Core values that guide their daily lives

What is This I Believe? This I Believe is an international project engaging people in writing, sharing, and discussing the core values that guide their daily lives. These short statements of belief, written by people from all walks of life, are archived here and featured on public radio in the United States and Canada. The project is based on the popular 1950s radio series of the same name hosted by Edward R. Murrow. NPR invites you to share the beliefs that guide you in your daily life. Tell us what you believe » Essays New and Old

The Holy Life of the Intellect
August 19, 2007 · Canadian poet George Bowering says we experience the mind of another person when we enjoy poetry, jazz or love. He believes this vision of human intellect is the closest thing we have to the divine.

I Am Not My Body
August 13, 2007 · Instead of prizing the "ideal" physique, Lisa Sandin finds beauty in something less than perfect. She believes she is more than her body — and more than her birth defect.

A Reverence for All Life
August 5, 2007 · For a college class assignment, Michelle Gardner-Quinn wrote a This I Believe essay about her love for the environment and reverence for life. Two days after turning in her essay, she was murdered.

Experiencing a Feeling of Wildness
July 30, 2007 · Nature writer David Gessner believes you don't have to climb Everest or raft the Amazon to find wildness. It's often found much closer to home, in our backyards and in the experiences of daily life.

Stress Yields a Sweeter Life
July 22, 2007 · If you think a Manhattan consulting job is stressful, try farming. Tim Stark has done both. He believes a reasonable amount of stress brings out his best qualities. It also produces tasty tomatoes.

Living in the Here and Now
July 16, 2007 · Shaken by his brother's death, Jeffrey Hollender vowed to reconnect with the things he valued. Now, the Seventh Generation CEO believes being present isn't easy but it is the best way to live life.

A Sacred Connection to the Sun
July 8, 2007 · Joy Harjo's Native American heritage taught her that the sun is a relative to be honored. The Muskogee Creek Nation poet believes that in doing so, we connect with nature and the sacredness of life.

All Beings Are Interconnected
July 2, 2007 · In 2005, Iraqi militants captured Christian peace activist James Loney. The experience of his 118-day captivity in Baghdad helped the Canadian solidify his belief that all people are interconnected.

The Learning Curve of Gratitude
June 23, 2007 · After suffering a life-threatening illness, singer-songwriter Mary Chapin Carpenter had time to reassess her priorities. She came to believe in more fully appreciating the blessings each day brings.

Becoming a Parent Is a Gift
June 14, 2007 · Infertility dashed the hopes of fatherhood for Indianapolis teacher Chris Huntington. Now, the prospect of adoption has helped him see that becoming a loving parent is more than a biological process.

Admittance to a Better Life
June 10, 2007 · In his younger days, Michael Oatman was educated on the streets and in bars and strip clubs. Now, the Ohio writer believes the education he's getting in college classrooms has opened doors to a better life.

A Marriage That's Good Enough
June 4, 2007 · Writer and NPR listener Corinne Colbert knows her life isn't perfect. Despite living in a culture that chases what's bigger, faster and better, she believes it's OK to settle for — and appreciate — what you already have.

Every Person Is Precious
May 27, 2007 · Massachusetts listener Dr. Isabel Legarda found her faith challenged by her medical training. But in selecting anesthesiology as her specialty, she came to believe every person and every breath is precious.

Every Person Deserves Respect
May 21, 2007 · "Father of the Internet" and Google Vice President Vint Cerf has made a living with high-speed technology. When it comes to personal interactions, Cerf believes in showing respect to everyone he meets.

Inner Strength from Desperate Times
May 13, 2007 · As his father slowly succumbed to ALS, student Jake Hovenden was impressed with how lovingly his stepmother cared for his dad. The experience left Hovenden with a belief in the power of inner strength.