bona fide, being actually and precisely what is claimed.’ The only thing that we can genuinely claim to be is ourselves. But our best is good enough, even on a bad day.”
“We are all hard on ourselves. We not only want to be other people, we want to be perfect versions of them.”
“We should only strive to be a first-rate version of ourselves. And our best is always good enough.”
“Before my story began…” (Heather Houston 3-23-22)
1972 Me…at my Aunt Carrie’s Baby Shower
“Where do we learn this odd behavior of trying to be someone we are not. We reach for the ideal of being someone other than ourselves. I have spent a lifetime trying to be someone…anyone other than myself. Makes me sad to think I never thought I was enough.” (Heather Houston 3-23-22)
“Growing up in a family of quilters, the below quote speaks volumes to being your authentic self and that perfection is ridiculous…” (Heather Houston 3-23-26
“…Amish quilters will deliberately add a mismatched patch to each quilt to remind themselves that only Spirit can create perfectly/”
–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 89-90 of 501.
I challenge each of you on this blog series to post comments so we all can grow together.
My Distilled Life 