We may never know the long-term effects of doing good deeds or cheering up a stranger with a small act of kindness. Whether spontaneous or planned, acts of kindness can be contagious and set off chain reactions of more people being kind to one another. We hope these essays on kindness might spark small random acts of kindness from you.

1. The Kindnesses We Give Each Other
2. The Connection Between Strangers
3. A Conduit of the Divine
4. Good Can Be as Communicable as Evil
5. Umbrella Moments

This week, we experienced the power of neighbors helping neighbors as Hurricane Harvey deluged Texas. Whether we know them well or keep them at arm’s length, neighbors are an important part of our community. Click the links below to learn how neighbors have been a source of belief for these essayists.

1. Howdy Neighbor
2. The Importance of Neighbors
3. Our American Neighbors
4. The Unknown Neighbor
5. Finding a Way Home

Poetry can be an expression of love, a processing of grief, or a way to freeze a moment in time. Whether a sonnet, a haiku, or free verse, it is a distillation of language that reveals the very essence of an idea or emotion. We invite you to click the links below to read how these essayists have found their beliefs in poetry.

1. The Making of Poems
2. Music and Medicine for the Soul
3. More Than Just Words
4. Our Ultimate Inspiration
5. The Untamed Habitat of Language

Most of us are constantly exposed to noise every day: ringing phones, passing traffic, and chattering people. But one thing we rarely hear in our modern world is silence. Click on the links below to read why these essayists believe silence is golden.

1. A Grace of Silence
2. Listening to Silence
3. The Gift of Silence
4. A Silence Beyond Words
5. The Humility in Silence
6. The Beauty of Silent Reflection

For many, there is a tremendous pride that comes from having a family member serve in the military. At the same time there can be heartache, loneliness and a constant fear for the safety of that son or daughter, sister or brother, father or mother who is stationed far, far away. Click the links below to explore the beliefs of those who have stayed at home while a loved one is serving their country.

1. My Husband Will Call Me Tomorrow
2. Do What You Have To Do
3. To Question And Defend Our Country
4. My Son, My Hero
5. Pieces Of Home

It’s hard to beat the friendship of a loyal pet. Whether a big, old dog, or a spunky, young kitten, or some exotic species, a relationship with a beloved pet can be as deep and fulfilling as anything we can experience. Click the links below to read how special animals inspired belief in these essayists.

1. Love on Four Feet
2. Teaching a Bad Dog New Tricks
3. Horses Can Heal
4. The Church of the Holy Chicken
5. The Language of Animals

For the original version of This I Believe, host Edward R. Murrow invited a number of classical music artists to share their beliefs. Their essays reach beyond their profession to explore their thoughts about the world of the 1950s. Click the links below to hear what these musicians had to say.

1. The Mountain Disappears
2. That Little, Inner Voice
3. The Reason For Life
4. The High Price Of Money
5. Uniting Into A Proud National Family

Sometimes a goodbye is a casual comment to a colleague we’ll see tomorrow. Other times we say farewell to a loved one we’ll never see again. The moments of transition that we mark with a see you soon, a goodbye, or a farewell can leave a lasting impression on a person. Click to the links below to read how these essayists have been inspired by saying goodbye.

1. Life Is Beautiful
2. Releasing the Old, Embracing the Now
3. See You Soon
4. The Future Is Unknown
5. To Have It All Back

In honor of Father’s Day, we offer this selection of essays about fatherhood—from the fathers who influenced us, to the fathers we hope to become. Click the links below to read how fathers and fatherhood have inspired some of our essayists. You can find these and other essays celebrating dads in our book, This I Believe: On Fatherhood.

1. Truth and the Santa Claus Moment
2. A Father’s Lectures
3. A Father Is Born from Many Strangers
4. Appreciating the Moment
5. The Dads We Were Given

Many parents can remember a specific moment when they had the thought, “What do I tell the kids?” Whether it’s talking about death and illness, dating and sex, or “bad guys” in the world, deciding when and how to talk to children is a delicate balancing act every parent must perform at one time or another. Click below to read essays based on a belief in being honest with children.

1. Tell the Children
2. Telling Kids the Whole Truth
3. The Stories We Tell Our Children
4. Innocence Is Overrated
5. To Tell the Truth