L
ife is a story. The goal of every human being is to live in such a way that his or her story becomes a source of inspiration and emotional empowerment to others.
Stories have a magical power. They allow us to look at ourselves in relation to other people. They act as mirrors – reflecting our own actions through the actions of others. They make us aware of our own talents and idiosyncrasies, and serve as constant reminders of the forms of behavior that are appropriate.
Stories pump us up and help us do what it takes to make our dreams come true. They ignite our imagination and set our plans in motion.
Life is a collection of the various things people do and say. When we hear facts and figures based on data, we don’t remember the information, we remember the interpretation of the information. When we hear a tale, our interpretation says, “If it happened to them, one day it could happen to me.” Reading an inspirational story fills us with hope for humanity. It teaches us that dreams can come true.
Inspirational stories spark creativity and unleash our imaginations to see beyond our limitations. History is our proof: Two Wright brothers who sold bicycles one day decided that they could fly. Sure enough, Orville and Wilbur did. In 1903 there were no automobiles, houses didn’t have running water, electricity was still a dream, nobody knew what a freeway was, natural gas did not heat homes, and the mere mention of television, personal computers and radios would have made you the laughing stock. Much has happened since then. And the only explanation is that certain individuals were inspried!
I give the following stories to you with only one purpose in mind: to inspire and rekindle your spirit and uplift your everyday sights. I have written most of them. As an honest disclosure, some of the stories were told to me years ago. While the lessons remain vivid, the names of the tellers of those tales have, unfortunately, been lost to time. If any of you recognize your stories, please let me know. Good deeds - and good yarns - should not go unacknowledged.
I have selected each of these stories as a special gift to you. Together, we wordsmiths of the world - known and unknown - are just trying to make a difference.
Thanks for giving us a chance!
- Dan Clark