Tag: Mental-Health

My Musical Life 8-19-26

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August 19th, 2026

#78 Mississippi Queen (Mountain) 👍🏼

Lyrics:
Mississippi queen
If you know what I mean
Mississippi queen
She taught me everything🪄
Went down around Vicksburg
Around Louisiana way
Lived the Cajun lady
Aboard the Mississippi Queen🪄
You know she was a dancer
She moved better on wine🪄
While the rest of them dudes were gettin’ their kicks
Boy, I beg your pardon, I was gettin’ mine🪄
Mississippi queen
If you know what I mean
Mississippi queen
She taught me everything🪄
This lady she asked me
If I would be her man
You know that I told her
I’d do what I can🪄
To keep her lookin’ pretty
Buy her dresses that shine🪄
While the rest of them dudes were makin’ their friends
Boy, I beg your pardon, I was loosin’ mine🪄
You know she was a dancer
She moved better on wine🪄
While the rest of them dudes were gettin’ their kicks
Boy, I beg your pardon, I was gettin’ mine🪄
Yeah, Mississippi queen

My Abundant Life 7-28-26

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July 28th, 2026

The Plie’ of Pleasure

“What is your hobby? Every woman ought to have some pet interest in life, outside of the everyday routine which composes her regular occupations. What is yours?”

The Mother’s Magazine (January 1915)

“There us a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening, that is translated though you into action and because there is only one of you in all time this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and will be lost.”

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

“Not sure I have a hobby beyond this blog. Maybe I need to take another look to find something.”

–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 274 to 275 of 501.

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

My Abundant Life 7-26-26

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July 26th, 2026

Discovering What You’d Like to Do, If You Ever Had the Time

“Develop interest in life s you see it; in people, things, literature, music–the world is so rich, simply throbbing with rich treasures, beautiful souls and interesting people. Forget yourself.”

Henry Miller (American Novelist & Short Story Writer, December 26th, 1891 to June 7th, 1980)

“In the beginning spending regular time alone just to collect your thoughts will seem like indulgence enough. Spending toe alone to nurture your authentic vision, to express yourself creatively, to enjoy a personal pursuit that brings you contentment and pleasure will seem–well, impossible. Incredulous. Impractical, Inconceivable. Out of the question.”

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.”

“How I think about my work is indistinguishable from the way I think about my needlepoint or cooking: here is the project I’m involved in. It is play. In this sense all my life is spent in play–sewing or needlepoint, or picking flowers or writing, or buying groceries.”

Diane Johnson (American Novelist & Essayist; April 28th, 1934)

“Once you commit to bringing more of a sense of play into your daily round with authentic personal pursuits, life will begin to take on a harmonious lilt.”

“My husband and I call this BEing in the FLOW. The Universe has a natural FLOW or rhythm that once you align with it, the possibilities unfold.”

–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 272 to 273 of 501.

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

My Abundant Life 7-25-26

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July 25th, 2026

Opening a Door That Separates Two Worlds

“There are voices which we hear in solitude, but they grow faint and inaudible as we enter into the world.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson (American Essayist, May 25th, 1803 to April 27th, 1882)

“It’s impossible to experience solitude regularly for any extended length of time without personal passions and authentic longing surging to the surface of your awareness. Once you embarked on the search for your own authentic style, followed the wisdom of your own heart and have seen the results begin to blossom in your life, you realize that solitude cracks open the door that separates two worlds: the life we lead today and the life we yearn for so deeply.”

“..would not exchange her solitude for anything. Never again be forced to move to the rhythm of others.”

Tillie Olsen (American Writer; January 14th, 1912 to January 1st, 2007)

“…once we learn to respect and cherish our need for solitude, opportunities will arrive in which we can learn to nourish our imaginations and nurture our souls.”

“Begin slowly but resolutely. Take comfort in knowing that even stolen moments of solitude–quarter-hour increments–eventually can add up to a lifetime of serenity. Be patient.”

“No matter how slow the film, Spirit always stands still long enough for the photographer it has chosen.”

Minor White (American Photographer; July 9th, 1908 to June 24th, 1976)

“I used to steal moments and now I schedule them into my day as part of my well-being.”

–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 271 to 272 of 501.

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

My Abundant Life 7-20-26

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July 20th, 2026

True North

“It is good to have an end to journey towards; but it is the journey that matters in the end.”

Ursula K. LeGuin (American Author, October 21st, 1929 to January 22nd, 2018)

“I used to believe that happiness could only be found after arriving at my heart’s destination. Explorers call it true north.”

“…I’ve learned that the spirit of our journey is as important, perhaps even more important, than the arrival at our destination. In order for us to realize genuine happiness, we must be willing to court contentment every step of the way. For after all, the journey is really all that most of us will ever know. Day in, day out. The journey is real life.”

“I found myself saying to myself…I can’t live where I want to…I can’t go where I want to…I can’t do what I want to. I can’t even say what I want to. I decided I was a very stupid fool not to at least paint as I wanted to…that seemed to be the only thing I could do that didn’t concern anybody but myself.”

Georgia O’Keeffe (American Painter; November 15th, 1887 to March 6th, 1986)

“…we can certainly learn slowly to follow her example, to carve out time for rewarding reveries that acquaint us with our authentic selves and give us glimpses of true north.”

“For it’s during our expectant hours–those hours that might once have been called ‘idle’–that we are most pregnant with our own potential.”

“..store up reservoirs of calm and content… and draw on them at later moments when the source isn’t there but the need is very great.”

Rupert Brooke (English Poet; August 3rd, 1887 to April 23rd, 1915)

“This skill–the soulcraft of devoutly caring for our authentic selves–rarely comes naturally or easily. But with practice, with patience, with perseverance, it does come.”

“Listening and peeling away the layers to get to my authentic self has been the most extraordinary journey of my life!”

–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 265 to 266 of 501.

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

My Abundant Life 7-18-26

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July 18th, 2026

Loaves and Fishes, Part II

“Hospitality is one form of worship.”

The Talmud

“One of the most important lessons of the miracle of the loaves and fishes is that the bounty was shared. We need to remind ourselves that good times need to be shared as well, especially if we want more of them in our lives.”

“Sharing is Caring!”

–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 263 to 264 of 501.

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

My Abundant Life 7-16-26

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July 16th, 2026

A Seasonal Feast: The Joy of Anticipation

“Why is any day better than another, when all the daylight in the year is from the sun?

By the Lord’s decision they were distinguished, and he appointed the different seasons and feasts;

some of them he exalted and hallowed, and some of them he made ordinary days.”

Ecclesiasticus (also called Sirach) 33:7-9

“The joy of seasonal cooking is the simplest of pleasures, but one of the most overlooked. It brings harmony and rhythm to our days, demonstrating with gentle wisdom that simplicity and abundance are soul mates. The joy of seasonal foods transforms even the ordinary days at the table into hallowed moments, calling to mind the Book of Proverbs’ wisdom that ‘the cheerful heart has a continual feast.'”

“Summer is when Mother Nature shows off, proving that the Universe is not stingy. Gardens and farmers’ markets now overflow with the goodness of the earth. Now, while the summer is offering bountiful home economic lessons, is the perfect time to reconsider how you cook throughout the year.”

“‘There is no season such delight can bring,’ the English Poet William Browne believed, ‘as summer, autumn, winter and the spring.’ The simply abundant joy of seasonal foods will convince you that life can be a continual feast at Mother Nature’s table.”

“I know that I am happier now than I have ever been. With that happiness comes much laughter. My cheerful home creates a feast for my enjoyment. Truly extraordinary!”

–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 260 to 261 of 501.

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

My Musical Life 7-7-26

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July 7th, 2026

#9 Let It Be (The Beatles)👍🏼

Lyrics:
When I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be
And in my hour of darkness she is standing right in front of me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be🪄
Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be🪄
And when the broken hearted people living in the world agree
There will be an answer, let it be
For though they may be parted, there is still a chance that they will see
There will be an answer, let it be🪄
Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
There will be an answer, let it be🪄
Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be🪄
Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be, be🪄
And when the night is cloudy there is still a light that shines on me
Shinin’ until tomorrow, let it be
I wake up to the sound of music, Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be🪄
And let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be🪄
And let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

My Abundant Life 7-7-26

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July 7th, 2026

Cooking For Comfort

“It seems to me that our three basic needs, for food and security and love, are so entwined that we cannot think of one without the other.”

M. F. K. Fisher (American Food Journalist; July 3rd, 1908 to June 22nd, 1992)

“Comfort food: quirky, quaint, quixotic. Personal patterns of consolation, encoded on our taste buds past all forgetting as unmistakable as greasy fingerprints. When the miseries strike and you’re down in the dumps, food transformed by love and memory become therapy.”

“Pleasure can be bought, but comfort must be given. Even if you give it to yourself.”

“Consider this: certain delicious foods—carbohydrates–make us feel calm and content because they literally change our brain chemistry by increasing the levels of serotonin, the natural feel-good enzyme recently celebrated on the cover of news magazines. In other words, pasta and potatoes are Mother Nature’s Prozac. Are your starting to feel better already?”

“Since we’re forced to nourish ourselves, why not do it with all possible skill… and ever-increasing enjoyment, And when we sit down not only to eat, but to be cheered and comforted, let us do so with grace and gusto and a grateful heart.”

M. F. K. Fisher (American Food Journalist; July 3rd, 1908 to June 22nd, 1992)

“Every meal is a gift of love and an exploration of a possibility. Our meals are a chance to travel the world via our cuisine.”

–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 247 to 248 of 501.

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

My Abundant Life 6-22-26

On By Heather HoustonIn My Abundant LifeLeave a comment

June 22nd, 2026

The Gourmet Victory Garden

“It’s difficult to think anything but pleasant thoughts while eating a home-grown tomato.”

Lewis Grizzard (American Writer; October 20th, 1946 to March 20th, 1994)

“In the 1940s, President Franklin Roosevelt ordered ‘victory gardens’ as part of the war effort. Domestic propaganda exhorted women to remember that ‘waste during war is sabotage,’ and American women answered the patriotic call by growing more than a million tons of vegetables a year—half of what the home front annually consumed—backyard plots.”

“And this emotion of wonder filled me for each vegetable as it was gathered every year. There is nothing that is comparable to it, as satisfactory or as thrilling, as gathering the vegetables one has grown.”

Alice B. Toklas (American Writer; April 30th, 1877 to March 7th, 1967)

“I am so thankful my parents taught me to garden. We grew up poor and our garden is where we felt richest with delicious and nutritious food.”

–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 221 to 222 of 501.

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