Steve Goodier Wisdom: An Encouraging Word

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

A young Polish boy wanted to play piano, but his teacher told him that his fingers were too stubby and that he would never play well. The boy was advised to try the cornet, but was later told by an expert musician that he did not have the lip to ever be good.

Then one day he met the great pianist, Anton Rubinstein. The famous musician gave this young boy the first bit of encouragement he ever received. “Young man,” Rubinstein said, “you might be able to play the piano. In fact, I think you can…if you will practice seven hours a day.” Read more

Steve Goodier Wisdom: Comp Time

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

Fulton Sheen once said, “Baloney is flattery laid on so thick it cannot be true, and blarney is flattery so thin we love it.” There is a wide gap, however, between blarney and a sincere compliment.

Eleanor Roosevelt’s mother, Anna, was deeply disappointed in her daughter’s looks and demeanor. She often called young Eleanor  “Granny.” To visitors, she would say, “She is such a funny child, so old-fashioned that we always call her Granny.” Read more

Steve Goodier Wisdom: Reason to Smile

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

Comedian George Burns said that he was advised: “Let a smile be your umbrella.” He said, “I tried that once. I had pneumonia for six weeks and shrunk a $450 suit.”

All right. Maybe it won’t keep you dry in the rain, but there are other good reasons to smile. Author Brian Tracy tells us that the face requires 12 muscles to smile and 103 to frown. (Who counts these things?) He also says that whenever you smile at another person, it puts them at ease and raises their self-esteem. And if that isn’t enough, when you smile it releases endorphins in your brain and gives you a feeling of well-being and contentment. Read more

Steve Goodier Wisdom: Whom Can You Count On?

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

During my second year of college I was scouting around for a place to live, as my roommates had dropped out of school. One Sunday after church the pastor put his arm around me and said, “I understand you need a room. Our daughter is in New Zealand this year as a foreign exchange student. If you’d like to stay with us you may use her room.”

To be honest, I really didn’t want to stay with “the preacher’s family.” I was 19 years old and on my own! But then he told me how much rent would be — a ridiculously low figure that included one home-cooked meal a day. I thought about the offer for about a minute and decided to move in. Read more

Steve Goodier Wisdom: At the Complaint Counter

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

I understand that an Athens hotel posts a sign that reads: “Visitors are expected to complain at the office between the hours of 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. daily.” And you thought people didn’t have to be told when to complain!

I do realize that all that is wrong in this world will not be fixed if it is not addressed. And there are those times when dissatisfaction should be expressed. I am also aware that we all have different temperaments. I just don’t want to be one of those people who spend their lives “standing at the complaint counter”! Some people have taught themselves to look for what is wrong, and then they fill their minds and conversation with it. For them, nothing is ever right. Read more

Steve Goodier Wisdom: The Way Home

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

Steve Reinhard tells a heartwarming story about a little girl who walked home from school every day. The quickest way home for her was through the town’s cemetery. It was her favorite time of day. She loved to feel the breeze in her hair and to watch the birds. Sometimes she just threw herself on the soft, green grass and watched clouds turn into castles and angels and great white stallions. As she skipped around grave stones, she whistled her favorite tune or sang a song. Other times, she liked to kneel down and read the names and dates on gravestones, and to glide her fingers across the engraved lettering. She particularly enjoyed those walks through the graveyard.

Still, her friends asked, “Why do you walk through the cemetery after school?” Read more

Steve Goodier Wisdom: The Price of Freedom

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

Have you ever been tempted to cut a corner or to take the easiest route, though you know it may not necessarily be the best one? Or have you ever made a decision because it was quick and simple, knowing that it might come back to bite you later?

I appreciate a parable Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard told about the dangers of taking the easy route. It is a story about a wild duck. Though life was difficult at times, the beautiful creature loved the boundless heavens and the endless stretches of wilderness. Soaring about treetops and towns, the duck symbolized, to its tame counterparts who could not fly, the epitome of freedom. Read more

Steve Goodier Wisdom: Our Valuable Children

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

One proud father said to his little boy, “I’ve got news for you, my big boy. God has sent you a beautiful baby brother.”

“Great!” yelped the little boy. “Where’s Mom? I can’t wait to tell her!” Read more

Steve Goodier Wisdom: No Problem!

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

Don’t worry if you have problems! Which is easy to say until you are in the midst of a really big one, I know. But the only people I am aware of who don’t have troubles are gathered in little neighborhoods. Most communities have at least one. We call them cemeteries.

If you’re breathing, you have difficulties. It’s the way of life. And believe it or not, most of your problems may actually be good for you! Let me explain. Read more

Steve Goodier Wisdom: Just Be Happy

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

In his book STANDING ON THE PROMISES OR SITTING ON THE PREMISES (Dimensions for Living, 1995), James Moore relates an experience that occurred in a New York art museum. One special thematic room exhibited paintings only of roads. There were depictions of busy modern interstate highways, big city crowded thoroughfares, attractive landscaped parkways, happy neighborhood streets, remote mountain trails and quiet country roads.

On one wall hung a large painting of an unusual road that had an ethereal, spiritual look, done in soft pastel colors. The caption beneath it read: “The Road to Happiness.” Two women approached the painting. One of them was visibly moved and said, “Isn’t that beautiful?” Read more

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