Chicken Soup Unsinkable Soul Read online

  Erik Weihenmayer

  228

  Ode to the Champions

  Tom Krause

  234

  Ask Creatively

  The Best of Bits & Pieces

  236

  Never Say Quit

  Bob Hoppenstedt

  238

  Struggle and Victory

  Lila Jones Cathey

  244

  Mothers of Disabled Children

  Erma Bombeck

  250

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  7. On Attitude

  Third-Place Winner

  Bettie B. Youngs

  254

  Challenger Baseball

  Darrell J. Burnett

  257

  Don't Worry, Be Happy

  Mindy Pollack-Fusi

  260

  The Wake

  Melva Haggar Dye

  266

  The Power of Forgiveness

  Chris Carrier

  270

  Happy Birthday

  Willanne Ackerman

  273

  Manners

  Paul Karrer

  277

  Born to Live, Born to Love

  Eileen Goltz

  279

  Table Manners

  Adele Frances

  282

  Mirror, Mirror on the Wall

  Karen Klosterman

  286

  8. A Matter of Perspective

  Big Willy

  Nancy Bouchard

  290

  Just Playing

  Anita Wadley

  292

  The Cracked Pot

  Willy McNamara

  294

  A Flight of Geese

  Fred Lloyd Cochran

  297

  Sledding

  Robin L. Silverman

  299

  The Hill

  Betty J. Reid

  302

  The Halfway Point

  Dennis J. Alexander

  304

  I Talk to Me

  Phil Colburn

  308

  Obstacle Illusions

  Heidi Marotz

  310

  My New Set of Wheels

  Darlene Uggen

  313

  What Should I Fear?

  David L. Weatherford

  315

  9. Eclectic Wisdom

  What's Wrong with Your Dad?

  Carol Darnell

  318

  Cyclops Stole Our Hearts

  Penny Porter

  321

  An Act of Faith

  Walter W. Meade

  326

  Benny's Balloon

  Michael Cody

  331

  One, Two, Three

  Henry Cuyler Bunner

  333

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  Mother's Hands

  Janie Emaus

  335

  The Game

  Christa Holder Ocker

  339

  Hussy Sunsets

  Milly VanDerpool

  343

  Two Brothers

  Willianne Ackerman

  347

  At Wit's End

  Erma Bombeck

  349

  More Chicken Soup?

  351

  Supporting Others

  352

  Who Is Jack Canfield?

  354

  Who Is Mark Victor Hansen?

  355

  Who Is Heather McNamara?

  356

  Contributors

  357

  Permissions (continued)

  368

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  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  Chicken Soup for the Unsinkable Soul took more than three years to write, compile and edit. It has been a joyousthough often difficulttask, and we wish to thank the following people whose contributions have made it possible.

  Our life partners, Inga, Patty and Rick, and our children, Christopher, Oran, Kyle, Elisabeth and Melanie, who have supported us for months through the process of compiling this book.

  Georgia Noble, for being such a beautiful person and for sharing your heart with us.

  Patty Aubery, who was always there when we needed her, as well as for keeping the whole Chicken Soup for the Soul central office up and running in the middle of what always feels like a tornado of activity.

  Nancy Autio, our friend, thank you for your invaluable feedback and for your impeccable job researching and obtaining permissions.

  Katy McNamara-Abatemarco, who read many of the stories, and who thought up the title that best befits the stories included in this book.

  Cristi Leahs, who did an extraordinary job reading and researching stories. We deeply appreciate your support, your friendship and your loving attention to this project.

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  Leslie Forbes, for an outstanding job starting the permission process and assisting whenever and wherever needed. D'ette Corona, a new addition at Chicken Soup Enterprises, for diving in at the end of this project and doing what she could to help.

  Peter Vegso at Health Communications, Inc., for his continuing vision of the direction and value of Chicken Soup books, and for his unflagging support in getting these stories out to people all over the world.

  Veronica Valenzuela, Robin Yerian, Lisa Williams, Laurie Hartman and Deborah Hatchell for working to make sure everything ran smoothly during the production of this book.

  Rosalie Miller, who kept all of the communication flowing efficiently throughout this project, all while triumphing over her own obstacles.

  Teresa Esparza, who brilliantly coordinated all of Jack's speaking, travel and radio and television appearances during this time.

  Christine Belleris, Matthew Diener, Lisa Drucker and Allison Janse, our editors at Health Communications, Inc., for bringing this book to its high state of excellence. You bring such value to the Chicken Soup series. You also never falter in the support department; we thank you for that.

  Erica and Maryanne Orloff, Ann Reeves and Eric Wing for their brilliant edits and input on the stories in this book.

  Randee Feldman, Chicken Soup for the Soul manager at Health Communications, Inc., for her masterful coordination and support of all the Chicken Soup projects.

  Terry Burke and the sales team, Kelly Maragni and the marketing team at Health Communications, Inc., for their wonderful sales and marketing efforts.

  Lisa Camp at Health Communications, Inc., for working with us so patiently and cooperatively on the cover design of this book. And Lawna Oldfield and Dawn Grove for

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  their skillful typesetting of the book.

  We also want to thank the following people who completed the monumental task of reading the preliminary manuscript of the book, helped us make the final selections, and made invaluable comments on how to improve the book: Tamy Aberson, Willanne Ackerman, Jerry Acuña, Fred Angelis, Nancy Autio, Christine Belleris, Bonnie Block, Nora Bridges, Julie Brookhart, Dave and Marsha Carruthers, Diana Chapman, Linda Rohland Day, Mary Jane West Delgado, Eldon Edwards, Nancy Richard Guilford, Elinor Hall Sandra Hutchins, Allison Janse, Bettie Kapiloff, Robin Kotok, Tom Krause, Lillian Lamb, Cristi Leahs, Audrey Lohr, Barbara LoMonaco, Robert MacPhee, Danny and Laura McNamara, Joan McVittie, Suzanne Ohler, Judie Sinclair, Milly VanDerpool, Danene Van Hecker and Dottie Walters.

  To the more than five thousand ''Daily Soup" subscribers who answered our call for a title with wonderful suggestions. You all played an integral part in deciding the title of this book!

  Chicken Soup coauthors: Patty and Jeff Aubery, Nancy Autio, Marty Becker, Dan Clark, Tim Clauss, Barbara De Angelis, Mark and Chrissy Donnelly, Irene Dunlap, Patty Hansen, Jennifer Read Hawthorne, Kimberly Kirberger, Carol Kline, Hanoch and Meladee McCarty, Maida Rogerson, Martin Rutte, Marci Shimoff and Barry Spilchuk.

  Larry and Linda Price, who, in addition to keeping Jack's Foundation for Self-Esteem operating smoothly, continue to administrate the Soup Kitchens for t
he Soul project, which distributes thousands of Chicken Soup for the Soul books free each year to prisoners, halfway houses, homeless shelters, battered women's shelters and inner-city schools.

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  To Kim Weiss, who is a pleasure, a great publicist and a great friend. And to Kim's diligent and conscientious staff, Larry Getlen and Ronni O'Brien.

  Rick Frischman at Planned Television Arts and Newmann Communications, who continue to help us keep our books on the bestseller lists.

  Claude Choquette and Tom Sand, who manage year after year to get each of our books translated into more than twenty languages around the world.

  We also wish to thank the more than eight thousand people who took the time to submit stories, poems and other pieces for consideration. You all know who you are. While many of the stories submitted were wonderful, most did not fit into the overall structure of the book. However, many will be used in future volumes of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series.

  Because of the immensity of this project, we may have left out names of some people who helped us along the way. If so, we are sorry. Please know that we really do appreciate all of you.

  We are truly grateful for the many hands and hearts that made this book possible. We love you all!

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  INTRODUCTION

  Unsinkable Soul (un sink a'bel sol *) noun. 1. Person who faces any challenge with hope, humor and heart. See stick-to-it-ness. See perseverance. See pit bull. See also victory.

  Since the first Chicken Soup for the Soul book was released, readers continue to tell us that their favorite chapter is Overcoming Obstacles.

  It's no wonder. We all face obstaclessome are tiny hurdles that may trip us up for a time before we land on our feet; others loom like ominous clouds, sending even the bravest souls in search of shelter. How we handle these situations determines the course of our life; whether we will live with fear and anger or acceptance and joy.

  We compiled Chicken Soup for the Unsinkable Soul to help readers overcome the obstacles in their daily lives, whether they' re dealing with an emotional loss, battling an illness, experiencing the ups and downs of pursuing a lifelong dream, or trying to make themselves a better person.

  From the humorous to the heroic, from the extraordinary to the everyday, each story emphasizes victory in spite of the odds. For instance, you'll share in the triumph of a determined climber who scaled one of the world's most challenging mountains despite being blind; a

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  middle-aged woman who took a chance on a new career and became an award-winning columnist; a little girl with a stuttering problem who found her voice at a school pageant; and a young mother who was suddenly paralyzed but chose to embrace the positive over pity.

  With each turn of the page in chapters like Taking the Challenge and Living Your Dream, you'll find yourself amazed at how others have taken risks and kept their faith even when others told them, "It can't be done!"

  The chapters on Attitude and A Matter of Perspective will show you how to view life through hopeful eyesto see a hurdle as a possible stepping stone to something greatand to appreciate the things you have.

  You'll come to realize the priceless value of unconditional support by reading The Power of Love and The Power of Support. We hope these stories encourage you to reach out to others when you need help and to open your heart to someone who needs a shoulder on which to lean.

  And finally, Eclectic Wisdom proves that many times obstacles are our best teachers: They shine a light on our strengths; remind us of the areas we need to improve; show us to have faith in ourselves; and force us to accept things that are beyond our control.

  We offer this book as a gift to you. We hope you find it an instrument of strength and a constant reminder that you do have the power to achieve your dreams.

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  SHARE WITH US

  We would love to hear your reactions to this book. Please let us know what your favorite stories were and how they affected you. Tell us if you want to see more or less of something in the next book, and please tell us if a story resulted in you changing in any way.

  We also invite you to send us items you would like to see published in future editions of Chicken Soup for the Unsinkable Soul. You can send us stories, poems and cartoons you have written or ones written by others (from the newspaper, newsletters, magazines, bulletin boards, refrigerator, etc.).

  It is our belief that the next book will be even better because so many more of you will know about it and will submit your stories for consideration.

  Write to us and send your submissions to:

  Chicken Soup for the Unsinkable Soul

  P.O. Box 30880-U

  Santa Barbara, CA 93130

  fax: 805-563-2945

  You can also submit a story or send an e-mail by visiting our Web site at: www.chickensoup.com.

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  [Editors' Note: John Callahan's sense of humor is shaped in part by his being a

  quadriplegic, but also by his being an adopted child, having been educated in

  Catholic schools, and being a recovered alcoholic.] Reprinted by permission of

  Levin Represents.

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  1

  TAKING THE CHALLENGE

  A ship in port is safe, but this is not what ships are built for.

  Grace Hopper

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  Growing Roots

  Our strength grows out of our weakness.

  Ralph Waldo Emerson

  When I was growing up, I had an old neighbor named Dr. Gibbs. He didn't look like any doctor I'd ever known. Every time I saw him, he wore denim overalls and a straw hat, the front brim of which was green sunglass plastic. He smiled a lot, a smile that matched his hatold and crinkly and well worn. He never yelled at us for playing in his yard. I remember him as someone who was a lot nicer than circumstances warranted.