371: Savoring A Quiet Christmas — Simple, Yet Significant

The Simple Sophisticate - Intelligent Living Paired with Signature Style

Shannon Ables

Education, Self-improvement, Britain, Contentment, Podcast, Society & Culture, Simplicity, France, Style, Lifestyle

4.7 • 915 Ratings

🗓️ 20 December 2023

⏱️ 47 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Whether or not snow has fallen come December, the warmth and cheer of good tidings appearing about town, the neighbors, in the shops and arriving in the mail by way of the annual Christmas cards sent from friends and family living near and far always wraps me in a figurative hug.

This year, similar to last year, I will be spending Christmas at home in Bend, Oregon, and it is exactly where I want to be. And leading up to the festive day has been and will continue to be sprinkled with intentional activities, pastimes and nibbles that create a festive, cozy atmosphere I feel most fortunate to be able to savor.

Each of us will go through seasons in our lives, stepping out of old chapters and into new ones when we embrace our courage to welcome what is awaiting to be given to us, and such is the case for me that I am delighting in quiet Christmases.

As Nigel Slater eloquently writes in The Christmas Chronicles, in his delicious, image evoking prose, "Christmas is celebrated by Christians and non-Christians alike. It is a cultural event as much as a religious one". I share the rest of the quote in last year's holiday episode - #347 if you want to have a look, but part of why Christmas and the entirety of November and December is treasured by so many is that it is celebrated around the world and it is celebrated by people of a variety of different beliefs or non-beliefs, and that is a reason to smile and appreciate the season all the more.

Perhaps inspired a bit by Beth Kempton's beloved book that I know many TSLL readers have enjoyed and return to reading each November and December, and adding to the list shared last year, episode #347, that included 9 Ways to Savor Christmas at Home, Alone, Simply Luxuriously, I wanted to share today's episode of how to savor a quiet Christmas with as few or as many people as you desire, and reveal how these thoughtful ways to enjoy this special time of year, while not extravagant, complex or even requiring money, can bring a deep richness to the season, making it all the more special.

Let's take a look at the list.

Visit the Show Notes:

https://thesimplyluxuriouslife.com/podcast371

Transcript

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0:00.0	Thank you for tuning in to the simple sophisticated podcast. The show that is part of the simply
0:10.0	luxurious life online destination, cultivating true contentment the art of living a life of
0:16.5	quality over quantity. Visit the blog, The Simple Luxurious life and our simplified U TSL.co or The Simply Luxurious Life.com to find the show notes for each podcast episode as well as much more weekly content to elevate your everyday and deepen
0:35.0	your contentment from a Monday motivational post, recipes, videos of the
0:39.7	cooking show series, style and the core inspiration inspiration French and British inspired content and
0:44.8	reader's favorite regular weekly post this and that which is posted each
0:49.2	Friday morning now to today's episode. Welcome to the Simple Sophisticate Podcast, where intelligent living is paired with signature style.
1:16.4	I'm your host, Shannon Ables.
1:18.8	And whether you're listening on your commute, exercising, working in the garden, or sitting down with a hot cup of tea or a
1:25.2	cafe or a cafe or a lé.
1:26.6	Thank you for tuning in.
1:28.1	Let's get started. Welcome. Welcome to the 371st episode of the Simple Sophisticate.
1:49.4	In today's episode, we're going to talk about savoring a quiet Christmas and when we say Christmas
1:56.4	we're talking about this whole time of year November through December or all
2:01.5	sorts of holidays are being shared and savored and gathered for and
2:06.4	traditions are embraced and partaken in.
2:11.3	And we're going to approach it in this quiet manner,
2:15.0	but while simple, it is very significant.
2:19.0	Now, over the years and previous episodes,
2:22.0	I've talked about having a simply luxurious Christmas,
2:26.2	savoring last year's episode was savoring a Christmas alone, simply luxuriously.
2:32.2	And this year whether you celebrate it on your own or with
	...

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