Tag: Spirituality

My Abundant Life 3-14-26

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March 14th, 2026

Loving Yourself into Wholeness

“I did not lose myself all at once. I rubbed out my face over the years washing away my pain, the same way carvings on stone are worn down by water.”

Amy Ruth Tan (American Author; February 19th, 1952 ~ )

“Life batters us whether we are rich or poor, public or private. The wound we suffer may be an open cut or a slow, silent hemorrhage of the soul. On the outside we may look as if we’ve got our act together, but each of us encounters those dark stormy days when we feel very small, very fragile, and very frightened, as if we might shatter into a thousand pieces and break into heartrending sobs at something as simple as ‘How are you?'”

“When this happens we have to be kind to ourselves, not beat ourselves up. Leave that to the rest of the world. Our feelings are valid, our fears very real, even though they are probably not based on reality. Always remember that the best description of fear is ‘false evidence appearing real.'”

“When these occasions occur in your life, recall that your first duty is to love yourself into Wholeness. How to do this? By pampering yourself with simple pleasures and small indulgences. By treating yourself like the baby you are right now.”

“You don’t have to do everything and be everything for everyone else all the time. If you think you can’t possibly do one more thing without screaming or crying, you.re probably right. Start by saying, ‘no, I’m sorry. I’ve got a prior commitment.'”

“For, of course, you do. Today you need to be there for yourself. Remember, we did not lose ourselves all at once. But we recover our authentic selves one kind gesture at a time.

“Before my story began…” (Heather Houston 3-14-22)

1972 Me…at my Aunt Carrie’s Baby Shower

“I’ve been blue lately. Missing my kids. Trying to understand why getting a job has been such a nightmare. I just need a break. I need to be kind to myself.” (Heather Houston 3-14-22)

“‘No, I’m sorry, I’ve got a prior commitment’ Is harder to say sometimes. However, learning to put yourself first is how we heal ourselves. This is one of the hardest lessons I have embarked on learning and yet I know it true to my own happiness.” (Heather Houston 3-14-26)

–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 80-81 of 501.

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

My Abundant Life 3-13-26

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March 13th, 2026

Accepting Yourself as You Are Today

“Seek not outside yourself, heaven is within.”

Mary Lou Cook (Actress; December 12th, 1908 ~ August 17th, 2008)

“Today, we make peace with the past: with the bodies and faces we were born with and those that have evolved.”

“Here in this body are the sacred rivers: here are the sun and moon as well as all the pilgrimage places…I have not encountered another temple as blissful as my own body.”

Saraha, Sarahapa, Sarahapāda (known as: The First Sahajiya and one of the Mahasiddhas) (Tibetan Poet and Teacher; late 8th century)

“It will take a bit of doing, learning to love all our personal pilgrimage places. However, before genuine love can flourish, we must finally accept ourselves exactly as we are today. Not tomorrow or next week…”

“Remember, acceptance is acknowledging the reality of a situation…Most of us think of other women as beauties, never ourselves. But every woman was created by Spirit to be a genuine beauty. We learn how to reveal to the world our unique radiance only after we acknowledge it ourselves. Today, take your personal mantra: ‘I am what I am and what I am is wonderful.'”

“Before my story began…” (Heather Houston 3-13-22)

1972 Me…at my Aunt Carrie’s Baby Shower

“It is so funny, yesterday I wrote that I should add a self-love mantra to my meditations and my request was answered with today’s reading. BRILLIANT!” (Heather Houston 3-13-26)

“I stop and pause in the mirror after every shower to marvel at the gift my body is for me…my temple. I am blessed to be almost 58 years old and have more energy and vitality than 20-30s somethings at work. I look much younger than my age. I work alongside a co-worker who is also a 1968 baby and 10-days younger than me. I look like her daughter. My physical fitness and career have kept me vital and energetic. Most of all I have found epic love has shed years from my temple. My husband IS the Fountain of Youth. I have proof as my bio-impedance scale says I am getting younger each year that passes. I love myself and my temple for the first time in my life.”

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

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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 3-9-26

On By Heather HoustonIn My Abundant LifeLeave a comment

March 9th, 2026

A Radiant Reflection: Projecting Your Authentic Self

“So many women just don’t know how great they really are. They come to us all vogue outside and vague on the inside.”

Mary Kay Ash (American Businesswoman and Founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics, Inc.; May 12th, 1918 ~ November 22nd, 2001)

“Few women know how great they really are. If truth were told, we’d all probably admit to feeling pretty vague about our personal appearance. Many of us would like to trade ourselves in for a sleeker version.”

“…flip through the catalogs. Cut out the pictures of the women you think are attractive and the clothing you’d love to wear.”

“Always remember that dreams–your creative visualizations–must come before their physical manifestations.”

“Create a collage of your ideal woman: find the perfect hairstyle, put together a fantastic wardrobe for home and work.”

“Since you have embarked on this adventure to awaken your authenticity and discover your own sense of style, be willing not to buy another item of clothing unless you absolutely cannot live without it. No more settling for something that’s not you or that’s second-rate.”

“Let the potent power of simplicity begin to work in your life. If it’s not authentically you, live without it.”

“Before my story began…” (Heather 3-9-22)

1972 Me…at my Aunt Carrie’s Baby Shower

“This such a hard space for me to unfold. I have always been in a financial way that to buy myself anything for my wardrobe never went beyond the next racing t-shirt or sweat pants for my work. I feel like I have no sense of my own style and really don’t even no where to begin. My wardrobe has not evolved in over 20-25 years…UGH! I need to save money and hire a stylist to help me find that part of me.” (Heather Houston 3-9-22)

“I yearn to find my authentic style. One that is fusion for my busy life. I want classy, practical, sporty and elegant…LOL! Sounds like am impossible task. However, as a 2-Spirit woman, I believe I can find what works for me. I am in my birthday month and plan to get at least one item I must have.” (Heather Houston 3-9-26)

–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 76-77 of 501.

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

My Abundant Life 3-5-26

On By Heather HoustonIn My Abundant Life1 Comment

March 5th, 2026

Creating a Hope Chest

“‘Hope’ is the thing with feathers–that perches in the soul…”

Emily Elizabeth Dickinson (American Poet; December 10th, 1830 ~ May 15th, 1886)

“Not every one of our desires can be immediately gratified. We’ve got to learn to wait patiently for our dreams to come true, especially on the path we’ve chosen. But while we wait, we need to prepare symbolically a place for our hopes and dreams.”

“Faith is the very first thing you should pack in a hope chest.”

My Bucket List

Hope
Mammoth Cave National Park

“Before my story began…” (Heather Houston 3-5-22)

1972 Me…at my Aunt Carrie’s Baby Shower

“I remember in high school my best friend had spoken about a hope chest. I immediately thought I needed one as well. So, what did I do? Hope…wish…pray my parents would magically read my mind and get me one. Why did I want one? Because the “Jones” were saying I should have one. Apparently those to be married should have one. In retrospect, this was ridiculous. What I was really hoping was that if it magically materialized, it would mean I was worthy, enough…loved. My story was working overtime while I was in high school. Being a late bloomer really sucked…always late to the party!” (Heather Houston 3-5-22)

“I really loved the authors idea of creating a hope chest per se as a wicker basket filled with books she loved to gift to her daughter on her 16th birthday. I am long past 16, and have an ask of my own mother. Share with me more of your poetry at different times in your life so I get a glimpse of who you are as a woman, my mother, a sister, a daughter and a wife. My mom’s share of her poetry from when she was 13 years old filled me with so much joy. I felt like I was actually getting to know…HER. I love you Mom!”❤️ (Heather Houston 3-5-26)

–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 72-73 of 501.

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

My Abundant Life 3-2-26

On By Heather HoustonIn My Abundant LifeLeave a comment

March 2nd, 2026

Meditation: Many Paths to the Present Moment

“Meditation is simply about being yourself and knowing about who that is. It is about coming to realize that you are on a path whether you like it or not, namely the path that is your life.”

Jon Kabat-Zinn (American Professor Emeritus of Medicine and the creator of the Stress Reduction Clinic and the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society at the University of Massachusetts Medical School; June 5th, 1944 ~ )

“…there are compelling physiological, psychological, and spiritual reasons why we should engage in regular meditation. It is the mortar that holds mind, body, and Spirit together.”

“…meditation is intentional concentration on one thing, which can be either secular or spiritual.”

“In this state creativity flowers, intuition leads to a deeper wisdom, the natural healing system of the body is engaged, our best physical and mental potentials manifests itself and we feel psychologically satisfied.” …Spiritual meditation, on the other hand…”will help you become aware of the presence of the divine in nature, in yourself and in other people. The love and joy that are inherent in Spirit–that are the very essence of Spirit–will begin to permeate your life.”

Dr. Joan Borysenko (Author; October 25th, 1945 ~ )

“…many different ways of meditating, depending on my inner needs: the golden mirror meditation, writing my daily dialogue pages, gazing into the flame of a candle, concentrating on a sacred word in a centering prayer, focusing on a poetic phrase to find deeper personal meaning, or setting out on a walking meditation.”

“…all-time favorite meditation is a small, moist piece of chocolate cake eaten with exquisite attention and tremendous gratitude. Any time we are fully present in the moment we are meditating.”

Dr. Joan Borysenko (Author; October 25th, 1945 ~ )

My Bucket List

Meditation
Chef Guided Food Tour of Pike Place Market

“Before my story began…” (Heather Houston 3-2-22)

1972 Me…at my Aunt Carrie’s Baby Shower

“I have a meditation practice I follow: 10-minutes in the morning and at lunch with a 5-10 minute Spiritual time-out to reflect on my day before bed. I also commune with nature daily for 30-minutes which consists of a walk or quiet sitting outdoors. Putting meditation in small chunks throughout my day reduces stress and keeps me centered.” (Heather Houston 3-2-22)

“If being present is meditation, then my life is mostly meditation. How magical is that?” (Heather Houston 3-2-26)

–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 68-70 of 501.

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

My Abundant Life 2-28-26

On By Heather HoustonIn My Abundant LifeLeave a comment

February 28th, 2026

Creating a Sacred Space

“You must have room or a certain hour of the day or do where you do not know what was in the morning paper…a place where you can simply experience and bring forth what you are, and what you might be…At first you may find nothing’s happening…But if you have a sacred place and use it, take advantage of it, something will happen.”

Joseph John Campbell (American Writer; March 26th, 1904 ~ October 30th, 1987)

My Bucket List

Sacred Spaces
Explore New Zealand

“Before my story began…” (Heather Houston 2-28-22)

1972 Me…at my Aunt Carrie’s Baby Shower

“The request is to create a sacred space. I use my whole house as a sacred space with heartfelt and gratitude inspired trinkets, babbles and pictures throughout it to remind me wherever I am, that I am thankful and loved.” (Heather Houston 2-28-22)

“After reading ‘Rediscovering Your Sacredness.’ I endeavored to create a sacred space in my home where I could concentrate all of my spiritual energies. I choose the quiet of the morning after cleaning the kitchen from the previous nights cooking to sit in the candlelight of my alter to remind myself of my sacredness and to center myself spiritually before my day unfolds. This quiet early morning solitude fills my soul. Even my dog Kiva looks forward to my intentional breathing and words speaking into the sacredness of all beings. The days I miss this devotional time, I feel the energy of the world beginning to build up within me. Similar to Buddhist teachings, I welcome in the world energy and slough it off daily and return it to the Sacred Whole.”

–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 61-63 of 501.

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

My Abundant Life 2-27-26

On By Heather HoustonIn My Abundant LifeLeave a comment

February 27th, 2026

Committing to Your Spiritual Awakening

“I don’t believe; I know.”

Carl Jung (Swiss Psychiatrist and Psychoanalyst; July 26th, 1875 ~ June 6th, 1961)

“If you consciously work to bring more gratitude, simplicity, order, harmony, beauty, and joy into your daily life, your world will be transformed whether you believe a Higher Power is guiding you or not. But if you commit to your spiritual awakening as the most important part of the process, something marvelous will happen. Life will not feel as fraught, as frazzled, or as fragmented as before because you’ll realize that the spiritual, the creative, and the practical can’t be separated. They each count. They each mean something. They’re all connected.”

“…ready ourselves with spiritual openness. …Spirituality is the sacred center of which all life comes, including Mondays and Tuesdays and rainy Saturday afternoons in all their mundane and glorious details.”

Christina Balwin (Author; April 16th, 1946 ~ )

My Bucket List

Spiritual Awakening
Hike Toketee Falls in Oregon

“Before my story began…” (Heather Houston 2-27-22)

1972 Me…at my Aunt Carrie’s Baby Shower

“I am excited to discover myself newly while at the same time love the being I already am. My thoughts today are on the people of Ukraine. I also have a pang of fear wondering if my son has been deployed to bolster the Ukrainian cause. If so, I send him all my protective motherly love to keep him safe. I love you Porter!”💝 (Heather Houston 2-27-22)

“Seems full circle as we began bombing Iran and hoping my children are not deployed anywhere near the Middle East. The “Sacred Center of Life” is the BEing present within the moment. My husband made Pho and the gloriousness was not just the first bite. It was the intentional shopping, the smell of the cooking beef bones, the cooking of the aromatics, and the final boil of the broth…all leading to the first sip of soup that unfolded the sacred beautiful creation. Relish the daily routine intertwined with the beauty of living in the moment.” (Heather Houston 2-27-26)

–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 61 of 501.

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

My Abundant Life 2-21-26

On By Heather HoustonIn My Abundant Life2 Comments

February 21st, 2026

Excavating the Real You, Part I

“Maybe being oneself is always an acquired taste.”

Patricia Hampl (American Memoirist, Writer, Lecturer, and Educator; March 12th, 1946 ~ )

“We must dig patiently with our pens to excavate our real selves….And fo what are we searching? Shards of our authentic self.”

“As long as one keeps searching, the answers come.”

Joan Baez (American Singer, Songwriter, Musician, and Activist; January 9th, 1941 ~ )

“The more we learn about ourselves and our preferences, the easier it is to make these choices. And creative choice is at the heart of authenticity.”

“Choice confers freedom–the freedom to embrace the new because it speaks to your soul and you are listening. Today be willing to consider the choices you have made in the past as you trace your life. Have they been the right ones for you? Do you make choices with your heart, mind, or gut? Are you comfortable with your style of making choices, or do you wish to try a different approach? Was there something you did not choose in the past that, with hindsight, you now wished you had?”

“Perhaps a long-buried dream still calls to you from a road you chose not to take. If this is true, then stop telling yourself that it’s too late.”

“Time is a dressmaker specializing in alterations.”

Faith Baldwin (American Author; October 1st, 1893 ~ March 18th, 1978)

“The delay of our dreams does not mean that they have been denied. Perhaps now you have the wisdom to make alterations in your dream so that it can come true. Perhaps now you have the wisdom to choose differently.”

My Bucket List

WISDOM
Ha Long Bay, Vietnam

“Before my story began…” (Heather Houston 2-21-22)

1972 Me…at my Aunt Carrie’s Baby Shower

“Certainly not all of my choices have been right. But, what is right? I am here now in a life that I am happy, joyful, and living authentically. Maybe all the choices needed to happen to get me here. If so, I would change nothing and do it all over again. I have always made choices using all three: mind, gut, heart. I am very intuitive and rely on this to guide me. I like the style I make choices, but sometimes wish I had even more of a carefree attitude. I think being neglected as a child and put in situations where my basic needs were not being met, led me to look for certainty in my life. I realize certainty is an unreality, but it was the only touchstone I had in my tool kit. I think there are always shoulda…coulda…wouldas for everyone in there past. Sometimes I think the access to a path is not available due to us not being ready yet.” (Heather Houston 2-21-22)

“I definitely make choices based on my heart, mind and gut. As an empath, I can’t avoid what I feel, sense and see. I don’t want my energies to be wound up in lamenting the past as my present is so fulfilling. My path was what is was to get me her and I am so thankful. I am the happiest I have ever been and am living in a loving relationship with my beloved husband and best friend.” (Heather Houston 2-21-26)

–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 54-55 of 501.

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

My Abundant Life 2-19-26

On By Heather HoustonIn My Abundant Life2 Comments

February 19th, 2026

Rendezvous with the Authentic Archaeologist

“We cannot kindle when we will

The fire that in the heart resides

The spirit bloweth and is still

In mystery our soul abides.”

Matthew Arnold (English Poet and Cultural Critic; December 24th, 1822 ~ April 15th, 1888)

“Like the inner explorer who seekd adventure and the unknown, the authentic archaeologist knows how to unearth remnants of memory buried deeply in the fertile doil of the subconscious mind…The reason we want to awaken the archaeologist is to excavate the real you.”

“How we remember, and what we remember, and why we remember form the most personal map of our individuality.”

Christina Baldwin (Author; April 16th, 1946 ~ )

“Whether you realize it or not, you have lived many lives, and each one has left an indelible mark on your soul. I’m not referring to reincarnation. I’m referring to the episodic way in which our lives evovle: childhood, adolescence, college years or early career, marriages, motherhood…widowhood and onward. At each stage in our lives, we have both laughter and tears. But more important for our interests, we develop personal preferences. Each life experience leaves a layer of memory like a deposit of sdiment: things we’ve loved and moments of contentment we’ve cherished that when recalled, reveal glimmers of our true selves.”

My Bucket List

Unearthing the PAST
The Taj Mahal, India

Before my story began…(Heather Houston 2-19-22)

1972 Me…at my Aunt Carrie’s Baby Shower

“My past is often remembered in struggles and challenges vs. joy. I think the neglect I experienced at a young age scarred me and filtered how I saw the world. It makes me sad to realize this about myself.” (Heather Houston 2-19-22)

“I no longer look to the past hoping it holds reasons to the ‘Why’. Instead, I remember the past as something that no longer exists or defines me. The ‘NOW’ is the only thing that is real. In creating my beingness in the NOW, I soak up all the available joy in my life in each moment.” (Heather Houston 2-19-26)

–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 52-53 of 501.

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