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January 15, 2009I am always on the lookout for stories that bring something more to listeners than a clever twist of plot. Something that listeners can take away from the story. Call it a message. It might give the listener a suggestion of a new direction. There could even be an outright moral. It doesn’t really matter what name you give to this elusive quality; it is more important that the stories I tell possess it.
Even when I was growing up, I found myself deeply touched by inspirational stories. Both my mother and my grandfather told similar stories. Occasionally a teacher would tell a story that meant a great deal to me. I was surprised to find how memorable those stories were. The messages stuck in the memory, too. The Golden Rule. Honesty is the best policy. Slow down and notice the things around you. Give back to your community. Messages that made me who I am today.
I find myself using stories I heard long ago when I perform today. They have an ageless quality. The messages are as relevant now as they were long ago.
What’s so important about inspirational stories? For one thing, we experience a deluge of information and news on a daily basis. Second, the lives we live give us no breathing space to reflect. In the absence of time and reflection, we have precious little available insight to bring to current affairs. This is where inspirational stories serve us well. Inspirational stories give listeners something to chew on. They offer something to think about. Something that helps us to find our personal “true north. Something that offers a little perspective to life.
Looking for inspiration? You can find inspirational stories and more at www.jaystetzer.com. Go to the “Listen” page on the site and you will surely discover a number of stories with relevant messages. Two good examples of inspirational stories are “The Egg Seller” and “Herschel and the Wedding” from my CD World Full of Stories. From the CD Parking in Manhattan, “Service with a Smile” brings a great message to the listener. I find that inspirational stories stick in the memory long after they are told. In fact, the inspirational stories I tell even inspire me!
The world of today is a fast moving, complex world. As we head on down the highway of life, we can all use a little direction to guide us. Inspirational stories can help us in our travels. Think of them as your own personal GPS! There’s a wealth of inspirational stories available on all of my recordings. Listen for yourself!
Horaayy..there are 28 comment(s) for me so far ;)
This kind of story is generally attractive to a wider audience. The subtler lessons tend to come from longer tales. Epic stories have many layered lessons Just compare a tale from the Arabian Nights to a fable by Aesop to see the difference. Which one gives you more freedom to choose your own message? Personally, I like to find my own message when listening to a story. The stories I chose for my Fables in Four Minutes and World Full of Stories CDs are good examples of nifty stories with subtle messages.
And I anticipated that my children would do the same.
I am now a grandparent. And I am always on the lookout for a unique gift children would enjoy. Something that will last far beyond the moment of giving. A memorable story is that kind of gift.
Really awesome. I will be reading more soon.
Groovy.
Painting scenes with priceless humor.
Priceless humor. what makes it priceless? The answer is simple. Priceless humor revolves about common everyday experiences. The missed appointment.
Priceless humor is filled with wit and wisdom. An awesome blend of entertainment and enlightenment.
As you know, everyone loves to laugh. Laughter takes the sting out of life. And everyone loves to laugh at the foibles of our own species (as long as it happens at the expense of another).
For another, they deal with the human condition. Even animal characters in stories act out the situations of our own humanity.
For centuries as well, life has been a struggle. Wars. Pestilence.
What makes priceless humor? There is a simple answer to this question. Priceless humor revolves about common everyday experiences. The lost keys. The comic situation. The consequences that follow are generally laughable.
For example, a story with a moral is one that provides a clear message. It teaches using a concrete example. On the other hand, many stories are not so obvious in the lessons they offer. The characters may act out the meaning of the story. It is up to the listener to decipher the message.
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The stories I chose for my Fables in Four Minutes and World Full of Stories CDs are good examples of nifty stories with subtle messages.
Nifty stories are stories that teach. Nifty stories appeal to a broad audience. Nifty stories travel beyond the culture from which they originate. Nifty stories are always in vogue.
Awesome blog.
Great post. Thanks so much.
Really great.
They offer something to think about. Something that helps us to find our personal “true north. Something that offers a little perspective to life.
Care for some inspiration? At http://www. jaystetzer.
I have visited countries in Europe, Central and South America, throughout Canada, the United States, and Southeast Asia. The differences as well as the similarities of the various countries impress me deeply.
All cultures regard certain notions as sacred. The demonic can also be found. These notions appear regularly in their stories.
I liked reading this blog. Great stuff.
Really cool. I will remember this site.
Community giving is part of community living. Messages that made me who I am today.
Today I tell many of the stories I heard as a child. They have an ageless quality. The messages are as relevant now as they were long ago.
Not only those high points, but those exasperating moments as well. One of them involves purchasing gifts for my children. Holiday gifts. Gifts for birthdays. Gifts rewarding good behavior.
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And without time to reflect, how can we develop insight into the affairs of the day? Here is the place for inspirational stories. Inspirational stories give listeners something to chew on. They offer something to think about. Something that points us a bit closer to our “true north. ” Something that offers a little perspective to life.
Gifts for birthdays. Gifts rewarding good behavior. I spent some serious hours searching for something unique, something meaningful. Most of the time it was rough going. I quickly realized that a good gift is hard to find.
However, it was only when I found myself using the word in my description of my own stories that I needed to define it. Actually, it was a listener who called my material “nifty stories,” and that comment sent me to the books. The Merriam/Webster Dictionary definition states: “very good, very attractive,” etymology unknown, originally used in 1865. The standard reference Compact Oxford Dictionary states: “particularly good, effective, or stylish. ”
What’s so nifty about nifty stories? The stories I tell always have a message, a lesson, a bit of perspective, and they are, indeed, particularly good and rather effective at making their point.