For many years I've been impressed with the power of stories to move the human spirit. Throughout the world , we see an ever expanding list of movies and TV shows. Libraries don't stay static. New books are constantly filling their shelves. Books, comics, audio books, email books, coloring books: all these and more call readers of every age level. Binge watching has become common because people seem to be unable to be satisfied with the characters they have come to identify with.

This blog will contain many posts. I'm going to recount stories of people across the ages. Some will be current. A few stories may come from countries or places you've never heard of. Many stories will have as their theme the character traits of persons who overcame great difficulties.

Almost all stories deal with conflict. Various types of conflict are universal: differences across generations; religious tensions that divide people; fundamental values such as the search for freedom or safety; and the arrival of new ideas that challenge old assumptions. Some stories are about the ability of people to overcome incredible odds.

I am a teacher with more than 50 years experience. I've had the privilege of living on five continents and learning various languages. My family has always been supportive as I've taken on different challenges.

I welcome you to this blog site and hope it stimulates discussion, and encourages you in your life.