Home » Posts tagged 'Inspiring Stories'

Tag Archives: Inspiring Stories

Be Inspired By Stories Of Giving

Posted on by | Leave a comment

We associate the Christmas season with giving and the opportunity to help others enjoy the holidays. Whether it’s our own family and friends, neighbors, others in need to, or giving of our time for service, the joy of giving seems to grow as bright as the twinkling lights that sprinkle the season.

So as we round the corner to Thanksgiving, with Christmas on it’s way, here are two different, but equally inspiring stories of others passion for giving…

For the complete article and links to the stories, please visit my column at Examiner.com
http://www.examiner.com/inspiration-in-seattle/nadia-riell
.

 

Inspiring Stories of Amazing Teens

Posted on by | Leave a comment

There have been several stories circulating recently that give us all a fresh look at courage, determination and the power of choice. Life after all, is a series of daily, weekly, monthly, yearly choices all strung together, and put out into our lives and the world to see what will be made of them.

For the complete article, visit my column at Examiner.com
http://www.examiner.com/inspiration-in-seattle/nadia-riell
.

Enjoy!

Be Inspired By Stories

Posted on by | Leave a comment

Around the water cooler, on the subway or the carpool ride, in classrooms, work rooms and living rooms, stories are told day and night. From loud boisterous laughs to quiet hush-hush voices, from solitary emails to movie screens around the world, stories of life weave into the fabric of all our lives.

In fact the very point of this website is to feature stories of the inspiring kind, which makes it a perfect place to showcase the art of storytelling.  In that, it’s a also a welcome opportunity to promote storytelling festivals, where the age-old rituals of story-telling are celebrated, enjoyed and given recognition they deserve.  After all, storytelling probably goes back as far as humans do, and there is much evidence that points to such an assumption.

Relics of words and languages have been found carved in stone or wood from ancient civilizations, and stories written on pieces of parchment have inspired science and history research for thousands of years. Today story telling is celebrated in many diverse and popular festivals such as Powell’s Wood Festival, which is held just outside Seattle and was featured in the CBS News story found at the link below.  Another well-known festival is The Moth, which often attracts those in the 20-30 something age group, as well as those willing to expect a wide variety of story themes.

Wherever they are found, storytelling festivals offer masters of spoken word, as well as written word and can inspire imagination, creation and good, old-fashioned communication in young, old and all in between.

For my Examiner.com column and CBS video story, click on the link below


http://www.examiner.com/article/be-inspired-by-stories

For the CBS video story directly, click on the link below,


http://www.cbsnews.com/video/storytelling/festivals/keep/tradition/alive

Enjoy!

Tough Mudders are inspired to get down and dirty for sport

Posted on by | Leave a comment

In the lull between the Olympic Games and the Paralympics Games, comes the story of a very different category of competitor. A competitor whose main objective in crossing the finish line, is to beat out a most brutal challenger, themselves.The Tough Mudder competition has followers that are dedicated to levels that take them through the most extreme of elements. Elements that include all manner of climbing heights to crawling lows, the heat of sweat to freezing water and mud baths that would blow away the best of spa treatments.

For more on this story and an amazing video from ABC’s Nightline, check out my column on Examiner.com,
http://www.examiner.com/article/tough-mudders-are-inspired-to-get-down-and-dirty
.

Re-post of an Inspired Love Story

Posted on by | Leave a comment

This story got a lot of hits on my Examiner column, so I’m re-posting it here. It’s a story one could say, has been standing the test of time, and can inspire all of us to reach for the depths of our love for others…enjoy!

*British Farmer Winston Howes and his wife Janet had been married 33 years when she passed away from heart complications 17 years ago. Devastated and wanting to do something to honor his wife, Mr. Howes said he was inspired to create the six acre, heart-shaped field that graces his Gloucestershire countryside farm. Planting thousands of sapling oaks with an interior hedge that shapes the inner field into a heart, a bench rests on one side. Mr. Howes says he visits the field, sitting on the bench to spend time and think.

This special place was a family secret until recently, when a passing balloonist viewed the amazing field stretched out below him.Now the world has the opportunity to discover this inspired story, and see the beautiful symbol of love that grows fuller with each passing year.

For an ariel video of the field visit the following link from MSNBC:
http://video.msnbc.msn.com/nightly-news/farmer’s-secret-tribute/

For more written about the story, visit the following link from CBS News:

http://www.cbsnews.com/widowers-secret-tribute-to-wife-spied-from-above/

Spencer West Makes an Inspiring Mountain Climb on His Hands

Posted on by | Leave a comment

Spencer West could certainly be considered a man with a mission; a mission that inspires others to challenge themselves in making the most of life.

Mr. West knows what it’s like to face challenges. At age 5 he lost his legs, but the support and  encouragement of family and friends, and steadfast determination has now propelled him to mountain heights, quite literally.

Accompanied by friends, 31-year-old West recently completed an eight-day climb to the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Kenya, on his hands.  In an interview for ABC News, Mr. West talks about making most of the journey on his hands, some in his chair, and at times, even on the backs of his friends.

For the ABC video clip of Spencer West’s interview, with an additional story about his life and journey written by Nick Schifrin, visit the following link:


http://abcnews.go.com/International/man-climbs-mt-kilimanjaro-hands/story
.

For the complete article, visit my column at Examiner.com
http://www.examiner.com/inspiration-in-seattle/nadia-riell
.

 

 

Be Inspired By the Difference a Day Can Make

Posted on by | 1 Comment

This is a recent and well liked post from my Examiner column. Even though the story subject  is older news, I hope you’ll find a timeless message within. Enjoy*

In following up my Triple Crown story from a few weeks ago, I wanted to find a fresh angle from what’s been in the news since the Belmont Stakes on Saturday.  After all, anyone following the story already knows the big moments from days ago. So is there a story within the story, and I realized there truly is one. A story for this time and these horses and all people is one of “the difference a day can make”.

One week ago the owners, trainers, crew and entourage of I’ll Have Another were poised for history with a Triple Crown win; while those from the camp of Union Rags had been forced to shake off a crushing defeat and disappointing slip from grace as a favorite to win the Triple Crown.

Yet in came Thursday, and a first notice of a slight leg issue for I’ll Have Another.  A new jockey and fresh rest had been given Union Rags, with an owner, trainer and supporters who believed their horse’s place in history thus far was more from misfortune than mistaken promise.

Then arrives Friday and I’ll Have Another is scratched from the race and put into retirement from his developing leg injury. His legacy is now open to a whole new beginning through his offspring, while Triple Crown hopes and history have been left to be won by another horse, another year. Disappointment and hope may have been birthed at the same time, but eventually anticipation overshadowed the field of horses for the Belmont Stakes as they prepared to make their walk to claim the history that is waiting.

On Saturday bells rang, gates opened, and horses thundered down the track with Union Rags streaking to the winning finish of the Belmont Stakes, reclaiming the glory it was said had been eluding him all along. While it may have been a bittersweet moment for some, for Union Rags, his owners, trainer, crew and many others, it came to be a day of celebration, accomplishment and recognition that they had continued to believe in and hoped for all along.

So in the end, there is another message surrounding who won and lost the Belmont Stakes and the Triple Crown. The other message we all can learn from for life in general, is that of the truth to the saying “What a difference a day can make.”

So be hopeful and be encouraged and most of all be inspired. For “What a difference a day can make”, is most certainly the truth.

Treehouse gives foster children a childhood and a future

May is National Foster Care Month, a perfect time to spotlight Treehouse, an amazing local organization helping foster children in so many aspects of life.

Located in Seattle, WA, the mission of Treehouse is to give foster kids a childhood and a future. The program was originally started in 1988 as the Children’s Fund by state social workers, who saw a gap between services and successes for foster children. As a group they became committed to raising money and finding ways to provide essential basics that foster kids often face going without. Having grown through the years and a name change, Treehouse currently serves surrounding area foster youth with comprehensive education support services, a free retail store, financial assistance to participate in sports and extra-curricular activities, college prep support, and additional related services.

I spoke with Development Coordinator Lindsay von Marbod to highlight some of the inspiring and life-changing aspects of the Treehouse programs…

For the complete article, visit my column at Examiner.com
http://www.examiner.com/inspiration-in-seattle/nadia-riell
.

Inspiring stories speaking for autism

Posted on by | Leave a comment

April is Autism Awareness month, and an excellent time to highlight the inspiration that can be found in the stories of autistic children and their families.

There is much research being done and individuals making it their life’s work to understand and find connections for autistic children and their families. Below are two incredible stories about youth with autism, and the families and people in their life who are helping them find their successes. These stories are reminders that inspiration can be found in many ways, and through many hopes and dreams.


http://abcnews.go.com/2020/video/autistic-girl-finds-inner-voice


http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/video/hang-10-dude

For the complete article, visit my column at Examiner.com
http://www.examiner.com/inspiration-in-seattle/nadia-riell
.

Man’s best friend is also a co-worker and life saver

Posted on by | Leave a comment

They’ll welcome you home with a lovable greeting that makes you smile. They’ll sit or walk with you for as long as you want and never complain a bit. They will love, protect and stay by your side day in and day out, quite literally in fact. A most treasured companion often called man’s best friend, dogs are also proving to be man’s best co-worker as well.

Because of the amazing discoveries in just how specifically dogs can help people, there are now organizations that specialize in training dogs for specific needs. A few of the organizations connecting people with therapy dogs and other therapy animals are Pet Partners, Canine Assistants and Vets Helping Heroes.

One of the most recent stories circulating about service dogs is that of a 3 year old girl and her new best friend, who just so happens to be her service dog.  Enjoy this clip and a few others below featuring inspiring and amazing stories that show dogs can be even more than our best friends, they can be life savers.


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/girl-and-service-dog-best-friends

For the full story and additional related links, please visit my Examiner.com Inspirational column below:


http://www.examiner.com/inspiration-in-seattle/man-s-best-friend-is-also-a-co-worker-and-life-saver-1

Be inspired!