Living a Beautiful Life
In search of those who live
with style:
Alexandra Stoddard
By Holly Gregor
Photos by Keith Scott Morton
When Alexandra Stoddard was 16
years old, her aunt took her around the
world, exposing her to architecture,
design and beauty. It had an astounding affect on the young Alexandra.
What followed was a lifetime commitment to living a beautiful life. Alexandra, author,
interior designer, and contemporary philosopher, finds pleasure in the small things. “It
is in the small acts of our intimate, private, everyday lives that we experience the
beautiful,” she says. For instance beauty can be found in the ritual of having tea with a
favorite china cup and a colorful napkin, arranging fresh cut flowers from the garden
that are bursting with color, or washing your hands with scented soap.
But Alexandra doesn’t just spend her time looking for beautiful things to fill her life. It is
not about stuff, anyway, as she will readily tell you. Alexandra is a student of ancient
philosophers and shares Aristotle’s deep conviction that “the virtue of happiness is the
aim and goal of life; everything else was a means to an end.” Alexandra says she was
born with an extra happiness gene.
Her books and her talks offer insights into the small but significant things that we can
do to change our attitude, heart and environment for the better. Her mantra is
“Happiness is the first principle of life. Love & Live Happy.”
At a youthful 65 years of age Alexandra says that the key to living a beautiful life is not
to rush. “You are nourishing your soul when you elevate your days into sacred
experiences,” she says and points out the obvious antithesis to this: “How dreadful to
go through life with one long ‘to do’ list, working at everything so hard that you are
exhausted, anxious, and burned out.”
Her classic Living a Beautiful Life: 500 Ways to Add Elegance, Order, Beauty and Joy
to Every Day of Your Life is now celebrating its 25th anniversary. Her latest book, and
her 25th, You Are Your Choices: 50 Ways to Live the Good Life, was just released in
January 2007.
Some of the things that are the essence of Alexandra’s joy are: “My grandchildren’s
giggles, my husband’s smile, soap bubbles in the kitchen sink, flowers, stationery,
fountain pens, sunsets, friends, ironing a shirt or napkins, my walk-in ribbon closet, the
blue chairs at the kitchen table, and to be served a meal.”
And a sense of humor. She tells a funny story on herself. When she was young and
first introduced to the 20-year-older “Mr. Brown,” who would become her husband, in
her fluster and sense of respect, she curtsied to him. Curtsies, you would agree, are
certainly part of a beautiful life.
She and her husband, Peter Megargee Brown, live in Manhattan, New York City, and
in Stonington Village, Conn. She is the mother of two daughters and has three
grandchildren.
Take note…the elements of a beautiful life that Alexandra talks about are available to
us all. We just have to find the things that reflect who we are and choose to notice the
happiness they bring in our own lives.
Refreshment
Beauty is found in the small things. The ritual of having tea with a favorite china cup
and napkin.
Elements of Alexandra’s Beautiful Life:
• Fresh flowers
• Fountain pens
• Ribbons
• Pretty boxes
• A ribbon tablecloth designed by AlexandraDesign
A walk-in ribbon closet allows Alexandra to create beautiful things in a beautiful place.
It also serves as a source of inspiration and brilliant color. Holly Gregor can be
reached at hollygregor@iamtodayswoman.com.
In search of those who live
with style:
Alexandra Stoddard
By Holly Gregor
Photos by Keith Scott Morton
When Alexandra Stoddard was 16
years old, her aunt took her around the
world, exposing her to architecture,
design and beauty. It had an astounding affect on the young Alexandra.
What followed was a lifetime commitment to living a beautiful life. Alexandra, author,
interior designer, and contemporary philosopher, finds pleasure in the small things. “It
is in the small acts of our intimate, private, everyday lives that we experience the
beautiful,” she says. For instance beauty can be found in the ritual of having tea with a
favorite china cup and a colorful napkin, arranging fresh cut flowers from the garden
that are bursting with color, or washing your hands with scented soap.
But Alexandra doesn’t just spend her time looking for beautiful things to fill her life. It is
not about stuff, anyway, as she will readily tell you. Alexandra is a student of ancient
philosophers and shares Aristotle’s deep conviction that “the virtue of happiness is the
aim and goal of life; everything else was a means to an end.” Alexandra says she was
born with an extra happiness gene.
Her books and her talks offer insights into the small but significant things that we can
do to change our attitude, heart and environment for the better. Her mantra is
“Happiness is the first principle of life. Love & Live Happy.”
At a youthful 65 years of age Alexandra says that the key to living a beautiful life is not
to rush. “You are nourishing your soul when you elevate your days into sacred
experiences,” she says and points out the obvious antithesis to this: “How dreadful to
go through life with one long ‘to do’ list, working at everything so hard that you are
exhausted, anxious, and burned out.”
Her classic Living a Beautiful Life: 500 Ways to Add Elegance, Order, Beauty and Joy
to Every Day of Your Life is now celebrating its 25th anniversary. Her latest book, and
her 25th, You Are Your Choices: 50 Ways to Live the Good Life, was just released in
January 2007.
Some of the things that are the essence of Alexandra’s joy are: “My grandchildren’s
giggles, my husband’s smile, soap bubbles in the kitchen sink, flowers, stationery,
fountain pens, sunsets, friends, ironing a shirt or napkins, my walk-in ribbon closet, the
blue chairs at the kitchen table, and to be served a meal.”
And a sense of humor. She tells a funny story on herself. When she was young and
first introduced to the 20-year-older “Mr. Brown,” who would become her husband, in
her fluster and sense of respect, she curtsied to him. Curtsies, you would agree, are
certainly part of a beautiful life.
She and her husband, Peter Megargee Brown, live in Manhattan, New York City, and
in Stonington Village, Conn. She is the mother of two daughters and has three
grandchildren.
Take note…the elements of a beautiful life that Alexandra talks about are available to
us all. We just have to find the things that reflect who we are and choose to notice the
happiness they bring in our own lives.
Refreshment
Beauty is found in the small things. The ritual of having tea with a favorite china cup
and napkin.
Elements of Alexandra’s Beautiful Life:
• Fresh flowers
• Fountain pens
• Ribbons
• Pretty boxes
• A ribbon tablecloth designed by AlexandraDesign
A walk-in ribbon closet allows Alexandra to create beautiful things in a beautiful place.
It also serves as a source of inspiration and brilliant color. Holly Gregor can be
reached at hollygregor@iamtodayswoman.com.
