Tag: Health

My Abundant Life 4-15-26

On By Heather HoustonIn My Abundant LifeLeave a comment

April 15th, 2026

Discovering the Momentum of Creative Movement

“The body is shaped, disciplined, honored, and in time, trusted.”

Martha Graham (American Dancer and Teacher; May 11th, 1894 to April 1st, 1991)

“The world as I know it is divided into two types of women–those who exercise and those who don’t.”

“Those who do exercise seem to have more energy, less stress, fewer weight problems, and generally a more positive and optimistic outlook on life. Women who are fit will tell you that regular exercise is the single most important thing they have ever done to improve their life.”

“Women who do not exercise don’t believe them and have every excuse in the world for why they can’t or won’t find out for themselves: they don’t have the time, they’re too out of shape, they’re coming down with the flu, it’s too cold or too hot, they’re too tired, they’re too depressed, maybe next week.

“Whenever I feel like exercise, I lie down until the feeling passes.”

Robert Maynard Hutchins (American Educator and Former Chancellor of the University of Chicago; January 17th, 1899 to May 17th, 1977)

“This is not good. This is not self-nurturing. This is not healthy. We know this intellectually.”

“Don’t refer to the activity as exercise or fitness any longer. If you must call it something, call it creative movement.”

“Think of creative movement as a life-enhancing, enjoyable pastime, because it is. Just pause for a moment and imagine all the ways that you could move creatively that bring you pleasure: dancing (ballet, jazz, or tap), swimming, fencing, horseback riding, racquetball. tennis, golf, riding a bike. …Start moving, a step at a time, step after step. The positive momentum will take if from there.”

“With enlightenment and self-awareness, we can reguide and realign our whole selves: our bodies, by finding new ways of moving and celebrating them and by adding good food in amounts they tell us they need; our souls, our sense of ourselves as good and worthwhile, by connecting them to the earth and to each other.”

Diana Roesch (Theater and Film Producer)

“I have always loved movement and feel more of myself when moving. I have learned to move in new ways in this chapter of my life. Specifically, my husband introduced me to rowing regularly which eases the stress on aging joints. BRILLIANT! I had coached rowing for years and in all that time, I rarely participated. Now I have an rowing ergometer in our living room. WINNING!”

–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 119 to 120 of 501.

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

My Abundant Life 4-13-26

On By Heather HoustonIn My Abundant LifeLeave a comment

April 13th, 2026

The Only Weight-Loss Aid You’ll Ever Need

“Self-love is the only weight-loss aid that really works in the long run.”

Genevieve Marie Craig (Jenny Craig) (American Businesswoman; August 7th, 1932)

“…food is not our enemy. If we’re alive, we’re supposed to love to eat. Food is the source of vital fuel our bodies convert to energy in order to survive.”

“Don’t fight your hunger. Instead, respect it and respond to it with nutritious food that appeals to all your senses–not just taste but sight and smell as well.”

“..the more we starve ourselves, the more weight we eventually gain, and then we end up hating ourselves.”

“The only way to stop this heartbreaking cycle of self-loathing is to stop dieting and use our common sense. Eat when you’re hungry, drink when you’re thristy, sleep when you’re tired, get in harmony with your body through regular exercise, and nourish your soul through prayer and meditation.”

“Be really whole, and all things will come to you.”

Lao-Tzu (Chinese Philosopher; 571 B.C.)

“Taoism–the Eastern philosophy of Lao-Tzu–teaches that the only way to be made Whole is to yield. Yield to the fact that your body answers to a Wisdom that’s higher than wanting to look like the waif on the cover of Vogue.”

“Every woman has an ideal weight that’s ideal for her opposed to an ideal weight. This is the weight at which you feel the most comfortable, have the mot energy, can stay well and feel good about how you look. We can achieve that weight whenwe begin to trust our bodies. Forget size and abandon the scale. Instead, of weighing yourself, let your favorite clothes tell you how you are doing. Above all, trust the guidance of your authentic self. Go within and visualize her. See what weoght she carries. Ask her to help you achieve your perfect weight through the power of Love. Today, be willing to believe that self-love is the only weight-loss aid you’ll ever truly need, because it’s the only one that works.”

“All of this advice is true. For the last 30+ years I have been counseling and working alongside all types of people desiring to get to their full potential. Whether that be weight, athletics, mental toughness, etc. they all had to let go or yield to what they thought they knew and listen to their bodies.”

–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 117 to 118 of 501.

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

My Abundant Life 3-12-26

On By Heather HoustonIn My Abundant LifeLeave a comment

March 12th, 2026

How Do I Look?

“How women look and how their looks change in the course of their lives, is not a frivolous question…’How do I look?’ she asks as her eyes meet the eyes in the mirror. She listens carefully for an answer, because it might prove quite illuminating.”

Kennedy Fraser (American Essayist, and Fashion Writer; 1948 ~ )

“‘How do I look?’ Is a question all of us have spent our lives asking others. But now that you are on a path towards your authenticity you have reached the point when you need to gently ask yourself this loaded question. And, once having asked, you need to listen carefully for the answer. Better yet, when you gaze into the mirror you should ask, ‘How do I feel?’ because how you feel about yourself on any particular day will influence how you look more than what you are wearing.”

“…we need to change our approach to beauty completely. Personal transformation begins with a strong inner life. We need to let Spirit show us the way…Twenty minutes of meditation a day, quiet reflection, or a restorative walk seeking your authentic self will do more for your looks than you will believe.”

“If we go down into ourselves we find that we possess exactly what we desire.”

Simone Adolphine Weil (French Philosopher, Mystic, and Political Activist; February 3rd, 1909 ~ August 24th, 1943)

“Before my story began…” (Heather Houston 3-12-22)

1972 Me…at my Aunt Carrie’s Baby Shower

“I think my meditation needs to include a mantra of self-love. I often wonder what it would be like to love yourself…love your protein sack…HHHhhhmmmmmm.” (Heather Houston 3-12-26)

“I find my inner beauty routine involves my morning meditation and devotion to my sacredness and the blessing I am. Remembering to judge nothing that occurs and remain in the world of acceptance has really started my days in better peace and tranquility. It quiets the noise so I can start the daily newly without the recording playing in the background.”

–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 79-80 of 501.

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

My Abundant Life 1-6-26

On By Heather HoustonIn My Abundant LifeLeave a comment

January 6th, 2026

Standing Knee-Deep in a River and Dying of Thirst

“The thirst after happiness is never extinguished in the heart of [woman].”

Jean-Jacques Rousseau (Genevan Philosopher, Writer, and Composer; June 28th, 1712 ~ July 2nd, 1778)

“The revelation that we have everything we need in life to make us happy but simply lack the conscious awareness to appreciate it.”

“This is so true. Post divorce and still struggling with reconnection with my children seemed to color my context in a dull tone. Even though I had made much progress, my “perfect” context was weighing me down. I now accept all things as just what is so and create possibilities that I am in action on to recolor my world. I am the artist of my own life and my life is my canvas.” (Heather Houston 1-6-22)

“The life I am living in 2026 is amazing. I am powerful, free and fully self-expressed. I am removing decades of wounds and reclaiming my sacredness. I am truly blessed and the happiest I have ever been in my entire life.” (Heather Houston 1-6-26)

“Let’s choose today to quench our thirst for ‘the good life’ we think others lead by acknowledging the good that already exists in our own lives. We can offer the Universe the gift of our grateful hearts.”

“My love told me early in our relationship that he believed the access to happiness was gratitude. I too believe this as I have experienced unending happiness the last three years. The mindful gratitude bookending I incorporate each day has afforded me acknowledgement of the abundance in my life and has yielded me peace and happiness.” (Heather Houston 1-5-22)

“Still true, except I am even happier.” (Heather Houston 1-6-26)

–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 5-6 of 501.

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