Christmas 2022

Sometimes the walls of hurt and anger between people has more to do with an unwillingness to be the first to offer an olive branch and open the lines of communication. It’s not easy to take that first step and risk being rejected.

Prissy was the unexpected olive branch in this story. Who in your life could you offer an olive branch to as the new year begins? Risk can have surprising outcomes.

Thank you for listening to the eleventh and final episode of the Christmas podcasts

It’s been an interesting couple of months as I’ve brought you fiction stories while learning the basics of podcasting. What’s next as the Christmas podcast wraps up?

I’ll be bringing you another series in 2023 of work I’ve written. I don’t often write fiction. There is a reason why my podcast title is Nicheless Narrative. I wont be tied to a particular topic. If you come along for the ride you’ll find a variety of topics I’ll be writing on.

There may even be a few visits by my cat Hobo when she can wrest the keyboard from my hands. If you’re listening anywhere but my website, nichelessandlovingit.com keep an eye out for the new feed for 2023.

If you visit nichelessandlovingit.com you can also subscribe to my weekly newsletter and never miss what I’ve been up to.

Let’s everyone have a great 2023.

Happy New Year

How often do we get caught up in our own circle of friends and activities without paying any mind to others? It’s easy to do. The circle of friends and activities give us a sense of comfort and stability in a rather unstable world. Ida had the heart and grace to leave the other Ida with something that meant the world to her, even if she received it by mistake.

There is a lot of warmth and compassion to be experienced outside of our usual circles by simply opening our hearts to others.

Thank you for listening to the tenth of the Christmas podcasts — the next episode will be L.M. Montgomery’s — Uncle Richard’s New Years Dinner

The next episode will close out the Christmas edition of Nicheless Narrative and 2022. Find out what’s next.

This story came out of the first half of the 1900s when the world experienced two world wars, a decade of depression, a global pandemic and numerous other regional conflicts. Is it any wonder that even Father Christmas, the bringer of joy and magic at Christmas would also be ground down by the inhumanity humans visit upon each other?

No matter how much life grinds us down, rituals like Christmas can be a time to remember, if only for a short time — life can and will get better. Reaching out and connecting with others takes us out of ourselves. Reminds us we can each move forward towards a better future.

Thank you for listening to the nineth of the Christmas podcasts — the next episode will be L.M. Montgomery’s — Ida’s New Year Cake

This is a heartwarming story that has some of the best elements of the Christmas season. It incorporates the value of appreciating the loving efforts of others over the spending of dollars.

We also enjoy someone better off sharing their bounty by repaying a kindness. The tale goes full circle and returns to the appreciation of the loving efforts over dollars spent even after receiving the richer dollar valued gifts.

Gratitude comes in all sizes and has the greatest value of all.

Thank you for listening to the eigth of the Christmas podcasts — the next episode will be Stephen Leacock’s — Merry Christmas.

Interesting this story involves worry over a mortgage. Unlike in Caroline’s Christmas, this story takes a different turn.

One of the characters making choices which leads to coincidence… are there any coincidences or things just meant to be? It’s an age old question.

Personally, I think we set results into motion when we make choices. Those choices may often be guided by inner urgings we don’t always understand. We’re often happy later to have done so.

Thank you for listening to the seventh of the Christmas podcasts — the next episode will be L.M. Montgomery’s — The Josephs’ Christmas

This story comes from Leacock’s “Nonsense Novels”. It’s typical of his humour in many ways. He created parodies of typical stories of the era.

This story is like a typical Christmas theme turned upside down. The elements in the story are confusing until you realize the reverse symbols. The buttermilk would be egg nog, Euclid’s Elements would be the Bible. Caroline’s knock at the door in a typical Christmas story would bring the miracle that would save the day. The child has newborn Christ vibe.

The second knock ties the upside down part together, to deliver the unexpected ending. Or would that be the expected ending without a miracle intervention?

Thank you for listening to the sixth of the Christmas podcasts — the next episode will be L.M. Montgomery’s Christmas at Red Butte

Acts of kindness can make such a difference in the lives of others, yourself and even communities. Acts of kindness done without fanfare carry a powerful message of selflessness and caring for each other.

It’s an attitude that really needs to carry through the year, not just at Christmas.

Harnessing the compassion and caring that comes out so strongly during the Christmas season and making it our default would indeed see the world be a kinder, more caring place. How are your kindness levels doing?

Thank you for listening to the fifth of the Christmas podcasts — the next episode will be Stephen Leacock’s — Caroline’s Christmsa or, the Inexplicable Infant

See you soon.

How often have we bought presents based more on our own likes and enjoyment than the person receiving it? It was pretty clear in this story the gift givers really preferred to have the gifts they were giving to another.

Good thing nearly blind Santa mixed up the ‘To’s and the ‘From’s so the gifts ended up in the hands of the people who really appreciated them, the giver.

Thank you for listening to the fourth of the Christmas podcasts — the next episode will be L. M. Montgomery’s — The Christmas Surprise at Enderly Road

Sometimes mistakes become needs. Miss Cornelia and Mrs Grant needed to get past their own stubborn pridefulness in order to reconcile. It took the innocence of a distracted character to misdirect an invite to just the right person.

In this season of good cheer toward others, do you need to have an invitation misdirected to just the right person to create an opportunity to reconcile a difference that should not have been?

Thank you for listening to the third of the Christmas podcasts — the next episode will be Stephen Leacock’s — The Errors of Santa Claus.

It truly is more blessed to give than to receive. Doing something kind and thoughtful for someone else has all kinds of benefits beyond the pleasure the recipient receives.

For several years I looked after a local program to make sure lower income families and seniors had a nicer Christmas with food and toys for the children. It was a couple of months of often intense work to bring it all together. When the last hamper went out the door, for me, that was Christmas.

As Nellie so thoughtfully put it, let’s make kindness and giving a year round inspiration.

Thank you for tuning in to A Christmas Inspiration. The Episode 3 will be another of Lucy Maud Montgomery’s stories entitled – The A Christmas Mistake.