“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.”
- Ecclesiastes 3:1
“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.”
- Ecclesiastes 3:1
T
hese timeless words have emboldened countless individuals during the ups and downs of life. Stories passed from person to person and from generation to generation have offered consolation and inspiration for all seasons of life.
Wise storytellers through the ages inspired their listeners and helped them find direction and purpose in life. Those storytellers reawakened people to their own spirituality, afforded them the courage to dream wonderful possibilities and embraced making a heart connection.
For Chicken Soup for the Golden Soul, we selected stories that encircle the heart and those stories themselves captivate the readers. Some stories tell about enjoying satisfying relationships across generational lines, refocusing interests and energy, relishing the milestones of change and leaving behind what has been outgrown. Many stories deal with grand-parenting and mentoring, while others focus on the realities of growing older. Our hope is that all the stories stimulate thinking on how to spend our days for maximum meaning and enjoyment.
As we sorted through the literal mountains of stories received for consideration in Chicken Soup for the Golden Soul, we were reminded of the importance of passing along to future generations the wisdom gleaned in life. We realized anew the importance of savoring each moment in our lives. We became mindful of how some of our greatest growth occurred during our darkest hours. We have found a serendipity that enables us to face the future with openness and trust, ready to receive whatever our Creator has in store for us.
We invite you to cherish all of life’s seasons, the warm and the cold, the dark and the bright - for they are the best preparation for making the “growing older” years even more rewarding than you ever thought possible. It is never too late to discover richness and tranquillity in life.
“Tell me a story.” These sweet words of children around the world and across the ages echo the heart of all of us. We hope Golden Soul inspires you to tell your own stories to the younger people in your life - and to the people who are “young at heart.”
Through Chicken Soup for the Golden Soul, we celebrate life with you. Read the stories one at a time. Let them soothe your soul, tickle your funny bone and rekindle your spirit. Pass them on to others.
JACK CANFIELD & MARK VICTOR HANSEN