My Beautiful Stories Alexandra Cuncev

Today’s beautiful story comes from Raquel. It’s a beautiful ode to our mother, the Earth. It’s also a beautiful story to close series 4 of the podcast.
We have seen in this series the most unusual objects. We have listened to stories of deep sorrow, of death but mostly of love along the way and this is what I would like us to take away from this series: the deep love that we inspire in other people. The potential that love has if shared with others. The colourful, warm and gentle trace we can leave behind.
The podcast will be on a break. But please do listen back. Listen and honour the stories of others. Use them to remind you of your own, valuable stories. Tell stories, forgive and love more.
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Gus’s lamb - A CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT
Today’s story is a bonus to the Christmas ornament episode. It is the special mention story from the competition. It was sent by Nicole Coonradt. We hope you enjoy it. 
Wishing you a Merry Christmas!
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SHOW NOTES: THE STORY – CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT:
Today’s story is the WINNER of our Christmas Ornament competition, which ran over on Instagram last week.
We are excited to announce that after long debating, as we were overwhelmed by the quantity as well as quality of the stories we received, we have reached a decision.
THE WINNER of the Christmas ornament competition is Caylee, who sent a story of a handmade cross-stitch ornament.
The runner up is Nicole Coonradt. We will think of how we can share her story also – let us know if you would like to hear more stories of Christmas ornaments!
DISCUSSION:
We discuss relationships, how friends create a connection and help define who we are. We also reflect on the knowledge that there is always someone, somewhere in the world, thinking of us. We take this as a reason for purpose and hope.
Thank you, Caylee, for sending this story. It was so beautiful and a real pleasure to read and discuss.
Many thanks to everyone who shared a Christmas ornament story with us – we are all so grateful for your stories, which brought light and joy to our day.
To hear the whole episode, look for EPISODE 10 of series 4 – The Series of Things, all on the MY BEAUTIFUL STORIES PODCAST.
We continue to invite you to bring your stories to the fold! There is no deadline for sending your stories as yet, we have decided to let this series run for as long as it is financially possible.
Please share the stories of those things that are not just things here or send me an Instagram message.
My Beautiful Club ko-fi members have priority, but we will endeavour to narrate as many stories as we can on the podcast! You can listen to all previous’ episodes on the app.
If you have enjoyed this podcast episode, please do share with other people, please write a review or a rating. The show is currently unfunded. To ensure we can provide a whole series, please support us.
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SHOW NOTES:THE STORY:
Today's story is written and recorded by Amanda. It is the story of a box, which is 'nothing fancy' on the exterior, but incredibly meaningful inside. We will let you discover what the story is about by listening to this episode. We were once again humbled to receive such a personal and thoroughly touching story for the podcast.
DISCUSSION:
We mainly discuss what it means to leave something truly valuable behind. Utterly taken by Amanda's description, our recommendation is of a film where something - 'nothing fancy' is passed on in a similarly meaningful way. The film is Cinema Paradiso, a classic which we decided to revisit after recording this story.
Thank you, Amanda for sharing this moment with us. We are humbled and honoured to be the curators of your stories.
To hear the whole episode, look for EPISODE 8 of series 4 – The Series of Things, all on the MY BEAUTIFUL STORIES PODCAST.
We continue to invite you to bring your stories to the fold! There is no deadline for sending your stories as yet, we have decided to let this series run for as long as it is financially possible.
Please share the stories of those things that are not just things here or send me an Instagram message.
My Beautiful Club ko-fi members have priority, but we will endeavour to narrate as many stories as we can on the podcast! You can listen to all previous’ episodes on the app.
If you have enjoyed this podcast episode, please do share with other people, please write a review or a rating. The show is currently unfunded. To ensure we can provide a whole series, please support us.
 


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'I can hold the brooch in my palms.  I can carry on her legacy and lessons – the way she took care of the old garden; how to treat plants and people. I can remember her relentless resilience, and the way she took care of all of us.’ (Anett Teresia)
SHOW NOTES:The STORY Anette sent, about her Grandma’s words, reads like a meditation, for an object, but also a person, that remained elusive to her for a long while and is still elusive, or rather mysterious in the story today.
Written like a poem and with added notes, this story leads us to a DISCUSSION about the strength, resilience and example of Grandmas and we extrapolate on the role of women in general and the legacy (often, not material) which they leave behind.
The RECOMMENDATION follows the same theme – the theme of formidable women- and though the character is by far a positive one, we recommend this documentary for its quality, historical value, and last and not the least, the element of surprise.
Thank you so much, Anette, for sending your story.
To hear the whole episode, look for EPISODE 8 of series 4 – The Series of Things, all on the MY BEAUTIFUL STORIES PODCAST.
We would love for this series to be collaborative, and we invite you to bring your stories to the fold!
Please share the stories of those things that are not just things here or send me an Instagram message.
Click send your story or send me a message on Instagram.  My Beautiful Club ko-fi members have priority, but we will endeavour to narrate as many stories as we can on the podcast! You can listen to all previous’ episodes on the app.
If you have enjoyed this podcast episode, please do share with other people, please write a review or a rating. The show is currently unfunded. To ensure we can provide a whole series, please support us.
 
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'The last texts we exchanged were about the pan; he asked if I’d perfected the technique, and I told him I had, that I had been having a hot chocolate a day since he gave it to me, and I couldn’t wait till we were together at Christmas so that I could make him one. ' (Sophie Caldecott)

SHOW NOTES:

STORY:
Today's story, about 'a blue and white enamel milk pan',  is written and read by Sophie Caldecott. Sophie Caldecott is a writer living in a cosy cottage on the edge of the moor in the South-West of England. She writes about grief and motherhood, empathy and connection, slow living and sustainability, as well as chocolate and all the simple pleasures that make life worth living.
Today, she tells the story of a very special milkpan she received as a gift from her brother-in-law. We were both left speechless by the beauty and sadness of this story, by Sophie's intense grief and the graceful way she navigates it.

DISCUSSION:
Our discussion starts with a ponder on the quality of a gift and also the difficulty to make a meaningful gift in today's world. We then meander into a discussion on the meaning of relics in different spiritualities and end up with an appreciation of the importance of leaving a meaningful trace in life.

We really enjoyed recording the episode and felt privileged to be the receivers of this story.
Each time someone entrusts a story with My Beautiful Stories, a special link is created. So thank you, Sophie, for sharing this story. Our thoughts go to you and your family.

RECOMMENDATION: Not really what it sounds to be, the recommendation is A Ghost Story. Really a film about the connection between the seen and the unseen and perhaps also about our need to be haunted.

We would love for this series to be collaborative, and we invite you to bring your stories to the fold!
Please share the stories of those things that are not just things here or send me an Instagram message.
Click send your story or send me a message on Instagram.  My Beautiful Club ko-fi members have priority, but we will endeavour to narrate as many stories as we can on the podcast! You can listen to all previous’ episodes on the app.
If you have enjoyed this podcast episode, please do share with other people, please write a review or a rating. The show is currently unfunded. To ensure we can provide a whole series, please support us.
Support the show