In their book The Lifegiving Home: Creating a Place of Belonging and Becoming, Sally and Sarah Clarkson note taking time through the years “to thumb through Victoria magazines over steaming cups of tea.” As the authors conclude their year as our Writers-in-Residence—a tenure shared by the mother and daughter—Sally shares reflections on this full-circle moment, glimpses of what is to come for her both personally and professionally, and advice for finding serenity.
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What has this shared tenure as Writers-in-Residence meant to you, both as authors and as mother and daughter?
Sarah and I spent countless Sunday afternoons sequestered in my bedroom, reading and searching out every beautiful page of Victoria magazine when she was a teen. A candle blazed on my coffee table, tea steaming out of china cups, soft music wafted in the background, and we entered the world Victoria created for us. This ritual continued for years.
From time to time, one of us would say, “Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could ever write for Victoria magazine and share some of our traditions?” Little did we imagine that our dream would come true many years later. We kept and collected each issue. Each issue stoked the fires of our love and passion to explore England.
As the year draws to a close, what are you most looking forward to in these final months?
Taking a sort of sabbatical from writing books is a plan I have put into place for the next year. I am hoping to make memories with my precious grandchildren and to spend leisurely and regular time with each of my adult children. Hiking the trails through Oxford, as well as the mountains of Colorado, and creating times of feasting and celebrating life together are on my agenda.
What is next on the horizon for you?
One project that is very special to me is a full-color book, coming out in Fall 2024, of reflections about my time in Oxford. A team took hundreds of photos and recorded many of my stories. I have been busy at work on this volume and look so forward to holding it in my hands. I am also releasing two other books that are very dear to my heart and that I hope will be of great encouragement. So, you can see why I am taking a break from writing more manuscripts at this time. I will continue my Tea Time Tuesday podcasts to share stories from my life—favorite books, music, recipes, and encouragement from what I have been learning in my own life and faith. I love doing these episodes.
Are there any final words of wisdom you would offer to readers regarding cultivating or sharing a legacy of gracious living?
Learn to love who you are, strengths and weaknesses all wrapped into one. You are a masterpiece imagined in the mind of God, and self-acceptance will bring peace to your heart. Love others unconditionally and give them the grace and affirmation you long for in your own life. Look for the fingerprints of God every day in the beauty that is around you, and practice gratitude every day. Live into your capacity. Blessings and blessings to each of you friends in this wonderful community. I have so enjoyed being a part.
To read Sally and Sarah Clarkson’s final essays for 2023, see “The Warming Glow of Family Traditions” in the November/December 2023 issue, available on newsstands and at victoriamag.com.
