Real Life Stories That Inspire!

About the Site

It is generally understood that life's greatest lessons lie within our own personal experiences, which may include witnessing someone else's experience that we identify with in some way. Perhaps it's a shared feeling or a similar moment in time, or maybe it simply stirs something inside us, suggesting what might be possible for ourselves. Potential can be elusive, resting just over the horizon, until we alter our perspective. That new vantage point often lies in our willingness to observe and explore our own actions, thoughts, and behavior, creating a new perspective and the clarity to glimpse our potential for the first time—seeing that it isn't so distant after all.

Could a closer look at those who've found that vantage point inspire others to do the same? Join me for real-life stories of personal growth and transformation. You'll witness the journeys of individuals who've discovered and unlocked a version of themselves that was always there to some degree. Maybe it was suppressed by fear or doubt, a misguided self-image, a deeper issue regarding self-identity, or perhaps even held hostage by others. These accounts of hardship and struggle affect readers in various ways, often stemming from empathy or compassion—signs of growth in their own right—creating an even greater appreciation for the outcome. If such stories can evoke those reactions, then perhaps they can also prompt a closer look at oneself and the suppressed or unseen potential that may lie within.

The parent website, "Cognizant Soma"(Links), was a natural extension of my work. But this site's creation is solely due to client suggestions and my observing the transformative effect of exploring new approaches to habitual patterns and replacing them with ones that better serve. Those stories needed a place to be told, and I hoped to share them here, despite a lack of confidence in my ability to narrate them. I had planned to start comfortably with a client's two-year professional athletic quest I had assisted with. It would have segued beautifully into the story concept planned for the following year, since I had used some of its visual content to inspire that client just hours before he boarded his flight to what would be his breakthrough moment. Sadly, a last-minute decision to cancel that debut left me with only the announcement of a forthcoming story on the site, and nothing to fulfill it other than a story concept and a just-begun outline spanning 16 years. Regardless, I was fully committed to launching the site with that story — the incredible and inspiring journey of a young vocal artist, one that had intertwined with my own several times — and would certainly do so again with the writing of the story. For a closer look at those decisive moments, see the tribute below and paragraph three on the "About Me" page. I'm grateful to those who encouraged me to continue my plan to launch the site, and I'm perfectly willing to give viewers a separate, unfettered look at my exploratory role as a writer and storyteller.

Each story will no doubt have entertainment value, but I hope they will also inspire and educate. Most will appear as chronological narratives, with a conversational tone, and contain audio or video links where appropriate. Comments and questions are always welcome, either by email (Contact) or the newly added chat widget.

Thanks for visiting,

*No AI-generated content

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*Special note: My decision to launch this site with its initial feature story was largely due to Mrs. Diane L. Beam (1938-2017), Gastonia, NC. I'm sorry it took me sixty years to listen—I wish I could've said "Thank you" sooner. (more in 'About Me')

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View also: "Stories Within the Story" @ https://www.youtube.com/@stedawi

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