Short stories

Throughout the world stories have been told and retold for millennia. In the fabric of culture, they act as vital threads in the weave. In any society they define the roots and significance of the peoples. World stories spread as the culture grows.

One of the great benefits of my travels throughout the world is the wellspring of world stories I have found in each country I have visited. I have also had the opportunity to learn a bit about each country. So the world stories I hear have substantial meaning to me. In the process, I have discovered how world stories arise out of the cultures from which they are born. My firsthand experience of a given culture heightens my appreciation of their stories. I have visited countries in Europe, Central and South America, and Southeast Asia. I find myself amazed at both the differences and similarities of the various countries.

Some world stories are humorous. Other world stories are mysterious. Many world stories are insightful. Often world stories are inscrutable. Generally world stories teach. All world stories keep us amused. More.

Regardless of their intent, all world stories express deep bonds with the fabric of a country and culture. People tell of their experiences through world stories. World stories

Listen to my CD entitled “World Full of Stories” to enjoy the variety found in world stories. It is an award winning journey that will take you around the globe! At www.jaystetzer.com you will find a rich source of world stories! Nifty stories

Over the years, I have spent a good amount of my time researching stories that offer listeners something more than simply a clever plot. They hint at a direction, or perhaps a meaningful message. They might even include a moral. The name of this elusive quality is not all that important. To me, the significance is that the stories I tell have it. They are inspirational stories. Click here..

A listener can chew on the messages of inspirational stories. They can mull it over long after they heard the story. As a result, their internal compass points a bit closer to “true north.”

Go to the “Listen” page of my website. There are a number of story samples where you are liable to find some meaningful direction. I find that inspirational stories stick in the memory long after they’re told. In fact, the inspirational stories I tell even inspire me!

As we travel along the highway of life in this fast moving, complex world, we can all use a little “inner” direction. We can be confounded and dizzy by all its twists and turns. Inspirational stories help keep us on the road. It is like having your very own GPS. There is a wealth of inspirational stories available on all of my recordings. Check them out!

I am always on the lookout for stories that bring something more to listeners than a clever twist of plot. Something that the listener can relate to. Call it a message. Perhaps it gives a hint of direction. There could even be an outright moral. The name one might give to this ephemeral quality is not as important as the fact that the stories I tell actually possess it.

Even when I was growing up, I found myself deeply touched by inspirational stories. I heard similar stories from my mother and my grandfather. Occasionally a teacher would tell a story that meant a great deal to me. I was surprised to find how memorable those stories were. To this day I still remember and follow those messages. Treat others the way you want to be treated. Honesty is the best policy. Slow down and notice the things around you. Community giving is part of community living. I am who I am because of those messages.

I find myself using stories I heard long ago when I perform today. They have an ageless quality. The messages of long ago still have merit in the world today.

Why seek out inspirational stories? For one thing, we experience a deluge of information and news on a daily basis. Next, we live lives that leave no room for reflection. And without time to reflect, how can we develop insight into the affairs of the day? This is where inspirational stories serve us well. Inspirational stories give listeners something to chew on. They give us something to consider. Something that points us a bit closer to our “true north.” Something that gives us perspective.

Care for some inspiration? At www.jaystetzer.com you can find memorable inspirational stories. On the “Listen” page of my website, click any one of the story samples and you are likely to find a message worth your time. Two good examples of inspirational stories are “The Egg Seller” and “Herschel and the Wedding” from my CD World Full of Stories. “Service with a Smile” on my Parking in Manhattan CD offers the listener a great hidden lesson. I find that inspirational stories stick in the memory long after they are told. I am even inspired by the inspirational stories I tell!

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 help keep us on the road. Think of them as your own personal GPS! There’s a wealth of inspirational stories available on all of my recordings. Listen for yourself!

When I was a kid, I often heard the word “nifty” in reference to things like fancy cars and outrageous fashion. It alluded to the uniqueness and stylishness of the subject being described. As I grew older I heard the word being used in a wider range of topics: a nifty song, a nifty concert, a nifty evening out. Later still, it cropped up in conversations about more “cultural” experiences: nifty books, nifty poems, and nifty stories.

The word seemed allusively defined, yet attractively so. Still, I did not really define the word until I found myself using it to refer to the stories I tell to audiences and on recordings. 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. A thesaurus gives synonyms such as “peachy, smashing, dandy, great, keen, and groovy,” all of which strike me as exchanging one jargon term for another!”

What was my listener describing when he called my stories “nifty?” The stories I choose to tell are, indeed, particularly good and rather effective at making a point, a lesson, a message, a bit of perspective. You could say that my idea of nifty stories is stories that enlighten as well as entertain. I look for stories with certain underlying values that help the listener to set their internal compass when sailing through life.

For example, a story with a moral is one that provides a clear message. It teaches by example. On the other hand, many stories are not so obvious in the lessons they offer. The meaning is hidden in the actions of the characters. It is up to the listener to decipher the message. And there may be a different message for each listener. This kind of story is generally attractive to a wider audience. The subtler lessons tend to come from longer tales. One can learn many lessons from epic stories. Just compare a tale from the Arabian Nights to a fable by Aesop to see the difference. Which one appeals to you? My personal penchant is for finding my own lessons when I listen to a story. Check out my World Full of Stories and Fables in Four Minutes CDs for some examples of nifty stories with more subtle lessons.

Nifty stories are stories that teach. Nifty stories are memorable. Nifty stories carry a message that applies to all people. Nifty stories are always in vogue. These stories are naturally very attractive. Nifty stories are worth their weight in gold!