Grzegorz Glinka

INSPI

TALES

2025

© Grzegorz Glinka, 2025

ISBN 978-83-974980-2-0

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Under the Surface of Appearances .................................................................. 4

A Recipe for Fresh Breath................................................................................. 8

The Tale of the Law of Attraction .................................................................. 11

Igor and the Discovery of the True Self ......................................................... 14

In Pursuit of Happiness .................................................................................. 18

Harold: The Radiant Bicycle ........................................................................... 21

Betrayal ........................................................................................................... 27

Ania and the Secret to Life’s Joy ................................................................... 30

The Tale of the Wizard Marcin ....................................................................... 34

Invisible Treasures of Life .............................................................................. 38

Fryderyk and the Secret of Self-Discipline ..................................................... 42

Kwame – The Hero from Africa ..................................................................... 46

Princess Ekoludka and the Green King .......................................................... 49

The Magic of Being Yourself .......................................................................... 52

Wojtek and the Festival of Equality ................................................................ 55

Tears of Healing ............................................................................................. 59

The Secrets of Universal Energy .................................................................... 63

All Souls' Day ................................................................................................... 67

The Secret Life of Herman ............................................................................. 70

The Workshops in Ściemowice ...................................................................... 74

The Metaphysical Journey of Orion ............................................................... 77

The Big Dream of Little Janek ........................................................................ 80

A Tale of Hope Behind Bars ........................................................................... 83

The Christmas Eve That Changed Everything ............................................... 87

From the Treadmill to the Great Meadow ..................................................... 91

Nina and the Art of Wise Choices .................................................................. 94

The Journey to the Great Stage ..................................................................... 98

The Unique Journey ...................................................................................... 101

The Journey to Business Wisdom ............................................................... 105

The Tale of the Healer .................................................................................. 109

The Storm in the Land of Diversity ............................................................... 112

In Search of Strength .................................................................................... 117

I See You ....................................................................................................... 120

Under the Surface of

Appearances

Once upon a time, in a city filled with colorful trams and picturesque streets, there lived a young boy named Jacek.

Though he was only sixteen years old, life had not been kind to him. Jacek had endured more than many adults in his short years. Each day, he faced his challenges with a smile, inspiring others with his bravery.

One day, as he was returning home from school, he boarded a crowded tram, took a vacant seat, and began to ponder his future. The sun shone through the window, and the city outside buzzed with life. Jacek was exhausted after a long day, but his mind was still racing, dreaming about who he wanted to become.

At the next stop, an elderly lady got onto the tram, breathing heavily after a brisk walk. She looked around, searching for an empty seat, but there were none to be found. She turned her gaze to Jacek, sitting alone. The elderly lady began to complain loudly:

— Ah, today's youth! They just sit there and don't give up their seats for their elders.

4

Several other older passengers joined in the conversation, sharing their opinions about the younger generation.

— In our day, it was different. Young people had respect —

resounding comments filled the tram.

Jacek heard every word and felt the gaze of the elderly lady, waiting for him to stand and give her his seat. He felt growing pressure and guilt, though he didn't know what to 5

do. He wanted to give up his seat but knew he had his reasons for staying seated. At that moment, the tram suddenly stopped abruptly, throwing passengers forward.

Jacek barely managed to keep his balance, which caught the attention of other travelers.

The boy felt he had to do something to end the complaints.

Slowly, he stood up from his seat, rolled up his trouser leg, and revealed a prosthetic leg in place of his real one. A hush fell over the tram. The elderly lady, astonished, realized that appearances don't always reflect reality. With embarrassment, she lowered her gaze and whispered:

— I'm sorry, young man.

Other passengers looked at Jacek with a mix of admiration and shame. They understood they didn't know the full story, and their judgment had been premature. One of the older gentlemen approached Jacek and said:

— You're truly brave. Thank you for teaching us an important lesson.

Jacek smiled gently and replied:

— It's no problem, sir. We all have our difficulties, but respect is due to everyone, regardless of age.

6

Moral: Respect others, for everyone carries their own burdens. Do not judge people based on appearances, as you may not know their stories or the difficulties they face.

True respect stems from understanding and empathy.

7

A Recipe for Fresh Breath

In a picturesque village called Zębnica, where the air was filled with the scent of blooming apple trees, lived Grandpa Henryk. He was a man with a heart full of warm stories, which he shared every evening as the sun began to hide behind the horizon. Every evening, his grandson, little Jaś, sat beside him, listening intently to every tale Grandpa told.

Despite the joy storytelling brought him, Grandpa Henryk had one worry—he had recently noticed that Jaś had slightly bad breath.

One day, Grandpa decided to teach Jaś a lesson.

— Jaś, I see your smile has lost its shine. Time for a little lesson about teeth! — he said with a smile.

Jaś looked at his grandfather with surprise.

— But Grandpa, I brush my teeth every day! — he replied.

— Perhaps you do, but do you brush them thoroughly? No one likes unbrushed teeth—they smell and decay, just like neglected dentures! — remarked the elder.

Then Grandpa Henryk shared a story about a similar 8

problem he once had.

— When I was young like you, I didn’t take care of my teeth.

One day, when I went to the dentist, I ended up with dentures. And guess what? If I don’t clean them, they smell too!

Jaś laughed but decided to take Grandpa’s advice to heart.

From that day on, he brushed his teeth carefully and 9

regularly, and his smile became more beautiful and fresh.

Years passed, Jaś grew up, and Grandpa Henryk began to forget to clean his dentures. Jaś, now a young man, noticed that something wasn’t right. One evening, sitting beside Grandpa, he said:

— Grandpa, do you remember how you taught me about brushing my teeth? Now it’s your turn! Your dentures need not just rinsing with water but thorough cleaning.

Otherwise, they’ll give off an unpleasant smell.

— You’re right, Jaś. Time for my lesson. Thanks to you, I’ll have fresh breath and a beautiful smile again — said Grandpa Henryk, smiling and nodding.

From that day forward, both Grandpa and grandson took care of their teeth and dentures, knowing it was the key to a healthy smile and fresh breath.

Moral: By taking care of your teeth, whether natural or artificial, you take care of yourself and your smile. Regular cleaning prevents unpleasant odors and helps you feel confident and healthy.

10

The Tale of the Law of Attraction

Long, long ago, beyond mountains and forests, there lived a boy named Jakub. Kuba was an exceptionally talented child with many dreams, yet he came from a deeply troubled family, which constantly clipped his wings.

— You're good for nothing. You'll never achieve anything —

his mother would say to him.

— You're as dumb as a boot. You'll amount to nothing — his father declared one day, holding a glass filled with vodka.

This resulted in Kuba gradually withdrawing into himself day by day, and, as a consequence, all his peers drifted away from him.

— I'm all alone. What am I going to do now? — the boy wondered, quietly sobbing.

One day, Jakub ventured into a mysterious forest inhabited by old Babinicz, a man known for seeing no barriers in life.

In his vocabulary, there was no place for the word

“impossible.”

11

— Good day, Mr. Babinicz. May I ask you a question? —

Kuba said.

— But of course, boy! What brings you to me? — the old man asked in a resonant tone.

— Is it possible that my friends will ever come back to me?

That I can play with them again?

12

— In life, everything is possible, and the only thing that limits us from fulfilling our dreams is our own imagination!

Kuba took old Babinicz's words to heart, and later that very day, upon returning home, he began to visualize his future and affirm it. In his mind's eye, he saw himself with his peers—talking, laughing, playing football, and even doing somersaults on the jungle gym—experiencing only uplifting feelings and emotions such as joy, love, gratitude, and excitement.

Some time later, as the boy was walking home from school alone, he unexpectedly encountered one of his former friends, who stood before him and, lisping, asked:

— Hi, Kuba. Would you like to join us and play some football? We're short one player.

With a wide smile on his face, Kuba accepted his friend's proposal and immediately joined the game, where he performed phenomenally—scoring many goals and registering even more assists, showcasing his incredible talent and immense potential.

The moral of this story: You can be absolutely anyone you want to be. You can achieve every single one of your dreams if you believe it's possible, for the only thing truly limiting you is your own imagination.

13

Igor and the Discovery of the True Self

In a dazzling kingdom, full of golden mountains and valleys infused with the scent of lavender, there lived a man named Igor. He was considered the most handsome man in the entire kingdom. His charm was so immense that everyone he encountered seemed to lose themselves in his magnetic gaze. Igor himself was equally enchanted by his appearance and unique abilities, firmly believing that he was not only the most beautiful but also the wisest of all.

Every day, he spent hours admiring his reflection in the shimmering surface of the lake, ensuring that not a single hair on his head was out of place and that his clothes gleamed in the sunlight. In his opinion, there was no one who could match him, and he truly believed he needed no one.

One cloudy day, while walking along a charming forest path, Igor stumbled upon an intriguing surprise. He happened upon a river unknown to him, whose waters flowed like silver ribbons among the rocky banks. Curiosity and his belief in his own infallibility drew him to the banks of the River of Truth, though he had never heard of it before.

14

When he gazed into its deep waters, instead of his perfect reflection, he saw a vision of himself—the hidden, true Igor.

In the eyes of the man in the water, he saw restless loneliness, exhaustion from the constant pretense, and an emptiness resulting from the lack of true friends.

Frightened, Igor spoke to his reflection:

— Who are you? And why do you look like me? — he asked in a trembling voice.

The reflection replied calmly:

— I am you, the true Igor. Your external beauty hides loneliness and emptiness you’ve never acknowledged.

Surprised, Igor asked:

— How can I change this? How can I become authentic and happy?

The reflection responded:

— You must open your heart to others, stop looking only at yourself, and begin to listen and help. When you understand what truly matters, your life will gain meaning.

Disturbed by what he saw and heard, Igor realized that his arrogance and pride had led him to loneliness. The river 15

revealed to him that life is not just about appearance and pretense but about a heart that should be close to people and their problems. He understood how much he could achieve if he opened up to others and allowed himself to be vulnerable, becoming more authentic.

Filled with new thoughts, Igor returned to the kingdom, where he began to build new relationships with those around him, learning to listen and share himself—not just 16

for compliments and praise. Like magic, his life took on new colors and was filled with genuine joy.

Igor said to himself:

— Now I see that true value doesn’t lie in appearance but in how we can help others and be kind.

The moral of the story: True beauty lies not in what is visible on the outside but in what we hold within ourselves.

A heart open to others shines with a bright light that no external sparkle can replace. Transformation begins with accepting yourself as you are—with all your imperfections and care for the world around you.

17

In Pursuit of Happiness

Beyond seven mountains and seven rivers, amidst golden fields and dense forests, there lay a small village called Czasownica. The residents of this peaceful settlement lived in harmony with the cycle of nature, believing that their daily choices shaped their destinies.

Among the inhabitants of Czasownica stood out a little girl named Lena. She had eyes as blue as the summer sky and a heart full of dreams. Her family and neighbors considered her exceptional. Lena longed to discover her destiny and learn what future the stars had planned for her.

One day, her grandmother visited and told her a story about an elderly seer who lived on the edge of the village and was said to know the secrets of fate. Fascinated by the tale, Lena decided to visit her. She crossed a stream, walked through a lavender-scented forest, and arrived at the seer’s cozy cottage.

— What is my fate, dear seer? — Lena asked hopefully.

The seer smiled mysteriously and replied:

— Little girl, destiny is not written in the stars. It is your daily 18

habits and decisions that shape your future.

The seer’s words planted a seed of thought in Lena’s mind.

Over time, she began to notice that each day was made up of small choices that created the path of her life. She realized that hard work and care for loved ones brought prosperity, while holding grudges and laziness led to misfortune.

19

Lena decided to consciously shape her habits. Every morning, she greeted the sunrise with a smile, diligently learned new skills, and surrounded those she loved with affection. Over time, she became an example for other villagers, showing them that what guides us daily has great significance.

Moral: Destiny does not exist; our habits—in both thought and action—direct our lives, shaping reality. By cultivating good habits, we create a future filled with love and fulfillment. Mindfully pursue what allows you to live in harmony with who you truly want to be.

20

Harold: The Radiant Bicycle

On a mysterious planet called Lumina, nestled among stars sparkling like diamonds, an eternal battle had raged for centuries between the forces of Light and Darkness. Dark energies sought to destroy this extraordinary land, inhabited by diverse, fantastical beings, including ethereal, luminous entities. Among them was Azrael—the Angel of Death, renowned for his ability to transform shadow into light. Not only could Azrael dispel darkness, but he also helped the inhabitants of Lumina close painful chapters in their lives. His magical touch removed bad memories and sorrows, restoring peace of mind and soothing hearts.

One sunny day, Azrael, seeking some fresh air, set out on a bike ride along a scenic river. With a smile on his face, he pedaled mile after mile, enjoying the beauty of nature and the serenity of the surroundings—until his trusty bike, Bernard, got a flat tire.

— Oh, home is far from here — he remarked with a hint of sadness.

After a moment’s thought, and with a feeling of gratitude, he turned to his companion:

21

— It’s time to say goodbye, Bernard. You’ve served me wonderfully over the years, but now I’d like you to help someone else. Thank you for everything—I love you.

With a gentle smile on his lips, Azrael left the bike by the roadside and began walking home. He admired the landscape, taking joy in every step, and realized that, though farewells are hard, they bring new opportunities and hope for the future.

Sometime later, Azrael ordered a new bike—fast, lightweight, and sporty—which he named Harold. At first, Harold performed excellently, speeding like lightning along Lumina’s paths. Unfortunately, it soon turned out that Harold had a factory defect. Despite repairs, the problems persisted—Harold kept getting flat tires, which left Azrael increasingly frustrated.

— What’s going on? You’ve got great tires that were supposed to be puncture-proof! — he said, frustrated, pondering the cause of these recurring issues.

He decided to visit the fortune teller Otylia, an old, gray-haired woman famous for her wisdom and answers to all questions.

— Fortune teller Otylia, why does Harold keep getting

"injured"? — asked the Angel of Death.

22

— I’m convinced someone cursed your bike — she replied without hesitation.

— A curse? What now? — Azrael asked in surprise.

— You must cleanse it of destructive energy and fill it with light — the fortune teller advised.

Azrael took Otylia’s words to heart and acted on them that very day. From then on, Harold stopped causing problems.

During journeys, he performed with amazing efficiency, moving from point A to point B at the speed of light.

However, a few weeks later, something unexpected happened—Harold was stolen.

— I can’t believe it! Who would dare steal from me? —

exclaimed an irritated Azrael, his voice vibrating with anger.

The next day, full of determination, he bought a new bike—

slow-moving, like a tractor. He went to visit his friend Mariola, a witch whose hut was hidden in a dense, magical forest filled with mysterious sounds and glimmering lights.

— Witch Mariola! Tell me, who stole my bike? — he called out determinedly, entering her room amidst swirling incense smoke.

— It’s a radiant bike, Azrael, one that serves those who need it most. Harold chooses his owner, but don’t worry—he’ll 23

return to you when you truly need him — Mariola replied.

— But who has him now? — Azrael inquired.

— A woman fleeing from the forces of darkness — Mariola explained.

The situation on Lumina grew increasingly dire. Dark energies infected less aware beings, triggering chaos and conflict. When the planet neared destruction, Azrael decided to intervene.

— Archangel Gabriel, will you help? — he turned to one of his Brothers.

— We will help — Gabriel replied.

Shortly after, Azrael dashed out of his house, mounted his slow bike, and set off to the meeting point.

— Geez, on this bike, I won’t get there until tomorrow — he thought anxiously.

Just then, the sound of Harold’s bell rang out behind him.

Turning around, Azrael couldn’t believe his eyes. Without wasting time, he hopped onto the radiant bike and sped off to confront the dark energies.

After an exhausting battle that seemed to last an eternity, 24

Azrael and his Brothers, united in an unyielding spirit of brotherhood and courage, ultimately triumphed. Their sacrifice, determination, and extraordinary skills allowed them to defeat the overwhelming enemy forces, saving the planet from destruction.

The moral of this tale: In life, we won’t always find logical answers to everything, yet some things happen and exist regardless. The most important thing is gaining 25

understanding that helps us maintain life’s balance. In a world where everything is energy and where true magic can be experienced, anything is possible—so sometimes it’s not worth wasting time searching for unnecessary evidence.

26

130

131