Stories By Value

Use the menu below to find stories that are about a particular value.

Achievement Ambition Appreciation Believe Believe In Yourself Caring Character Charity Class And Grace Commitment Common Ground Compassion Compliments Compromise Confidence Courage Courtesy Dedication Determination Devotion Do Your Part Drive Education Encouragement Equality Excellence Foresight Forgiveness Friendship Generosity Giving Back Good Manners Gratitude Hard Work Helping Others Honesty Honor Hope Humility Including Others Ingenuity Innovation Inspiration Integrity Justice Kindness Laughter Leadership Learning Listening Live Life Live Your Dreams Love Loyalty Making A Difference Mentoring Motivation Opportunity Optimism Overcoming Passion Patience Peace Perseverance Persistence Practice Preparation Purpose Reaching Out Respect Responsibility Right Choices Rising Above Sacrifice Sharing Smile Soul Sportsmanship Spread Your Wings Stewardship Strength Teaching By Example Team Work True Beauty Trust Unity Vision Volunteering

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Stories were sent to us in different formats—Audio, video and written. If you’d like to view stories for any of these formats, use the links below.

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Your Inspirational Stories

These stories were written by people like you. Read how their lives were changed for the better by adopting positive values. Be inspired by them.

The following stories have been tagged with ‘Optimism’

Making the Best of What You've Been Dealt

As a young child my Aunt Jane has always been a hero of mine. She grew up in a poor household with my father and 4 other children who were raised by my widowed grandmother. Jane was married and raised 2 boys named Devin and Darin. After her divorce from Devin and Darin’s father, she married a man named Mark…

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Mom

When I was younger I watched my mom battle cancer. I saw the fight she put up. She was constantly struggling with exhaustion and the stressful side effects of chemotherapy. Even though she had to handle all this, my mom somehow kept a smile on her face the whole time. Her positive attitude and warrior's mentality was what kept my…

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By George, we did it.

Sometimes, people tell me I'm weird. No one truly knows just how upset it makes me feel. I cry so much. But when I wake up, I look up at my ceiling, and a rush of happiness pumps through my veins... the "By George, we did it." poster is prominently staring down at me. I am so grateful to values.com…

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My Issues are Nothing

My name is Christopher, and for 10 years I've been a member of the children's service club called Optimist International. I will become the volunteer Governor of the Illinois District in October, and hope that my leadership will increase the Illinois membership. In July, Illinois Optimists spend a day at a camp in Lake Bloomington for children undergoing cancer treatment.…

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The Gift

Rose-colored glasses get a bad name. Whenever I hear someone accused of having rose-colored glasses it usually means they are unrealistically optimistic or ignoring reality. Maybe. But I believe everyone needs a pair of rose-colored glasses. When I was young I got a pair from my brothers, who are my heroes. The 'glasses' they gave me have been a gift…

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Paying it Forward

One summer I was really having a tough time. My husband had left me, I was broke, and diagnosed with a serious medical condition. While I had a job, I was barely making ends meet and I didn't have enough to get the prescription I needed filled. I decided to attend a women's meeting and when we broke into small…

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Joy in Everyday Life

My name is Drew. I just happen to be a female who, as my parent's 5th child, was the destined one to be named after a great uncle :) I am 53 years old, married and the mother of an 18 year old daughter. I love the Lord, my family, friends, and am a free spirit. Four years ago following…

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Scout Spirit

It was a cold Boy Scout Klondike weekend. The night before had been twenty degrees below zero and a lot of the troops didn't come out. Needless to say the ones that did come were moving around a lot to keep warm. There was a series of games and competitions to participate in including things like First Aid, shelter building…

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Life Is Love

Life, most people say, is fleeting. It flies right by us and we barely even notice until something horrible happens. My name is Bec and I am sixteen. August 3rd was the fourth anniversary of my mother's death. It all started on January sixth of 2004 when my mother was checked into the hospital. I was scared; a rock settled…

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The Love of a Brother

I was born in a secluded village on a mountain. Day after day, my parents plowed the yellow dry soil with their backs towards the sky. One day, I wanted to buy a handkerchief, which all girls around me seemed to have. So, one day I stole 50 cents from my father's drawer. Father discovered about the stolen money right…

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