Tag: books

My Musical Life 9-4-26

On By Heather HoustonIn My Musical LifeLeave a comment

September 4th, 2026

#12 Tired of Being Alone (Al Green) 👍🏼

Lyrics:
I’m so tired of being alone
I’m so tired of on-my-own
Won’t you help me girl
Just as soon as you can🪄
People say that I’ve found a way
To make you say that you love me
Hey baby, you didn’t go for that
It’s a natural fact
That I wanna come back
Show me where it’s at, baby🪄
I’m so tired of being alone
I’m so tired of on-my-own
Won’t you help me girl
Soon as you can🪄
I guess you know that I, uh, I love you so
Even though you don’t want me no more
Hey, hey, hey, hey, I’m cryin’ tears
All through the years
I’ll tell ya like it is
Honey, please love me if you will🪄
Yeah baby
Tired of being alone here by myself, now
I tell ya, I’m tired baby
I’m tired of being all wrapped up late at night
In my dreams, nobody but you, baby🪄
Sometimes I wonder
If you love me like you say you do
You see baby, I, I, I been thinkin’ about it, yeah
I been, I been wantin’ to get next to you baby
You see, sometimes I fold my arms, I say, mmh-hmm-mmh
Oh yeah
Oh baby
Meeting you has proven to me
To be my greatest dream, yeah🪄
I’m so tired of being alone (Tired, baby)
So tired of being alone (Yeah, you don’t know what I’m talkin’ about)
So tired of being alone
Sometimes late at night I get to wonderin’ about you baby
I’m so tired of being alone (Oh baby, baby)
So tired of being alone
So tired of being alone🪄
I’m so tired of being alone (Oh baby)
So tired of being alone (You’re my heart’s desire)
So tired of being alone

My Musical Life 8-7-26

On By Heather HoustonIn My Musical LifeLeave a comment

August 7th, 2026

#56 Express Yourself (Charles Wright & The Watts 104rd Street Rhythm Band) 👍🏼

Lyrics:
Express yourself
Express yourself🪄
You don’t ever need help from nobody else
All you got to do now
Express yourself🪄
Whatever you do, uh
Do it good, uh
Whatever you do, do, do, Lord, Lord
Do it good, alright🪄
It’s not what you look like
When you’re doin’ what you’re doin’
It’s what you’re doin’, when you’re doin’
What you look like you’re doin’🪄
Express yourself
Express yourself🪄
They’re doin’ it on the moon, y’all, uh
In the jungle too, uh
Everybody on the floor now, uh
Jumpin’ like a kangaroo
So let the horns do the thing they do, y’all, uh🪄
Some people have everything
And other people don’t
But everything don’t mean a thing
If it ain’t the thing you want🪄
Express yourself, uh
Express yourself
Oh, do it, oh, do it
Do it, do it, go on and do it
Y’all, do it, give
Express yourself
Express yourself
Uh, do it🪄
Do it
Do it, ow, yeah, uh
Express yourself, uh
Express yourself, uh
Express yourself, uh🪄
Express yourself, express yourself, express yourself, express yourself, uh, woo
Uh, woo, Lord, hey
Lord, uh, hey, ow, ow
Express yourself, uh, express yourself, express, express
Express yourself, express yourself, express

My Abundant Life 7-31-26

On By Heather HoustonIn My Abundant LifeLeave a comment

July 31st, 2026

Desire, Ask, Believe, Receive

“Difficult times have helped me to understand better than before how infinitely rich and beautiful life is in every way and that so many things that one goes worrying about are of no importance whatsoever.”

Isak Dinesen (Karen Blixen) (Danish Author; April 17th, 1885 to September 7th, 1962)

“Are you a worrier? We all are to a certain extent, but some of us are more pessimistic than others, and when we worry, it’s always the worst possible thing that comes first to mind. Worrying is a great thief of time.”

“Often when we stew, we think that we’re doing something positive about the problem; at least we’re thinking about it. Instead, we’ve set off an escalating spiral that can ruin an entire day–for ourselves and those in our vicinity.”

“I learned that simply to ask a blessing upon one’s circumstances, whatever they are, is somehow to improve them, and to tap some mysterious source of energy and joy. …I came upon one of the most ancient and universal truths–that to affirm and to claim God’s help even before it is given, is to receive it.”

Marjorie Holmes (American Columnist; 1910 to March 13th, 2002)

“Lift up your worries and ask for grace to get through the rest of the day. There is an abundance of amazing grace available to all of us if we simply learn to ask for it.”

“Desire, Ask, Believe, Receive.”

Stella Terrill Mann (American Lecturer & Author; 1898 to 1990)

“I have spent most of my life worrying about things that have never happened.”

Mark Twain (Writer; November 30th, 1835 to April 21st, 1910)

“Worrying about the future robs you of the present moment.”

“I’m not going to think about this right now, I’ll think about this tomorrow, After all, tomorrow is another day.”

Scarlett O’Hara (Fictional Character; the complex, headstrong protagonist of Margaret Mitchell’s 1936 novel Gone with the Wind)

Joyful Simplicities for July

“Declare your personal independence: choose to live authentically as a dreamer, not an ‘expector.'”

“If you worry you still are going to eventually die. If you don’t worry, you still will eventually die. So why worry?”

–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 277 to 278 of 501.

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

My Abundant Life 7-27-26

On By Heather HoustonIn My Abundant LifeLeave a comment

July 27th, 2026

Solitary Pleasures

“Alone, alone, Oh! We have been warned about solitary vices. Have solitary pleasures ever been adequately praised? Do many people know they exist?”

Jessamyn West (American Author, July 18th, 1902 to February 23rd, 1984)

“Nothing in our past lives is wasted. Nothing that once made us feel happy and fulfilled is ever lost. There’s a golden thread that runs through each of our lives. We just need to rediscover this thread before the joy of living completely unravels.”

It’s called zest. Exuberance. Joi de vivre, as the French would say, or ‘the love of life.’ The great delight that comes when the pieces of our particular puzzle finally fit. The heartfelt happiness we derive when something brings us keen pleasure. Something uniquely our own. They used to call this magical something a hobby.”

“The state of BEingness in every moment turns your life into one big party. Like we say everyday, ‘We live each day as the best party ever. We eat delicious food, we create stunning cocktails, we have the best sex ever and we love each other HARD!’ If you could have the best food, the best cocktails, the best sex and the best love ever…wouldn’t you go for it? We do and we do!”

–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 273 to 274 of 501.

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

My Abundant Life 6-27-26

On By Heather HoustonIn My Abundant LifeLeave a comment

June 27th, 2026

Rosemary for Remembrance: Sowing Herbal Hopes and Wishes

“Balm brings you sympathy and Marjoram joy

Sage is long life…Sweet Woodruff augurs well for health–

A blessing richer far than wealth.

While Lavender means deep devotion, Herb of sweet omen, Rosemary conveys

Affection and remembrance all your days.

May Heaven and Earth and Man combine

To keep these blessings ever thine.”

Rachel Page Elliott (Author; February 27th, 1913 to March 20th, 2009)

“King Charlemagne of France, the first emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, believed that herbs were ‘the friend of the physician and the pride of cooks’ and ordered the planting of a royal herb garden in the ninth century. Herbs were considered essential for a long, happy, and healthy life.”

“Jeri performs a Native American ritual as she collects herbs. She wears a sacred pouch that carries wheat seeds. As she gathers from the earth, she personally returns an offering by scattering seeds. And even if the seeds don’t sprout, at least she is feeding the earth’s creatures. ‘The Native Americans have a chant that they invoke when they gather.’ Jeri says. ‘The Earth is my Mother, I take care of Her.”

“Today, sow some symbolic seeds, even if you don’t have a garden, as a gesture to ritualize the new life you are creating within. Ask for blessing of Spirit and the nurturing of the Great Mother and know that in due time there will be an abundant harvest for yourself and those you love.”

“In search of my mother’s garden I found my own.”

Alice Walker (American Novelist & Short Story Writer; February 9th, 1944)

“The idea that even in the 9th century, man knew the value of plants to a healthy life. I love the idea of sowing seeds as a gift to Mother Earth. To return to this gifting might yield a a beautiful canvas or sorts. This gives me hope to be an artist after all.”

–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 228 to 229 of 501.

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

My Abundant Life 6-23-26

On By Heather HoustonIn My Abundant LifeLeave a comment

June 23rd, 2026

Midsummer Night’s Dreams

“Now is the high-tide of year,

And whatever of life hath ebbed away

Comes flooding back with ripply cheer

Now the heart is so full that a drop overfills it,

We are happy now, because God wills it.”

James Russell Lowell (Poet & Former United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom; February 22nd, 1819 to August 12th, 1891)

“Life is to be enjoyed, not saddled with…”

Tasha Tudor (American Illustrator & Writer; August 28th, 1915 to June 18th, 2008)

“‘Take joy’ from each day. This is a catechism we should all embrace to experience Heaven on earth.”

1st Commandment of the Stillwater religion

“I believe the nicest and sweetest days are not those on which anything splendid or wonderful or exciting happens, but just those that bring simple little pleasures, following one another softly, like pearls slipping off a string.”

Lucy Maud Montgomery (Canadian Author; November 30th, 1874 to April 24th, 1942)

“Learning to BE present has afforded me the capacity to be enlivened by the smallest of pleasures to the same magnitude as something splendid. To BE alive is the magic.”

–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 222 to 224 of 501.

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

My Musical Life 6-20-26

On By Heather HoustonIn My Musical LifeLeave a comment

June 20th, 2026

#80 You Showed Me (The Turtles) 👍🏼

Lyrics:
You showed me how to do
Exactly what you do
How I fell in love with you
Oh, oh, oh, it’s true
Oh, oh, I love you🪄
You showed me how to say
Exactly what you say
In that very special way
Oh, oh, oh, it’s true
You fell for me too🪄
And when I tried it
I could see you fall
And I decided
It’s not a trip at all🪄
You taught it to me too
Exactly what you do
And now you love me too
Oh, oh, oh, it’s true
We’re in love, we two🪄
Na, na na na na na
Na na na na na
Na na na na na
Oh, oh-oh, oh-oh
We’re in love, we two
We two🪄
You showed me how to do
Exactly what you do
How I fell in love with you🪄
You showed me how to say
Exactly what you say
In that very special way🪄
You taught it to me too
Exactly what you do
And now you love me too🪄
Now you love me too
Now you love me too
Now you love me too
Now you love me too
Now you love me too
Now you love me too

My Musical Life 6-19-26

On By Heather HoustonIn My Musical LifeLeave a comment

June 19th, 2026

#79 Games People Play (Joe South) 👍🏼

Lyrics:
Hmm la-da da da da da da da
La-da da da da da de
La-da da da da da da da
La-da da da da da da da🪄
Oh the games people play now
Every night and every day now
Never meaning what they say now
Never saying what they mean🪄
And they wile away the hours
In their ivory towers
Till they’re covered up with flowers
In the back of a black limousine whoa🪄
La-da da da da da da da
La-da da da da da de
Talking ’bout you and me
And the games people play🪄
Oh we make one another cry
Break a heart then we say goodbye
Cross our hearts and we hope to die
That the other was to blame whoa🪄
Neither one will give in
So we gaze at our eight by ten
Thinking ’bout the things that might have been
And it’s a dirty rotten shame whoa🪄
La-da da da da da da da
La-da da da da da de
Talking ’bout you and me
And the games people play now🪄
Oh yeah
All right
Oh yeah
Come on🪄
Oh
Come again🪄
People walking up to ya
Singing glory Hallelujah
And they’re tryin’ to sock it to you
In the name of the Lord🪄
They’re gonna teach you how to meditate
Read your horoscope, cheat your fate
And further more to hell with hate
Come on and get on board whoah🪄
La-da da da da da da da
La-da da da da da de
Talking ’bout you and me
And the games people play
Now wait a minute🪄
Look around tell me what you see
What’s happening to you and me
God grant me the serenity
To just remember who I am whoah🪄
‘Cause you’ve given up your sanity
For your pride and your vanity
Turn your back on humanity
Oh and you don’t give a da da da da da🪄
La-da da da da da da da
La-da da da da da de
I keep talking ’bout you and me baby
And the games people play now lala🪄
La-da da da da da da da
La-da da da da da de
I keep talking ’bout you and me
Oh and the games people play
I wonder can you come now, play🪄
Talking ’bout you and me oh
And the games people play now

My Musical Life 6-18-26

On By Heather HoustonIn My Musical LifeLeave a comment

June 18th, 2026

#77 Polk Salad Annie (Tony Joe White) 👍🏼

Lyrics:
If some of ya’ll never been down south too much
Some y’all never been down s-
I’m gonna tell you a little story so’s you’ll understand what I’m talkin’ about
Down there we have a plant that grows out in the woods, and the fields
And it looks somethin’ like a turnip green
Everybody calls it polk salad
Now that’s polk salad
Used to know a girl lived down there and she’d go out in the evenings and
Pick her a mess of it
Carry it home and cook it for supper
Because that’s about all they had to eat
But they did all right🪄
Down in Louisiana, where the alligators grow so mean
Lived a girl, that I swear to the world
Made the alligators look tame
Polk salad Annie, gators got your granny
Everybody said it was a shame
Because her momma was a workin’ on the chain gang
A mean vicious woman🪄
Everyday before supper time, she’d go down by the truck patch
And pick her a mess of polk salad, and carry it home in a tow sack
Polk salad Annie, the gators got your granny
Everybody says it was a shame
Because her momma was a workin’ on the chain gang
A wretched, spiteful, straight-razor totin’ woman
Lord have Mercy, pick a mess of it🪄
Sock a little polk salad to me🪄
Her daddy was lazy and no-count, claimed he had a bad back
All her brothers were fit for
Was stealin’ watermelons out of my truck patch
Polk salad Annie, the gators got your granny
Everybody said it was a shame
Because her momma was a workin’ on the chain gang🪄
Yeah, sock a little polk salad to me, you know I need me a mess of it
Sock a little🪄
Sock a little polk salad to me, you know I need a real mess of it (chick-a-boom)
Sock a little polk salad, you know I need a real (chick-a-boom)
Ching-ching-ching-ching-a-ling (chick-a-boom)
Ching-ching-ching-ching-a-ling (chick-a-boom)
Ching-ching-ching-ching-a-ling (chick-a-boom)
Ching-ching-ching-ching-a-ling (chick-a-boom)
Ching-ching-ching-ching-a-ling (chick-a-boom)
Ching-ching-ching-ching-a-ling (chick-a-boom)
Ching-ching-ching-ching-a-ling (chick-a-boom)
Ching-ching-ching-ching-a-ling (chick-a-boom)

My Abundant Life 4-29-26

On By Heather HoustonIn My Abundant LifeLeave a comment

April 29th, 2026

Allure: The Feminine Mystique

“Taking joy in life is a woman’s best cosmetic.”

Rosalind Russell (American Actress & Model; June 4th, 1907 to November 28th, 1976)

“It is allure, the, mesmerizing power to entice or attract through personal charm and mystery.”

“Where there is a woman there is magic.”

Ntozake Shange (American Playwright & Poet; September 11th, 1885 to March 2nd, 1930)

“You choose to take joy in real life as it unfolds day by day, hour by hour, a heartbeat at a time.”

“To live is so startling, it leaves little time for anything else.”

Emily Dickinson (American Poet; December 19th, 1830 to May 15th, 1886)

“I believe our life IS the gift! I live newly into each moment…each breath. To know I get to love my husband completely in each moment with a fire hose of love IS the juice of life!“

–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 136 to 138 of 501.

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