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Inspirational Stories

Reader’s Digest has the stories to lift your spirits and fill you with hope in your darkest moments. We’ve promised to be a source of joy, and these stories deliver. From everyday heros to reunited long-lost siblings, we’ve got the stories to inspire you.

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Mitch Albom on What It Means to Be a Real Father to a Special Orphan

What is a real father? An orphan in Haiti teaches ­­bestselling author Mitch Albom a wonderful new definition.

17 Reasons My Favorite Teacher Changed My Life

It only takes one person to make a difference in the life of another—and teachers are often that person. Check...


This Woman Is Raising Money to Open a Salon Accessible to People with Disabilities

Cat Rongitsch, whose stepdaughter has spina bifida, dreams of a place where anyone can feel safe and comfortable getting a...



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This Powerful Story Will Convince You to Stop Saying “Let Me Know If You Need Anything”

What does someone who has suffered a sudden trauma and grief most need?

Behold, the Old Barn that Was Transformed into a Basketball Court

When they saw how their friends made an old barn the perfect space for a pickup game, this family decided...


Doctors Thought This Disabled Boy Would Never Speak. Boy, Did Alexander Turner Prove Them Wrong.

Alexander was a strangely motionless and silent baby, and doctors knew of fewer than 100 cases like his in the...

14 Dad Stories That Display the Kindest, Bravest, Wisest Fathers in the World

In 100 words or less, readers share their poignant tales of the bond between father and child


So I Let My Daughter Play With a Stranger at the Beach. And Then Learned This.

My misguided fear about my child interacting with strangers led to a heartwarming discovery.


How a Boy and His Telephone Operator Formed a Lovely, Lasting Friendship

In this Reader's Digest Classic, originally published in 1966 as "The Voice in the Box," a little boy forges a...