Tag: Jessamyn West

My Abundant Life 1-28-26

On By Heather HoustonIn My Abundant LifeLeave a comment

January 28th, 2026

The Illustrated Discovery Journal

“Knowledge of what you love somehow comes to you; you don’t have to read nor analyze nor study. If you love a thing enough, knowledge of it seeps into you, with particulars more real than any chart can furnish.”

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

“The key to loving how you live is in knowing what it is you truly love.”

“To know what you prefer instead of humbly saying Amen to what the world tells you you ought to prefer, is to keep your soul alive.”

Robert Louis Stevenson (Scottish Novelist, Essayist, Poet and Travel Writer; November 13th, 1850 ~ December 3rd, 1894)

“One of the most pleasurable ways to start finding out your personal preferences is by creating an illustrated discovery journal. This is your explorer’s log as you begin to make your way into the darkest terra incognita: your authentic inner world. We feed our imaginations and get in touch with our authenticity by gathering together beautiful images that speak to our souls.”

“Meditating on one visual image a day can jump-start your creativity and lead to revealing insights.”

“At night before you go to bed, when you’re in a drowsy, relaxed, and receptive state,…” select images and place in your “Illustrated Discovery Journal.” = My Bucket List…”Soon they will give you directions about where your heart wants you to go.”

My Bucket List

Positano, Italy (2022)
Iguazú Falls, Argentina and Brazil (2026)

“I found a couple new job opportunities that seem to have fallen into my lap today. All three are within my professional expertise and potentially advance my career while paying me what I am worth. I am revamping my resume to market myself specific to these positions. I know a few people with in two of the organizations I am applying to who I am reaching out to for referrals. Here goes my hat…throwing it into the ring.”🤞(Heather Houston 1-28-22)

“I am at a point in my career where making a difference and having an impact is paramount. Today, One of our social workers was planning a visit to an indigenous youth and wanted to develop a connection. This youth is transexual and 9-years old. I encouraged the social worker to connect with the youth’s tribe who offered to provide him a quilt. I also suggested he visit 8th Generation in Seattle to purchase a blanket for the youth. She picked a purple toned blanket. I also encouraged the social worker to connect with the youth’s identity by gifting her a hair accessory. The social worker was not sure what to get so I offered to make her something as an indigenous elder. Below is what I created and I hope this gift will help her be seen as she sees herself.” (Heather Houston 1-28-26)

–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 29-30 of 501.

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

My Abundant Life 1-27-26

On By Heather HoustonIn My Abundant LifeLeave a comment

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.