My Abundant Life 1-27-26

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January 27th, 2026

The Daily Dialogue

“I will write myself into well-being.”

Nancy Mair (Author; July 23rd, 1943 ~ December 3rd, 2016)

“I took a spiral notebook and began having a conversation with myself on the paper. Everything I was worried about just pilled out in a rapid stream of consciousness. What I was doing was not so much recording the events in my life as much as eliminating the mental minutiae that was depleting my creative energy and driving me crazy.”

“Groan and forget it.”

Jessamyn West (American Author of short stories and Novels; July 18th, 1902 ~ February 23rd, 1984)

“I call this ritual the daily dialogue because you are really conversing with someone much wiser and saner as you write: your authentic self.”

“Try writing a daily dialogue as an experiment for twenty-one days. That’s the length of time psychologists tell us we need to perform a new behavior before it becomes habitual….Stressed souls need the reassuring rhythm of self-nurturing rituals.”

“Just get down on paper whatever’s hovering on the horizon of your brain disguised as a dull headache.”

“With pencil and paper, I could revise the world.”

Alison Lurie (American Novelist and Academic; September 3rd, 1926 ~ December 3rd, 2020)

“The last few weeks have been frustrating as I learned my salary for the next 5-years in my current contract was not even near the COLA (2.5%) increase annually. What is did for me was give me clarity on my next steps in my career. With this shift, I was able to let go of some of the frustrations in my current workplace. I am still doing complete work, but I am not going above and beyond. This has given me relief in the level of stressors in my work environment. My co-workers are beginning to realize what I was actually doing for the team and what is now left for them to complete without my assistance. I am on a quest to find the perfect fit for my new career chapter. This excites me and I am committed to strive toward this without fear or reservation. I appreciate knowing how much my employer values me so I can find a place and a position where my efforts and contributions will be valued for what they are.”🙏 (Heather Houston 1-27-22)

“My biopsy really zapped my energy. It is not everyday you get a puncture wound the size of a 1/4-thikness of an arrow. Yes, I said an arrow like Robin Hood. I found at the end of he day I felt like I collapsed into bed from the sheer ongoing ache and soreness. I can’t wait until my histology results are complete so I can close this chapter.” (Heather Houston 1-27-26)

–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 27-29 of 501.

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

Daily Gratitude 1-26-26

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January 26th, 2026

  • “I am grateful I had sick leave in order to take off today as ai prepared mentally for my biopsy.” (Heather Houston 1-26-26)
  • “I am thankful to be able to meditate twice today.” (Heather Houston 1-26-26)
  • “ I am thankful my husband drove me to my appointment.”❤️ (Heather Houston 1-26-26)
  • “I am grateful that the medical team was thoughtful and kind as I asked my many confirming questions at my appointment.” (Heather Houston 1-26-26)
  • “I am blessed to have a husband who cares for me and made a lovely pazole for dinner.” (Heather Houston 1-26-26)
  • “I appreciate getting nearly 8-hours of sleep to start my day (7-hours & 41-minutes). When I am rested, everything is better in my day and how I experience it.” (Heather Houston 1-26-22)
  • “I am thankful that my food hankerings align with my partner.  He mentioned having loaded hot dogs for dinner and I was all in!” (Heather Houston 1-26-22)
  • “I am grateful my employer allows teleworking from time to time.” (Heather Houston 1-26-22)
  • “I love having an afternoon delight moment with my love before dinner.  HOT!!!” (Heather Houston 1-26-22)
  • “I am blessed to have a dog who loves me enough to try to be a parrot.  He will perch himself on the back of the couch looking over my shoulder to be as close as possible to his #1 playmate.” (Heather Houston 1-26-22)

My Musical Life 1-26-26

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January 26th, 2026

#10 Tighten Up (Archie Bell & The Drells) 👍🏼

Lyrics:
Hi everybody
I’m Archie Bell of the Drells, from Houston, Texas
We don’t only sing
But we dance just as good as we walk
In Houston, we just started a new dance
Called the Tighten Up
This is the music we tighten up with🪄
First tighten up on the drums
Come on now, drummer
I want you to tighten it up for me now, oh, yeah
Tighten up on that bass now
Tighten it up, ha, ha, yeah
Now let that guitar fall in
Oh, yeah
Tighten up on that organ now
Yeah, you do the tighten up, yeah, now🪄
I said, if you can do it now
It sure would be tough
Now look here, come on now
Now make it mellow🪄
Let’s tighten it up now
Do the tighten up
Everybody can do it now
So get to it
We’re gonna tighten up
Let’s do the tighten up
You can do it now
So baby, get to it🪄
Look to your left now
Look to your right
Everybody can do it
But don’t you get too tight
Come on and tighten up
Let’s tighten it up now
Let’s tighten it up now
Tighten it up
Oh, do the tighten up
Come on and tighten it up
Tighten it up now, come on now, Billy🪄
Tighten it up, oh, yeah
Sock it to me now, tighten it up
Come on and tighten up that bass, oh, yeah
Now look here, I want that guitar to fall in on there
Tighten it up now
Oh, yeah
Now tighten it up, organ🪄
Yeah, now everybody tighten it up now
Now look here, we gonna make it mellow for you now
We gonna make it mellow now🪄
Oh, tighten it up
You can get it
Move to your left, move to your right
Tighten it up now
Everything will be outta sight
Come on and tighten it up
Tighten it up now
You can do it

My Abundant Life 1-26-26

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January 26th, 2026

Simple Abundance: The Basic Tools

“Take the gentle path.”

George Herbert (Poet, Orator, and Priest of the Church of England; April 3rd, 1593 ~ March 1st, 1633)

“There is no companion so companionable as Solitude.”

Henry David Thoreau (American Naturalist, Essayist, Poet, and Philosopher; July 12th, 1817 ~ May 6th, 1862)

“See if you can’t give yourself the gift of one hour a day to journey within.”

“This much I know: if you go deep enough, often enough, something good is bound to come back to you.”

“I have committed to daily journaling and reflection. I don’t make it a hard fast start stop as I add doses of it throughout my day instead of a concentrated hour. This enables me to feel like I am addressing and being attentive to my own self-care on an ongoing basis throughout my day vs. being a task to check off my list.” (Heather Houston 1-26-26)

–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 26-27 of 501.

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

Daily Gratitude 1-25-26

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January 25th, 2026

  • “I am grateful my husband muddled through my sourdough pancakes even though I messed up on the amount of flour.” (Heather Houston 1-25-26)
  • “I am blessed to spend the day relaxing with my love.” ❤️ (Heather Houston 1-25-26)
  • “I appreciate our strategy for achieving the perfect grocery shop. Creating a weekly menu, categorizing the needed items and shopping at the stores which offer the best ingredients.” (Heather Houston 1-25-26)
  • “I am thankful for my husband’s inspiration to create an Agog Pizza tonight.” 🍕(Heather Houston 1-25-26)
  • “I am thankful for our nightly getting ready for sleep routine each night to express our gratitude for the day and set our bodies up for a restful sleep. Go Sleep Hygiene!” Heather Houston 1-25-26)
  • “I am thankful for the deep love of my partner.  He surprised me this morning with a commissioned work of digital art.  It is of a sexual context and an image rendition of me, so I will keep it to myself.  However, not in a million years would I have ever thought some would commission a piece of art just for me.  It is beautiful and a fabulous expression of our love.  I love you Neil!”💖 (Heather Houston 1-25-22)
  • “I am blessed to work with Dave Iuli with our field athletes today.  We both have gifts to offer these athletes and we compliment one another’s coaching style.  Thanks Dave!” (Heather Houston 1-25-22)
  • “I am grateful to have swimming athletes who are so coachable.  I asked them to do an interval outside of their normal mode and they both had a break through in their swimming form and pacing.  Excellent job Dustin and Stacey!” (Heather Houston 1-25-22)
  • “I am thankful that my partner and I made our favorite meal for dinner…breaded pan fried fillet of sole.  It is what we affectionately call “crack.”  It is addictive like a drug it is so delectable.” (Heather Houston 1-25-22) 1-25-22 Breaded Pan Fried Fillet of Sole
  • “I appreciate the pre sleep cuddle moments with my love each night as I drift to sleep safe, secure and loved.” (Heather Houston 1-25-22)

My Musical Life 1-25-26

On By Heather HoustonIn My Musical LifeLeave a comment

January 25th, 2026

#9 Mrs. Robinson (Simon & Garfunkel) 👍🏼

Lyrics:
And here’s to you, Mrs. Robinson
Jesus loves you more than you will know
Whoa, whoa, whoa
God bless you, please, Mrs. Robinson
Heaven holds a place for those who pray
Hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey🪄
We’d like to know a little bit about you for our files
We’d like to help you learn to help yourself
Look around you, all you see are sympathetic eyes
Stroll around the grounds until you feel at home🪄
And here’s to you, Mrs. Robinson
Jesus loves you more than you will know
Whoa, whoa, whoa
God bless you, please, Mrs. Robinson
Heaven holds a place for those who pray
Hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey🪄
Hide it in a hiding place where no one ever goes
Put it in your pantry with your cupcakes
It’s a little secret, just the Robinson’s affair
Most of all, you’ve got to hide it from the kids🪄
Coo, coo, ca-choo, Mrs. Robinson
Jesus loves you more than you will know
Whoa, whoa, whoa
God bless you, please, Mrs. Robinson
Heaven holds a place for those who pray
Hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey🪄
Sitting on a sofa on a Sunday afternoon
Going to the candidates debate
Laugh about it, shout about it
When you’ve got to choose
Every way you look at this, you lose🪄
Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio?
Our nation turns its lonely eyes to you
Woo, woo, woo
What’s that you say, Mrs. Robinson?
Joltin’ Joe has left and gone away
Hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey

My Abundant Life 1-25-26

On By Heather HoustonIn My Abundant LifeLeave a comment

January 25th, 2026

Working With What You’ve Got

“If your everyday life seems poor, don’t blame it; blame yourself; admit to yourself that you are not enough of a poet to call forth it’s riches; Because of the creator there is no poverty and no poor indifferent place.”

René Karl Wilhelm Johann Josef Maria Rilke (known as: Rainer Maria Rilke) (Austrian Poet and Novelist; December 4th, 1875 ~ December 29th, 1926)

“Up until now many of us have secretly believed that we had to wait until things calmed down a bit before we started to get our acts together. Tomorrow we’ll begin discovering authentic pleasures. Tomorrow we’ll treat ourselves better. Tomorrow we’ll take time to enjoy ourselves. Tomorrow, when everything calms down. This I can report from the front lines: life never calms down long enough for us to wait until tomorrow to start living the lives we deserve. Life is always movement, always change, always unforeseen circumstances.”

“So what are we going to do about it? We can stop waiting for life to become perfect and start working with what we’ve got to make it as satisfying as we can. We can accept, bless, give thanks, and get going. Today, we can begin to call forth the riches from our everyday life. Today we can move from lack to abundance.”

“Think of one thing that would give you a genuine moment of pleasure today and do it.”

“Today, my partner asked what I would like for dinner. I replied, “Crack!” We make a breaded pan fried sole that is to die for. Dinner and pleasure in one go. WINNING!!!”🏆 (Heather Houston 1-25-22)

“Life never calms down enough for us to feel like we are ready to start. Starting in the face of no agreement is being in action in an intentional way. New actions lead to unexpected outcomes. So get out there and do what needs to be done…stop waiting!” (Heather Houston 1-25-26)

“Life begets life. Energy creates energy. It is by spending oneself that we become rich.”

Sarah Bernhardt (French Stage Actress; 1844 ~ March 26th, 1923)

–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 25-26 of 501.

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

Daily Gratitude 1-24-26

On By Heather HoustonIn 5 Daily GratitudesLeave a comment

January 24th, 2026

  • “I am thankful for weekends so we get to sleep in.” (Heather Houston 1-24-26)
  • “I appreciate my husband cleaning the kitchen from last nights cook and making us a yummy breakfast of poached eggs, toast and bacon.” (Heather Houston 1-24-26)
  • “I am grateful the guy who backed up into my car at the bank did not damage my car.” (Heather Houston 1-24-26)
  • “I am blessed to be able to purchase firewood to heat our house and add ambience to our nightly experience. (Heather Houston 1-24-26)
  • “I am grateful that my husband plans ahead in the week to make pizza dough so we have it available to create delicious fusion pizzas. Tonight he had spicy red sauce, pepperoni, mozzarella cheese, pickled jalapeños, fresh mozzarella, hot honey and red chili flakes.” (Heather Houston 1-24-26)
  • “I am thankful my rowing athlete was hearty enough to finish his erg workout this morning.” (Heather Houston 1-24-22)
  • “I am grateful to get all my 300+ appointments entered for the whole month of February.” (Heather Houston 1-24-22)
  • “I appreciate the scrumptious meatballs sold at QFC, which helped make dinner super easy and tasty.” (Heather Houston 1-24-22)
  • “I am thankful that I found a bottle of Chianti wine in a wicker basket…🍷Castello Banfi Bell’Agio Straw Flask. I have always wanted to sample this Italy staple.” (Heather Houston 1-24-22)
  • “I am grateful for a partner who cares whether or not I’m rested and scoots me off to bed early each night. Thank you honey!” (Heather Houston 1-24-22)

My Abundant Life 1-24-26

On By Heather HoustonIn My Abundant LifeLeave a comment

January 24th, 2026

Blessing Our Circumstances

“Bless a thing and it will bless you. Curse it and it will curse you…If you bless a situation, it has no power to hurt you, and even if it is troublesome for a time, it will gradually fade out, if you sincerely bless it.”

Emmett Fox (Irish New Thought Spiritual Leader; July 30th, 1886 ~ August 13th, 1951)

“After accepting our present circumstances, no matter what they are, we must learn to bless them.”

“…blessing whatever vexes us is the spiritual surrender that can change even troublesome situations for the better. Blessing the circumstances in our lives also teaches us to trust.”

“Then start to count your blessings. Start today. Make a spiritual inventory of all your blessings. See if you can’t get to one hundred….Writing it down focuses our attention on the abundance already within our grasp and makes it real.”

My Gratitude List

–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 25 of 501.

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