Making Our Words Invaluable

Dear Reader:

Being an ardent lover of words… I remembered this little story while cleaning out my garden fountain yesterday and finding a dime and a nickel lying at the bottom.

Most times words carry emotional value to us but not monetary at the same time. In this short true narrative both happens.

A Ten-Cent Idea

When young F. W. Woolworth was a store clerk he tried to convince his boss to have a ten-cent sale.

The boss agreed and the idea was a resounding success. This inspired Woolworth to open his own store and price items at a nickel and a dime. He needed capital for such a venture, so he asked his boss to supply the capital for part interest in the store.

His boss turned him down flat. “The idea is too risky,” he told Woolworth. ” There are not enough items to sell for five and ten cents.”

Woolworth went ahead without the boss’s backing, and he not only was successful in his first store, but eventually he owned a chain of F. W. Woolworth stores across the nation.

Later … his former boss was heard to remark, ” As far as I can figure out, every word I used to turn Woolworth down cost me about a million dollars!”

So until tomorrow…” Be careful of the words you say-Keep them short and sweet-You never know, from day to day- Which ones you’ll have to eat!”

Yesterday truly was ” A Winnie the Pooh favorite day” -my first day lily bloomed, Jeff fixed my automated sprinkler ( Hallelujah!) and Mandy surprised me with a visit and lunch at our favorite tea room!

About Becky Dingle

I was born a Tarheel but ended up a Sandlapper. My grandparents were cotton farmers in Laurens, South Carolina and it was in my grandmother’s house that my love of storytelling began beside an old Franklin stove. When I graduated from Laurens High School, I attended Erskine College (Due West of what?) and would later get my Masters Degree in Education/Social Studies from Charleston Southern. I am presently an adjunct professor/clinical supervisor at CSU and have also taught at the College of Charleston. For 28 years I taught Social Studies through storytelling. My philosophy matched Rudyard Kipling’s quote: “If history were taught in the form of stories, it would never be forgotten.” Today I still spread this message through workshops and presentations throughout the state. The secret of success in teaching social studies is always in the story. I want to keep learning and being surprised by life…it is the greatest teacher. Like Kermit said, “When you’re green you grow, when you’re ripe you rot.”
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5 Responses to Making Our Words Invaluable

  1. Rachel Edwards says:

    It was so good seeing yall yesterday . Mandy is such a sweet and pretty young lady…like her mother. Loved the story today…see you soon.

  2. lisakunk says:

    Love this story. Yes indeed words make all the difference.

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