Look & listen as my guest, memoirist & friend Sam Nace, shares the stories that this candle box could tell.

Handmade of wood & glass with a painted inlaid “loon” with Mallard duck colors and a door that never shut. But it has been with her since she was a teen & she keeps it to remember how, with a candle inside, it brought light & warmth to the gatherings both she & her Mom hosted.

Sam’s parents received it as a welcome gift to their recently built cottage on a bluff overlooking a bay on Downey Island just over the border of New York in Canada. Growing up there she didn’t know she was “rubbing elbows” with many famous people. What mattered to her was that these “island” people showed her love, kindness, patience & adventure.

As you can probably tell by now, Sam is a born story listener, sharer & teller. If you’ve been wanting to write your memoir, check out her destination retreats. Her next retreat is in Montelpero, Italy September 2-9: Event details here

Her Mom, like Sam, loved candles & company. Nothing made her happier then having a cottage full of friends & family. And this loon candle box was a witness to:

– Her parents attempt at a romantic evening.

– Her sneaking home late only to be “caught” by her chainsaw wielding father.

– Her young daughter’s night light as she fell asleep.

This simple piece of wood & glass lite up every gathering…

She inherited it from her Mom & it now travels with her to hold the warmth of these stories.

After 22 moves, she took only what she could fit in her FIT with room for her dog.

She learned to pack her sentimental things in her suitcase. Since moving internationally with the Army several times, she’s learned a thing or two about container shipping & ships. She’s heard about too many people’s Things that matter falling off these ships, floating for a while & then sinking. She didn’t want that to happen to her few treasured Things.

She thinks about these few things as her Hygge, a Danish cultural practice, that brings a “quality of coziness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being.”

Sam has learned to give less value to things… but the things she does keep have stories within their “bones”. This candle box holds treasured feelings in her spirit, keeps her anchored and grounded in her life as she moves around the world.

Sam Nace is a memoirist and retreat leader. She came to a deep knowing that sitting around the proverbial “campfire”, eliciting stories as what she’s called to do and made for. Perhaps this candle box started her on this journey to lead & support people in sharing their stories?

She has witnessed the healing power of sharing our stories. And she is HERE to help you share YOURS!

Join her in Italy Sept 2-9: Click Here I promise you won’t regret it!

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