359: Author and Philosopher Alexandra Stoddard on Living Well, Sharing Her Wisdom of 81 years

Author and philosopher of contemporary living, Alexandra Stoddard has published 28 books since she began in 1974. Continuing to be a source of wisdom, inspiration and sharing through how she lives that curiosity and forever being a student of life elevates our lives regardless of age, she joins me in a special episode to talk about her life's work.

Our conversation of more than 75 minutes covers a wide breadth of content that she has written about over the years, and it's all grounded in how to live well, cultivating happiness and contentment, mindfully living in the present moment and how that daily practice changes for the better so much about all that we cannot control in daily life.

From discussing the importance of rituals, to living a life grounded in paying attention to what our senses observe as well as how one can have a happy death as she speaks fondly of her late husband to whom they shared a loving marriage for over 40 years, we talk about many of the topics that are fundamental components to living a simply luxurious life, a life of true contentment. I do hope you tune in and hear the enthusiasm and genuine love of life Alexandra Stoddard embodies and no doubt will inspire in listeners to do the same in their own lives.

Links from the episode:

• Alexandra Stoddard's website
• The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning: How to Free Yourself and Your Family from a Lifetime of Clutter by Margareta Magnusson
• Giverny, Claude Monet's garden in Normandy 

Below are all 28 of Alexandra Stoddard's books; you can also find them on Amazon:

• Her first book: Style for Living: How to Make Where You Live You (1974)
• A Child's Place (1977)
• The Postcard As Art (1986)
• discussed in the episode: Book of Color (1989)
• Living Beautifully Together (1989)
• discussed in the episode: Daring to Be Yourself (1990)
• discussed in the episode: The Gift of a Letter (1991)
• Creating a Beautiful Home (1992)
• discussed in the episode: Grace Notes (1993)
• Making Choices (1994)
• Tea Celebrations (1994)
• Book of Days (1994)
• The Art of the Possible (1995)
• Mother's: A Celebration (1995)
• Gracious Living in a New World (1996)
• Bestselling: Living A Beautiful Life: 500 Ways to Add Elegance, Order, Beauty and Joy to Every Day of Your Life (1997)
• The Decoration of Houses (1997)
• Living in Love (1997)
• Open Your Eyes (1998)
• Feeling at Home (1999)
• discussed in the episode: Things I Want My Daughters To Know (2004)
• Time Alive: Celebrate Your Life Every Day (2005)
• Choosing Happiness: Keys to a Joyful Life (2006)
• You Are Your Choices (2006)
• Happiness for Two (2007)
• Things Good Mothers Know (2009)

Just a handful of Alexandra Stoddard's many books that are in my personal library.

Explore all of the episodes of The Simple Sophisticate here, and subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts here.

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