There is perhaps no time that belief is more emphatically tested and acted upon than in times of war or conflict. To commemorate Veterans Day, we feature men and women who have served our country in the military. Click the links below to hear about their experiences and their beliefs. And visit our special collection of essays by those who have served our country.
Home can be the house we grew up in, the town where we live, or where our hearts are. However you define home, it is a powerful force in our lives, one that can be a foundation for lifelong beliefs. Click the links below to read how these essayists have been inspired by their homes.
Many people say that listening to music is a very important part of their lives. And those who make music feel even stronger about its power to move them. For both famous musicians and the person sitting in the cubicle next to you, music can inspire some powerful beliefs.
Whether you think life is a highway, or you prefer the road less taken, maps can help us determine where we are and how to get where we want to go. Click the links below to explore how the beliefs of these essayists have been influenced by maps, both physical and imagined.
For many people, farming was something our families did many generations ago. For others, it’s still a way of life. And for some people, farming is a metaphor for life and a source of strong belief. Click the links below to read how farming has had an effect on these This I Believe essayists.
The original This I Believe series included a number of literary icons of the 20th century. Their mastery of words helped them to craft intriguing essays about their personal beliefs. Click the links below to learn what James Michener, Pearl Buck, Aldous Huxley and other writers had to say.
Not all presents are wrapped in pretty paper with bows and ribbons. Some are gifts of knowledge or wisdom that are passed from one person to another. Click the links below to read what these essayists have learned from family and friends.
Blended marriages can create unique challenges for stepchildren and stepparents. But the rewards can be as powerful and as strong as any familial relationship. Please click the links below to read how these essayists navigated the tricky waters of their blended families.
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.
This week fourteen years ago, when Hurricane Katrina devastated the coast of Louisiana and Mississippi, the monster storm couldn’t break the spirit of Gulf Coast residents. Click the links below to see how the people, even when faced with disaster, were inspired by the blessings that came in the wake of the storm.
Jim Snitker knew in high school that he wanted to serve his country by joining the military. And, while he served for 20 years in the U.S. Army, he never saw active combat. But Mr. Snitker believes that he and other Cold War veterans who trained and waited also served their country. Click here to read his essay.
