Steve Goodier Wisdom: A Love Affair With Life

In this inspirational article, master storyteller, Steve Goodier, shares a key piece of life wisdom . Enjoy!

Italian actor Roberto Benigni has been described as a charming and effusive man who, in his joy over winning the 1998 Academy Award for best actor for his performance in the film “Life Is Beautiful,” danced over the tops of chairs and leaped up on stage. With that in mind, listen to what he says on the subject of gratitude: “It’s a sign of mediocrity when you demonstrate gratitude with moderation.”

Gratitude with moderation! Doesn’t that describe how many of us approach life? Read more

Steve Goodier Wisdom: The Golden Chain of Kindness

In this inspirational article, master storyteller, Steve Goodier, shares a key piece of life wisdom . Enjoy!

Writer and philosopher Johann Wolfgang von Goethe said, “Kindness is the golden chain by which society is bound together.” But I was not thinking about the golden chain of kindness one day when a dilapidated automobile, possibly held together with glue and wire, parked in front of my house. During those years, we lived in a small town just across the street from the church I served, and travelers in need constantly found their way to our home.

I was growing weary of helping the numerous people who stopped by almost daily. I was frequently awakened in the middle of an otherwise good night’s sleep, to get out in the cold and help someone passing through. Once our property was vandalized; once I drove through a blizzard in order to get two people to safety; many times I felt taken for granted by penniless motorists or hitchhikers who did not thank me for help they received and  complained that I didn’t do more. I hadn’t felt a part of a “golden chain of kindness” for awhile and, though I still offered assistance where I could, sometimes I inwardly wished they would just go away. Read more

Steve Goodier Wisdom: The Black Belt

In this inspirational article, master storyteller, Steve Goodier, shares a key piece of life wisdom . Enjoy!

A parable tells about a martial artist who kneels before a master sensei in a ceremony to receive the hard-earned Black Belt. After years of relentless training, the student has finally reached a pinnacle of achievement in the discipline.

“Before granting the belt, you must pass one more test,” the sensei solemnly tells the young man. Read more

Steve Goodier Wisdom: Ya Gotta Let Go

In this inspirational article, master storyteller, Steve Goodier, shares a key piece of life wisdom . Enjoy!

Miguel de Cervantes, author of DON QUIXOTE, wisely said, “Love not what you are, but what you may become.” The problem is … we may not be crazy about what we are, what we do or even where we’re going, but thinking of making that big change is overwhelming. Or scary!

If you are longing for something different, but you are a bit wary of the next step, then consider this: Read more

Steve Goodier Wisdom: Who’s Your Best Friend?

In this inspirational article, master storyteller, Steve Goodier, shares a key piece of life wisdom . Enjoy!

Former prisoner James Knapp confessed to police that he’d robbed two stores in Oklahoma, because he missed his old cell mates. Police said they’d see if James could be reunited with his old friends.

I think Mr. Knapp may have expressed something important, however. Friends, wherever we find them, are absolutely necessary. Read more

Steve Goodier Wisdom: Love Letter to a Cat

In this inspirational article, master storyteller, Steve Goodier, shares a key piece of life wisdom . Enjoy!

A love letter to a cat? Why not? At least Andrew thought it might work. This is an actual love letter written by a boy to his cat.

But before you read the letter, you must understand this about the cat. She is about as affectionate as a cactus. And besides, she goes to great lengths to avoid Andrew. She would rather sleep the day away in one of her many hiding places scattered throughout the boy’s house than be near him. And on one of those rare occasions when she makes an appearance, he can forget about touching her. If he never has anything to do with her, that is all right by the cat. Read more

Steve Goodier Wisdom: Celebrate You!

In this inspirational article, master storyteller, Steve Goodier, shares a key piece of life wisdom . Enjoy!

CELEBRATE YOU! It is no exaggeration to say you are a GIFT to the world.

U.S. Congressman Tribble told a story about teaching his daughter that she was her own person. Wherever she went, the little girl was constantly associated with her father. “Oh, you must be Congressman Tribble’s daughter,” well-intentioned adults would coo.

She explained to her parents that she wanted to be herself, not simply known as Congressman Tribble’s little girl. Her father told her not to worry about it. Her mother, who perhaps understood the problem better, suggested, “The next time that happens, just stand right up and say,’I am Constance Tribble!’” Read more

Steve Goodier Wisdom: You Were Meant For The Skies

In this inspirational article, master storyteller, Steve Goodier, shares a key piece of life wisdom . Enjoy!

This story reminds us how important a healthy self-image really is.

A man found an eagle’s egg and put it in a nest of a barnyard hen. The eagle hatched with the brood of chicks and grew up with them. All his life, the eagle did what the barnyard chicks did, thinking he was a barnyard chicken. He scratched the earth for worms and insects. He clucked and cackled. And he thrashed his wings and flew a few feet in the air.

Read more

Steve Goodier Wisdom: Not Just a Pipe Dream

In this inspirational article, master storyteller, Steve Goodier, shares a key piece of life wisdom . Enjoy!

Are your dreams and beautiful ideas just pipe dreams?

According to Webb Garrison in his book  (Rutledge Hill Press, 1992), the term “pipe dream” has its origins in the 19th century. The drug opium was imported into Europe from Asia and was widely used in certain literary circles in Britain. Opium was smoked in a pipe and, once under the influence, people had hallucinations that were referred to as pipe dreams. So today, an unrealistic or impractical idea may be quickly discounted as a pipe dream.

But not all seemingly impossible or far-fetched ideas are merely pipe dreams. A case in point is the dream millionaire Eugene Lang gave to high school students in the impoverished neighborhood in which he was raised. Addressing a class of eighth-graders in the South Bronx, Lang threw away his prepared speech. The empty eyes of the students in attendance told him they were not interested in his “motivational” talk. Their neighborhood had become a battlefield of poverty, drugs and gangs, and a breeding ground of despair. About 80% of them would not complete high school. Few would ever leave the neighborhood. Fewer still would climb out of poverty. That is why Mr. Lang tossed aside his speech. The students didn’t need a speech; they needed a dream. Read more

Steve Goodier Wisdom: Are You Living Life to the Fullest?

In this inspirational article, master storyteller, Steve Goodier, shares a key piece of life wisdom . Enjoy!

One night, a Dodgers farm club coached by Tommy Lasorda was leading Tucson by one run in the eighth inning, but Tucson had the bases loaded with two outs. According to Don Martin in TEAM THINK (Penguin books, Ltd., 1993), Lasorda decided to pep up his pitcher, a left-hander named Bobby O’Brien. Lasorda slowly walked out to the mound and said, “Bobby, if the heavens opened up right now and you could hear the voice of the Big Dodger in the sky and he said to you, ‘Bobby, you’re going to die and come up to heaven, and this is the last batter you’re ever going to face,’ how would you like the meet the Lord, getting this man out or letting him get a hit from you?”

“I’d want to face him getting this guy out,” O’Brien replied. Read more

Next Page »