And we were off again. He said, "Give the gifts away, they're extra baggage, too much weight." So I did, to the people we met, and I found that in giving I received, and still our burden was light.
I did not trust Him at first, in control of my life. I thought He'd wreck it. But He knew bike secrets, knew how to make it bend to take sharp corners, jump to clear places filled with rocks, fly to shorten scary passages.
And I'm learning to shut up and pedal in the strangest places, and I'm beginning to enjoy the view and the cool breeze on my face with my delightful constant companion, my higher power.
And when I'm sure I can't go on anymore, He just smiles and says, "Pedal . . ."
Author Unknown
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MORE CHICKEN SOUP?
Many of the stories and poems you have read in this book were submitted by readers like you who had read earlier Chicken Soup for the Soul books. We are planning to publish five or six Chicken Soup for the Soul books every year. We invite you to contribute a story to one of these future volumes.
Stories may be up to 1,200 words and must uplift or inspire. You may submit an original piece or something you clip out of the local newspaper, a magazine, a church bulletin or a company newsletter. It could also be your favorite quotation you've put on your refrigerator door or a personal experience that has touched you deeply.
In addition to future Servings of Chicken Soup for the Soul, some of the future books we have planned are A 2nd Helping of Chicken Soup for the Woman's Soul, Christian Soul and Teenage Soul as well as Chicken Soup for the . . . Teacher's Soul, Jewish Soul, Pet Lover's Soul, Kid's Soul, Country Soul, Laughing Soul, Grieving Soul, Unsinkable Soul, Divorced Soul and Loving Couple's Soul.
Just send a copy of your stories and other pieces, indicating which edition they are for, to the following address:
Chicken Soup for the (Specify Which Edition) Soul
P.O. Box 30880 Santa Barbara, CA 93130
phone: 805-563-2935 fax: 805-563-2945
To e-mail or visit our Web site:
http://www.chickensoup.com
We will be sure that both you and the author are credited for your submission.
For information about speaking engagements, other books, audiotapes, workshops and training programs, please contact any of the authors directly.
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SOUP KITCHENS FOR THE SOUL
One of the most exciting developments with the Chicken Soup for the Soul book was the impact it had on readers who were welfare recipients, homeless, or incarcerated in prisons. Here is just one excerpt from a letter we received from a prisoner in Billerica House of Corrections in Massachusetts:
I received a copy of Chicken Soup when I attended a ten-week course on alternatives to violence. Since reading this book, my whole perspective as an inmate dealing with other inmates has dramatically changed. I no longer feel violent or hatred toward anyone. My soul has been blessed with these wonderful stories. I simply can't thank you enough.
Sincerely,
Phil S.
A teenage girl writes:
I have just finished reading your book, Chicken Soup for the Soul. I feel that I have the power to do anything, after reading it.
You see, I had given up on a lot of my dreams, to travel around the world, to go to college, to marry and to have children, but after reading this book, I
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feel I have the power to do everything and anything. Thanks!!
Erica Lynn P. (age 14)
As a result we have established the Soup Kitchens for the Soul Project. We will be donating thousands of copies of Chicken Soup for the Soul and A 2nd Helping of Chicken Soup for the Soul to men and women in prisons, halfway houses, homeless shelters, battered women shelters, literacy programs, inner city schools and other programs for at-risk adults and teenagers.
We welcome and invite your participation in this project in the following ways. For every $15.95 you contribute, we will send a copy of both Chicken Soup books to a prison, county jail, shelter or other nonprofit agency. We also invite you to submit the names of worthy programs that you think should receive copies of the books.
The program will be administered by the Foundation for Self-Esteem in Culver City, California. Please make your check payable to The Foundation for Self-Esteem and send it to:
Soup Kitchens for the Soul
The Foundation for Self-Esteem
6035 Bristol Parkway
Culver City, CA 90230
We will acknowledge receipt of your contribution and let you know where the books you paid for were sent.
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WHO IS JACK CANFIELD?
Jack Canfield is one of America's leading experts in the development of human potential and personal effectiveness. He is both a dynamic, entertaining speaker and a highly sought-after trainer. Jack has a wonderful ability to inform and inspire audiences toward increased levels of self-esteem and peak performance.
He is the author and narrator of several bestselling audio- and videocassette programs, including Self-Esteem and Peak Performance, How to Build High Self-Esteem, Self-Esteem in the Classroom and Chicken Soup for the SoulLive. He is regularly seen on television shows such as Good Morning America, 20/20 and NBC Nightly News. Jack has coauthored numerous books, including the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, Dare to Win and The Aladdin Factor (all with Mark Victor Hansen), 100 Ways to Build Self-Concept in the Classroom (with Harold C. Wells) and Heart at Work (with Jacqueline Miller).
Jack is a regularly featured speaker for professional associations, school districts, government agencies, churches, hospitals, sales organizations and corporations. His clients have included the American Dental Association, the American Management Association, AT&T, Campbell Soup, Clairol, Domino's Pizza, GE, ITT, Hartford Insurance, Johnson & Johnson, the Million Dollar Roundtable, NCR, New England Telephone, Re/Max, Scott Paper, TRW and Virgin Records. Jack is also on the faculty of Income Builders International, a school for entrepreneurs.
Jack conducts an annual eight-day Training of Trainers program in the areas of self-esteem and peak performance. It attracts educators, counselors, parenting trainers, corporate trainers, professional speakers, ministers and others interested in developing their speaking and seminar-leading skills.
For further information about Jack's books, tapes and training programs, or to schedule him for a presentation, please contact:
The Canfield Training Group
P.O. Box 30880 Santa Barbara, CA 93130
phone: 805-563-2935 fax: 805-563-2945
To e-mail or visit our Web site:
http://www.chickensoup.com
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WHO IS MARK VICTOR HANSEN?
Mark Victor Hansen is a professional speaker who, in the last twenty years, has made over four-thousand presentations to more than 2 million people in thirty-two countries. His presentations cover sales excellence and strategies; personal empowerment and development; and how to triple your income and double your time off.
Mark has spent a lifetime dedicated to his mission of making a profound and positive difference in people's lives. Throughout his career, he has inspired hundreds of thousands of people to create a more powerful and purposeful future for themselves while stimulating the sale of billions of dollars worth of goods and services.
Mark is a prolific writer and has authored Future Diary, How to Achieve Total Prosperity and The Miracle of Tithing. He is coauthor of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, Dare to Win and The Aladdin Factor (all with Jack Canfield) and The Master Motivator (with Joe Batten).
Mark has also produced a complete library of personal empowerment audio- and videocassette programs that have enabled his listeners to recognize and use their innate abilities in their business and personal lives. His message has made him a popular television and radio personality, with appearances on ABC, NBC, CBS, HBO, PBS and CNN. He has also appeared on the cover of numerous magazines, including Su
ccess, Entrepreneur and Changes.
Mark is a big man with a heart and spirit to matchan inspiration to all who seek to better themselves.
For further information about Mark write:
P.O. Box 7665
Newport Beach, CA 92658
phone: 714-759-9304 or 800-433-2314
fax: 714-722-6912
Web site:
http://www.chickensoup.com
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CONTRIBUTORS
Many of the stories in this book were taken from books we have read. These sources are listed in the Acknowledgments section. Some of the stories and poems were contributed by friends of ours, who, like us, are professional speakers. If you would like to contact them for information on their books, tapes and seminars, you can reach them at the addresses and phone numbers provided below.
Many of the stories were also contributed by readers like yourself, who, after reading the first volume of Chicken Soup for the Soul, were inspired to submit a story out of their life's experience. We have included information about them as well.
Raymond L. Aaron is a captivating speaker in the fields of real estate, business and motivation. A household name across Canada and an entry in the prestigious Canadian Who's Who, Mr. Aaron has helped tens of thousands of fellow Canadians dramatically increase their wealth through creative purchases of real estate. To attend his courses or purchase his various motivational audiotapes, write The Raymond Aaron Group at 9225 Leslie Street, #2, Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada L4B 3H6 or fax at (905) 881-8996.
Steve Andreas has been a searcher and wanderer most of his life. As part of this continuing journey, he has been a learner, teacher, therapist, author, publisher, husband and parent.
Ralph Archbold has been speaking since 1983 in an award-winning portrayal of Benjamin Franklin for corporate and convention groups. For information about the topics he addresses, contact him at Ben Franklin, PO Box 40178, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Call 215-238-0871 or fax 215-238-9102.
Ken Blanchard, Ph.D., is chairman of Blanchard Training and Development, a full-service management consulting and training company. He is the author of numerous books, including the all-time bestseller The One Minute Manager. A sought-after speaker and business consultant, he can be reached at Blanchard Training and Development, 125 State Place, Escondido, CA 92029. Call 1-800-728-6000.
Harold H. Bloomfield, M.D., is one of the leading psychological educators of our time. He has written numerous books, including How to Survive The Loss of a Love, Making Peace with Your Parents, Making Peace with Yourself, How to Heal Depression and The Power of Five. He is also a sought-after keynote speaker. For further information, please contact him at 1110 Luneta Drive, Del Mar, CA 92014. Call 619-481-9950 or fax 619-792-2333.
Lisa Boyd resides in Del Mar, California, with her husband and two children. She is very active in various volunteer activities and enjoys craft-work and writing poetry. Lisa can be reached by writing P.O. Box 2070, Del Mar, California 92014 or by calling (619) 755-2120. Fax (619) 755-9242.
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Mike Buettell a highly respected junior high school counselor in Irvine, California. Partially disabled, he is a living inspiration to his students that courage, perseverance, and a sense of humor can overcome any obstacle. He can be reached at Rancho Middle School, 4861 Michelson, Irvine, CA 92715. Call 714-786-3005.
Ben Burton is a humorist, speaker and writer residing in Hot Springs, Arkansas. The Matyrdom of Andy is excerpted from Ben Burton's new book, The Chicken That Won a Dogfight. He can be reached at 10 Queens Row, Hot Springs, AR 71901. Call 501-623-6496.
Bruce Carmichael spent his early years on a family farm in northern Missouri. He received his degree at Northwest Missouri State University, was a decorated fighter pilot in WW II, a high school principal, and later earned degrees in both medicine and chiropractic. He is now practicing chiropractic in the Missouri Ozarks.
John Catenacci is just another being of the human type, dancing through life with his Army boots on. A practicing chemical engineer, he is also a community and environmental activist, published writer and an organizational development/team-building consultant. He can be reached at 1355 S. Winter St. Apt A-4, Adrian, MI 49221. Call 517-265-6138 (day).
Dan Clark is the International Ambassador of the "Art of Being Alive." He has spoken to over 2 million people in all fifty states, Canada, Europe, Asia and Russia. Dan is an actor, songwriter, recording artist, video producer and award-winning athlete. He is the well-known author of six books, including Getting HighHow to Really Do It, One Minute Messages and The Art of Being Alive. He can be reached at P.O. Box 8689, Salt Lake City, UT 84108 or call 801-485-5755.
Charles A. Coonradt is the author of The Game of Work and Managing the Obvious. Both books are referred to as management "must reads." His company, The Came of Work, Inc., has been improving productivity and profitability for its clients since 1973. He is recognized as an author, speaker and consultant. He can be reached at 1912 Sidewinder Drive, Suite 201, Park City, UT 84060. Call 800-438-6074.
Stan Dale, formerly the voice of "The Shadow" and the announcer/narrator of "The Lone Ranger," "Sgt. Preston" and"The Green Hornet'' radio shows, is the Director/Founder of the Human Awareness Institute in San Mateo, CA. He conducts "Sex, Love and Intimacy Workshops" around the world. Stan is the author of Fantasies Can Set You Free and My Child, My Self: How to Raise the Child You Always Wanted to Be. Both books are available from The Human Awareness Institute, 1720 S. Amphlett Blvd., Suite 128, San Mateo, CA 94402. Call 800-800-4117 or 415-571-5524.
Beverly K. Fine was first prize winner of Maryland Poetry Society. She has had essays published in The Sun Magazine, The Anchorage Daily News, and The Baltimore Evening Sun. She also had poems published in Our World's Best Loved Poems, ed. John Campbell. Beverly is a member of Delta Epsilon Sigma, National Scholastic Honor Society, Alpha Delta Chapter, and Honor Society.
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Pam Finger is a workshop facilitator and consultant who specializes in self-esteem and values clarification issues. She is the president of the Rochester chapter of the National Council for Self-Esteem and is president and co-founder of Inner-Trek, a training and consulting organization based in Rochester, New York. She may be contacted through Inner Trek, PO Box 32, Fairport, NY 14450. Call 716-223-0153 or fax 716-223-0147.
Bob Fox, The Old Bluebird, is a newspaper columnist for the Brookville Star in Brookville, Ohio. He led the Brookville High School Bluebirds to a state championship in 1935 and went on to play amateur, semi-pro and minor league baseball. He can be reached by writing PO Box 43, Brookville, OH 45309, or call (513) 833-4396.
Stan Gebhardt is president of CompuQuest Educational Services, a global leader in computer education programs for children and adults. A public speaker, poet and singer, he addresses a variety of audiences and can be reached at 614-888-4900.
H. Stephen Glenn is an internationally acclaimed family psychologist who speaks to over 100,000 people each year. Steve has written numerous books and courses including Raising Self-Reliant Children in a Self-Indulgent World and Positive Discipline in the Classroom as well as several outstanding training series, including Developing Capable People, and Basic Substance Abuse Counseling. He is president of Capabilities, Inc. and can be reached at PO Box 2515, Fair Oaks, CA 95628, or call 916-961-5556.
Ted Goff is a cartoonist in Kansas City. He may be reached at P.O.Box 22679, Kansas City, MO 64113.
D.H. Groberg has lived, worked and presented all over the world; first as director of training for Mobil Oil's international operations, as founding vice-president for international and key facilitator for Stephen Covey's Seven Habits of Highly Effective People; and as independent speaker/presenter/facilitator on such topics as Five Moments of Truth, Values Across Cultures, Inner Productivity and other inspirational/motivational topics. Contact him at 2163 Lorita Way, Sandy, UT 84093. Call 801-943-5529, fax 801-943-3700.
Patty Hansen has her priorities straightbeing Mom is number one. As the other
half of the "Mark/Patty Team," she devotes her time between being Chief Financial Officer and trouble-shooter at M.V. Hansen & Associates, Inc., and full-time driver, caretaker and homework assistant to their two daughters, Elisabeth and Melanie. She also loves to squeeze in some time to garden, raise chickens and play on the beach. She is currently at work on her first book. She can be reached at PO Box 7665, Newport Beach, CA 92658. Call 714-759-9304.
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