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January 9, 2009As a kid, I overheard my older brothers using the word “nifty” when referring to a cool car or a great suit. It was a word that meant a variety of things, all of them good and attractive. As time passed, I heard the word used in a wider range of conversations, including nifty evenings out, nifty concerts, and nifty songs. Later still, it cropped up in conversations about more “cultural” experiences: nifty books, nifty poems, and nifty stories. Priceless humor.
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, I hit the books when a listener said my stories were nifty. The current Wiktionary defines the word as “good; a general term for anything that is good, useful or beneficial.” 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!” Learn More..
What makes nifty stories nifty? The stories I tell always have a message, a lesson, a bit of perspective, and they are, indeed, particularly good and rather effective at making their point. You could say that my idea of stories that are nifty are ones that entertain as well as enlighten. I look for stories with certain underlying values that help the listener to set their internal compass when sailing through life.
Nifty stories edify. Nifty stories are memorable. Nifty stories carry a message that applies to all people. Nifty stories are always “stylish,” regardless of the era that spawned them. These stories are naturally very attractive. Stories that are nifty are stories that are priceless!” Check out my website at www.JayStetzer.com for some nifty stories! Stories for children
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This kind of story is generally attractive to a wider audience. The subtler lessons tend to come from longer tales. Epic stories have many layered lessons Just compare a tale from the Arabian Nights to a fable by Aesop to see the difference. Which one do you prefer to hear? My personal penchant is for finding my own lessons when I listen to a story. The stories I chose for my Fables in Four Minutes and World Full of Stories CDs are good examples of nifty stories with subtle messages.
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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? Here is the place for inspirational stories. A listener can mull over inspirational stories. They give us something to consider. Something that helps us to find our personal “true north.
The subtler lessons tend to come from longer tales. One can learn many lessons from epic stories. Think of the difference between an Aesop fable and a tale from the Arabian Nights. Which one do you prefer to hear? Personally, I like to find my own message when listening 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.
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Art Buchwald. Mark Russell. Russell Baker. Check out the humorists of history. Moliere.
That is where laughter comes in. Humor makes a hard message a bit easier to swallow. Witty humor is priceless humor. A unique combination.
As you know, laughter lightens the heart.
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Generally world stories teach. All world stories entertain.
No matter what, all world stories maintain a deep bond with the fabric of their culture. The experiences of people are drawn in world stories. And in distant worlds they still have meaning.
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These stories always bring gales of laughter when they are told. Check out “Rock Soup” or “Herschel in the Woods” from my CD Fables in Four Minutes. My CD World Full of Stories has many examples a listener can enjoy. These are just a few examples of priceless humor. You will find yourself remembering these stories for a very long time.
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.
com. Go to the “Listen” page on the site and you will surely discover a number of stories with relevant messages. Two good examples of inspirational stories are “The Egg Seller” and “Herschel and the Wedding” from my CD World Full of Stories. From the CD Parking in Manhattan, “Service with a Smile” brings a great message to the listener. I find that inspirational stories stick in the memory long after they are told.
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Any story with a moral at the end sends the listener a clear message. It teaches using a concrete example. On the other hand, many stories are not so obvious in the lessons they offer. The characters may act out the meaning of the story. Listeners are left to figure out the message for themselves.
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Slow down and notice the things around you. Give back to your community. Messages that made me who I am today.
I find myself using stories I heard long ago when I perform today. The stories are ageless.
For centuries as well, life has been a struggle. Wars. Pestilence. Relationship scuffles. All of which beg for some direction, some assistance.
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And without time to reflect, how can we develop insight into the affairs of the day? This is where inspirational stories serve us well. A listener can mull over inspirational stories. They offer something to think about. Something that helps us to find our personal “true north. Something that offers a little perspective to life.
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com you will find a rich source of priceless humor!
When I am out and about, I tune into conversations around me. They are filled with catastrophes and disasters. And the life lessons are generally hidden from view. As a storyteller, my job is to sift through the data and sort out the meaning. Also, I need to inject a bit of humor to make the tale palatable.