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 Hanson 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 Success, 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 and magazines we have read. These sources are acknowledged in the Permissions 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 two volumes 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.

  Richard R. ("Dick") Abrahamson, Ph.D., is Professor of Literature for Children and Adolescents in the College of Education at the University of Houston. An author of more than 100 articles on children's books and reading motivation, Dr. Abrahamson is the winner of the Education Press Association Award for Excellence in Educational Journalism. He is a frequent consultant to school districts and keynote speaker at conferences dealing with literacy and reading motivation. He can be reached at the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204-5872.

  M. Adams was born in Russia and immigrated to Canada, along with her parents and most of her family, in 1924. She is the mother of sevenone son and six daughters. Her late husband served in both World Wars. She believes in helping others and has done volunteer work at a Veterans Hospital. She lives in Manitoba, where she enjoys the love and support of her family.

  Thea Alexander is the author of 2150 A.D. and Macro Philosophy, which have changed millions of lives, as has her seven-title Macro Study Series. Honored in Marquis Who's Who for her work toward a better world, Thea has lectured internationally, authored a newspaper column and conducted two TV interview series. Educated (Phi Beta Kappa) as a counselor, she invented a new, succinct technique (requiring two to six hours) of assisting people in reaching their potential, called Personal Evolution Tutoring, which she both uses and teaches others to use. She can be reached by writing to P.O. Box 26880, Tempe, AZ 85285-6880 or by calling 602-991-7077, or by fax at 602-991-0766.

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  Robert G. Allen, author of the colossal No. 1 New York Times best-seller, Nothing Down, and Creating Wealth, is one of America's most influential investment advisors. Today, thousands of millionaires attribute their success to Mr. Allen's powerful ideas. He is a popular television and radio guest appearing on such programs as Good Morning America and Larry King. He has been written about in The Wall Street Journal, the Los Angeles Times, Barron's and Reader's Digest, to name just a few. He lives in San Diego with his wife, Daryl, and their three children.

  Beth Ashley is a columnist and feature writer for the Independent Journal in Marin County, California, and is the author of Marin, a book about the area. Her column deals with her job, her family and the complexities of life in the 1990s. Her features are often profiles of the many interesting and accomplished individuals who live where she works, across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco. A 21-year veteran of the Independent Journal, Ashley has also worked in Paris, Berlin, Moscow and Beijing. You can contact her at 348 Bretano Way, Greenbrae, CA 94904, (phone 415-461-2383); or at her place of work, Independent Journal, Box 6150, Novato, CA 94958 (phone 415-382-7281).

  Art E. Berg is president of Invictus Communications, Inc. and resides in Highland, Utah. He is a professional speaker, traveling 200,000 miles per year, and has been heard by more than one million people. Art has written two books, Some Miracles Take Time and Finding Peace in Troubled Waters. For further information about Art Berg, write Invictus Communications, Inc., P.O. Box 246, Highland, UT 84003 (fax 800-400-0084; e-mail: [email protected] or call 800-ART-BERG).

  Fr. Brian Cavanaugh, TOR, began collecting quotations, anecdotes and stories as a form of journal-writing therapy. Over the years he has compiled more than 40 handwritten journals. Drawing upon this collection, he writes Apple Seeds, a monthly quote letter of motivation and inspiration. These journals have also resulted in four books published by Paulist Press: The Sower's Seeds: One Hundred Inspiring Stories for Preaching, Teaching and Public Speaking; More Sower's Seeds: Second Planting; Fresh Packet of Sower' s Seeds: Third Planting and Sower' s Seeds Aplenty: Fourth Planting. Fr. Brian is a storytelling motivational/inspirational lecturer. Fr. Brian can be contacted at Franciscan University, Steubenville, OH 43952.

  Alan Cohen brings a profoundly endearing energy to spiritual awakening. Author of 10 popular inspirational books, including the classic The Dragon Doesn't Live Here Anymore and his recent bestseller, I Had It All the Time, Alan offers powerful insights on applying spiritual principles to practical living. Alan's syndicated column, From the Heart, appears in new thought magazines internationally. Described by Celestine Prophecy author James Redfield as "the most eloquent spokesman of the heart," Alan embodies a rare combination of wisdom, humor, intimacy and vision. Alan can be contacted at 430 Kukuna Road, Haiku, HI 96708. Phone 808-572-0001, fax 808-572-1023, e-mail [email protected]

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  James E. Conner, Ed.D., is president of Possibilities Unlimited. After a lively career as teacher, principal, college professor and college president, curriculum specialist, Senior Associate for Education with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, columnist for a national educational journal, and governor's speech writer, he is currently freelance and ghost-writing. His chief areas of interest are ways that American schools can achieve real breakthroughs in learning achievement, and enriching readers with articles and stories about triumphs of the human spirit. He can be contacted at 45
05 Leaf Court, Raleigh, NC 27612. Call 919-782-0069.

  Valerie Cox is the author of Valerie's Verse, a collection of original, humorous and inspirational poems, prose and limericks. She is currently working on a second book, Hugs and Other Works of Heart. Valerie and her husband, Rich, conduct marketing and business training seminars. She also enjoys song-leading with two nursing home ministry teams. Valerie can be reached at 31849 Pacific Hwy. South, Suite 210, Federal Way, WA 98003 or call 206-781-7317.

  Kathi M. Curry has a degree in Recreation Administration from Chico State in Chico, California. She will be fulfilling her lifelong dream on April 15, 1996, by being a part of the 100th run of the Boston Marathon. Kathi has relocated from Hawaii to Pleasant Hill, California.

  Beth Dalton is a third-grade teacher in Cookeville, Tennessee. She has a husband, two sons (Ryan, age 15, and Billy, age 11) and one special angel, Tanner. Beth received a B.S. in business from Tennessee Tech University in 1982 and went back to school in 1990 to get her master's and certification in K-3 education. She has been lucky to be a teacher at the new Cane Creek Elementary School that opened August of 1995. Beth can be reached at 1150 Winterhill, Cookeville, TN 38501.

  Dr. John F. Demartini is a researcher, writer and philosopher whose studies have made him a leading expert on personal development, philosophy and health. He has an inherent ability to trailblaze, motivate and enthuse his audiences with gentle, fun, informative lectures that mingle entertaining stories with transformational wisdom and insights. Dr. Demartini works as an advisor to people from all walks of life, from Wall Street financiers and health professionals to politicians, Hollywood stars and sports personalities.

  Stan Frager is a professional motivational speaker who has given wonderful talks to high school students, parents and corporations. He is the author of The Champion Within You. He can be reached at Frager Associates, 3906 Dupont Square South, Louisville, KY 40207 or by calling 502-893-6654.

  Robert Gass, Ed.D., synthesizes a diverse background in humanistic psychology, business, social activism, music, work with the terminally ill and spiritual study. He is the creator of the well-known Opening the Heart workshops. Over 100,000 people have participated in seminars with Robert on leadership, healing, personal effectiveness, relationships and spirituality. As an organizational consultant, Robert has worked at the most senior levels in

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  Fortune 500 corporations, as well as with government agencies such as the EPA, and non-profit and activist groups. A recording artist, composer, instrumentalist and singer, he has released 20 albums of transformational music with his group On Wings of Song. Robert shares a rewarding and loving family life with his wife, Judith, and their three children in Boulder, Colorado.

  Lynne C. Gaul volunteers full-time as chauffeur, coach, financial advisor, engineer, nurse and CEO for the Gaul family (alias ''Mom"). She grew up in Curwensville, Pennsyl`vania, earned a bachelor's degree in English Communications at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and currently enjoys life with her husband, Tom, and two boys, Joshua and Stephen, in Lancaster, Ohio.

  Barbara A. Glanz is an internationally known author, speaker and consultant specializing in the areas of creative communication, building customer loyalty and regenerating the spirit in the workplace. She is president of Barbara Glanz Communications and author of The Creative Communicator399 Tools to Communicate Commitment without Boring People to Death! and Building Customer LoyaltyHow YOU Can Help Keep Customers Returning. Her latest book is C.A.R.E. Packages for the WorkplaceDozens of Little Things You Can Do to Regenerate Spirit at Work, published by McGraw-Hill. For more information, write to her at 4047 Howard Avenue, Western Springs, IL 60558, or call her at 708-246-8594, or fax 708-246-5123.

  Patty Hansen has her priorities straightbeing Mom is number one. As the other half of the "Mark/Patty Team," she divides her time between being chief financial officer and troubleshooter 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 711 W. 17th Street. #D2, Costa Mesa, CA 92627. Call 714759-9304 or from outside California, 800-433-2314.

  Casey Hawley leads seminars on Powerful Business Writing for Georgia Pacific, Equifax and other top companies. She is also one of the nation's top writers of winning sales proposals, business plans and other highly visible documents. Her Marietta, Georgia, company has just launched a moving and powerful seminar, Friendship, Change and Triumph. The seminar touches people with its heartfelt stories, humor and encouragement as it explores the asset of friendship throughout a corporate career. Casey reveals eye-opening research about the link between friendship and coping with change, absenteeism, corporate climate and productivity. You can call her at 770-419-7260.

  Cindy Dee Holms has a double master's degree in education and is a professional speaker, trainer and consultant who has given dynamic AIDS education workshops to thousands of students, teachers and parents. Fifteen years ago, in addition to working as a biology teacher, school counselor and mother of two, Cindy began assisting her physician husband in patient health care. She

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  began presenting programs on disease prevention with a particular commitment to the pediatric AIDS cause. Cindy currently works for the Delaware County Intermediate Unit in Media, Pennsylvania, where she is an AIDS specialist and coordinator of drug and alcohol education. She has recently written an uplifting children's story about AIDS entitled "Red Balloons Go to Heaven." She can be reached at 2709 Stoney Creek Road, Broomall, PA 19008.

  Janice Hunt has been an educational psychologist in California and Hawaii for the past 20 years. Her artistic endeavors, which include watercolors and drawings, have brought her national recognition. Inspired by her son, Court, and his friend, Wesley, "Don't Worry, It'll Be Alright" is her first published writing. Janice can be reached at Orange Unified School District. Call 714-997-6314.

  D. Trinidad Hunt is an international trainer, keynote speaker, author and educator. Over the last three years, she has trained over 40,000 children via a humorous self-esteem program that she wrote and co-produced with entertainer Frank Delima for the Hawaii state school system. Her newest book is Operator's Manual for Planet Earth (Hyperion Press). Her award-winning book, Learning to Learn: Maximizing Your Performance Potential, as well as her other books and tapes are available by calling 800-707-3526, or fax 808-239-2482.

  Claudette Hunter attended her first self-esteem seminar 10 years ago. The principles she learned changed her life. She worked with Jack Canfield for five years, assisting at his seminars. By asking, affirming and taking action, she also found the "love of her life" and is on a worldwide adventure with her husband, Jim. Currently she facilitates Canfield's STAR Workshops in Saudi Arabia, her home the last three years. Her next goal is STAR in Japan.

  Michael Jeffreys is a motivational speaker and the author of four books, including Selling with Magic, Speaking with Magic and his latest, Success Secrets of the Motivational Superstars. In it, he interviewed the top 24 motivational speakers in the country, including Anthony Robbins, Zig Ziglar, Wayne Dyer, Barbara De Angelis, Brian Tracy, Denis Waitley, Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen. Michael can be reached at Powerful Magic Publishing, 1516 Purdue Avenue #7, Los Angeles, CA 90025, or by calling 310-473-6291.

  Rud Kendall was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Rud spent many years trucking throughout Canada's rugged northern territories. He also worked as an oilfield roughneck, a miner, a pipeliner and on various heavy construction projects, as well as serving in the Royal Canadian Navy as a boatswain's mate. After working as a newspaper reporter in Dawson Creek, B.C. (Mile 0 of the famous Alaska Highway), he became a freelance writer. Today he is the owner of a small communications company in Langley, B.C.

  Casey Kokoska lives in Rosenberg, Texas. Although she is only 16, she has written several stories. Her pastimes are
writing and performing. She has won several awards and a scholarship for her prose interpretations at speech and debating contests. She hopes to major in theater and is writing her first novel. Her goal is to become a bestselling writer and an actress.

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  Kathy Lamancusa is a dynamic professional speaker, author and television personality. She travels nationally and internationally each year, creatively touching the lives of her audiences. Her topics include family lifestyle, creativity and creative skills. Over 1 million copies of her books and videos have been sold throughout the world. Kathy has a column in several national and international consumer magazines. Her show, Kathy Lamancusa's at Home with Flowers, appears on PBS stations around the country. You can contact her at Lamancusa Live! Kathy Lamancusa, P.O. Box 2717CHX, North Canton, OH 44720, or call 216-494-7224, or fax 216-494-2918.