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.

1. To Dwell in Possibility
2. I Am Home
3. The Place I Call Home
4. The Old Neighborhood
5. Home Is Where the Heart Is

For this Father’s Day, we offer the following selection of essays about fatherhood—from being a father, to the relationship with our fathers. Click the links below to learn how these essayists have been inspired by the diverse range of experiences related to the father-child relationship. You can find these and other essays celebrating dads in our book, This I Believe: On Fatherhood.

1. Appreciating the Moment
2. The Choice to Do It Over Again
3. When Angels Miss
4. Finding a Different Way
5. A Love Beyond Boundaries

It may not yet be summer on the calendar, but the pools are open, school is out (or almost!), and the days are getting longer. With a two-month break from the responsibilities of school, it could be argued that no one appreciates summer more than teenagers. Click the links below to read what these teens believe about the magic of summer.

1. The Beauty of Summer Nights
2. An Escape from Normal Life
3. Summer Love
4. A Summer Breeze
5. The Endless Possibilities of Summer

Most people can remember receiving words of advice from their parents—whether they asked for it or not. And, even if we did not heed the advice we were given, there is often truth in the words our parents wanted to share to guide us in our lives. Click on the links below to learn more about the wisdom learned from listening to one’s parents.

1. The Power of Hello
2. Always Go to the Funeral
3. Work Is a Blessing
4. Mom’s Everyday Advice
5. A Father’s Lectures
6. The Lawn Is Life

The emotional and physical demands of providing care for a loved one with Alzheimer’s Disease can be exhausting. But through that crucible, people may find that a fundamental belief comes into sharp focus. Click the links below to read what these essayists have learned while caring for someone with Alzheimer’s.

1. Don’t Tell Me How Rocky the Sea Is…
2. At Moni’s Grill
3. Family First
4. Doing Your Duty with Love
5. Gazing into the Face of Death

May is Asian-Pacific Heritage Month—a celebration of the rich history of Asians and Pacific Islanders in the United States. Click on the links below to read more from those whose Asian heritage has formed a foundation for their core beliefs.

1. The Long Road to Forgiveness
2. Big Thinking
3. A Musician of Many Cultures
4. Here Comes (the Real) Santa Claus
5. A Duty to Family, Heritage, and Country
6. Finding Prosperity by Feeding Monkeys
7. A Mark in History
8. Rice for Thanksgiving
9. Mother Tongue

Most people can probably make a quick list of books that have had a deep impact on their lives. And one of those books on a lot of those lists is To Kill a Mockingbird. Click on the links below to read more about how this classic book has had an impact on these readers.

1. Unhardened Hearts
2. Lessons from the Mockingbird
3. I Believe in Atticus Finch
4. Other People’s Shoes
5. The Power of Literature

The Latin phrase “carpe diem” translates as “seize the day,” an aphorism teaching us to put aside worries and concerns of the past or future in order to truly enjoy the moment. Many people heed this advice, and for the following essayists, living in the present moment has inspired a lifelong belief.

1. Living for Today
2. Listen to Your Mother-in-Law
3. It Felt Like Death
4. Living in the Present Moment
5. The Gift of Time

The American Dream may include cruising down the highway in your own car, but many people prefer alternative means of getting from point A to point B. Whether it’s mass transit or human-powered modes of travel, these essayists have come to believe in the unique ways they move around town.

1. Bus Chick’s Manifesto
2. Commuting by Bike
3. A Daily Dose of Walking
4. Born to Bike
5. Seeing the World by Sidewalk

The official start of spring is this week, and for some in the U.S., it can’t come too soon. The vernal equinox not only marks a change in the seasons, but a transition in life as the dormancy of winter gives way to life blooming anew. Click the links below to read how these essayists are inspired by the coming of spring.

1. Beauty for Everyone
2. Hope Arrives on the Wind
3. The Dawn of a New Season
4. The Most Wonderful Rite of Spring
5. The Annual Cycle That Is Life