“For me, elegance is not to pass unnoticed but to get to the very soul of what one is.”
Christian Lacroix (French Fashion Designer; May 16th, 1951)
“…less is more.”
Robert Browning (English Poet and Playwright; May 7th, 1812 to December 12th, 1889)
“Elegance is the art of restraint.”
“What sets an elegant woman apart from the crowd is her quiet self-assurance, she knows that she is what’s worth focusing on…”
“The only real elegance is in the mind; if you’ve got that, the rest really comes from it.”
Diana Vreeland (American Fashion Editor and Columnist; September 9, 1923 to August 22nd, 1989)
“I am returning from my native journey feeling more of my authentic power and with that the elegance of my roots. I am the elegant woman…sexy, hot, fun chic!”
–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 106-107 of 501.
I challenge each of you on this blog series to post comments so we all can grow together.
“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.
“‘I pray you…your play needs no excuse. Never excuse.”
William Shakespeare (English Playwright, Poet and Actor; April 1564 ~ April 23rd, 1616)
“I have to constantly remind myself that I don’t need an excuse anymore to make toys a part of my life. If I am to continue to grow as a human being and as an artist, it’s imperative for me to respect the power of play”
“Playing is hard for most women I know. Creating your own toy box symbolically suggests the importance of fun if you’re to function at full throttle.”
“Play is the exultation of the possible.”
Mark Buber (Austrian Jewish and Israeli Philosopher; February 8th, 1878 ~ June 13th, 1965)
“Play is needed by adults and children alike. Some assume to play is childish. However, adults need play just as much as children. We are just older and often society has shamed us into not playing. This is why you see so many adults in sports leagues, practicing hobbies and getting silly. Play is normal, so carry on!” (Heather Houston 3-6-22)
“Play has become my life…I live in one continuously, delicious, never-ending best date ever with my beloved!”❤️
–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 73-74 of 501.
I challenge each of you on this blog series to post comments so we all can grow together.
Creating An Authentic Lifestyle For Yourself And Those You Love
“It’s a funniy thing about life; if you refuse to accept anything but the best, you very often get it.”
William Somerset Maugham CH (English Playwright, Novelist, and Short-Story Writer; January 25th, 1874 ~ December 16th, 1965)
“It’s far easier to live an elegant, beautiful life when you’re not on a budget. When cash is readily available, you don’t have to learn the lessons that delayed gratification teaches us. But having money does not guarantee that we live authentically. Nor does being surrounded by beautiful things guarantee a lifetime of happiness.”
“When you learn what you can live without, you are able to ask life for the very best because you possess the gift of discernment. You develop patience that enables you to wait gracefully and gratefully until the best arrives because you know it will. You are able to create an authentic life for yourself and those you love because you are able to make conscious choices.”
“Long afterwards, she was to remember that moment when her life changed its direction…It was not predestined; she had choice. Or it seemed she had. To accept or refuse. To take one turning down the crossroads to the future or another.”
Evelyn Bridgett Patricia Ward-Thomas, née Stephens (known as: Evelyn Anthony) (British Writer; July 3rd, 1926 ~ September 25th, 2018)
“Turning away from the world and toward your own happiness is the path of authenticity.”
“Today, my soldier-athlete in my sprinting group learned the lesson of proper warm-up and flexibility. She experienced a bit of a calf strain due to not being fit enough to handle 30m sprint drills…very basic. It was an opportunity to help her learn how to warm-up to be preventative and to approach her drills from a focus on form vs. speed. Great learning day!” (Heather Houston 2-10-22)
“I have spent a lifetime waiting and discerning what to add to my life. My fiscally challenged upbringing was a gift and taught me what I could live without and if I needed something how to budget and be patient. Learning early what I could live without made it possible for me to be living the life I love presently. 8 years ago I asked the Universe for the very best life and “TADA” I am living it.” (Heather Houston 2-10-26)
–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 44-45 of 501.
I challenge each of you on this blog series to post comments so we all can grow together.
Robert Browning (English Poet and Playwright; May 7th, 1812 ~ December 12th, 1889)
“Making the absolute best of ourselves is not an easy task. It is a pleasurable pursuit, it is the reason we were born, but it requires patience, persistence, and perseverance.”
“…someone has to trun on the switch. Asking is the way of activating spiritual electricity. When there is Light we see remarkably well. We see with clarity. And what we can see if we look deep within is that the authentic self is the Soul made visible.”
“Do not try to remake yourself into something you’re not. Just try making the best of what God made. The sacred art and craft of nurturing our souls of those we love is Simple Abundance soulcraft. Begin today by turning on the Light.”
“T.G.I.F. I love Fridays! It means I get to spend several uninterrupted days with the love of my life. For me that is heaven, peace, love and bliss. Tick tock…almost time to get myself home.” (Heather Houston 2-4-22)
“I am very aware that I have access to the Flow of the universe and have turned on the light switch. I have come to understand in the past I was only haphazardly turning this on when I was competing or needed to preform. Now I see I have access whenever I want. When I do, my husband sees me as the sexy, hot fun chic. I like that. She is here and I am SHE!” (Heather Houston 2-4-26)
–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 38-39 of 501.
I challenge each of you on this blog series to post comments so we all can grow together.
My Distilled Life 