This I Believe

Bill Reinert has been in the position of both giving and receiving customer service. He now believes that making the effort to serve the people in our lives the best that we can is a rewarding practice, whether in business or at home.

There are many ways to look at any given situation in life. William Shutkin has thought a lot about these paradoxes in our lives and how we can either be paralyzed or energized by them.

Growing up, Anna Whites moved many times, living in exotic places all around the world, but she never quite felt that she belonged in any one place. Later, when she married a man from eastern Kentucky, she found a place—and a people—where she finally knew she was home.

Karin Round lives at the end of an interstate off-ramp in suburban Boston, and she often finds wayward travelers on her doorstep asking for assistance. In spite of the potential dangers, Round believes it’s important to open her door and help those in need.

Zac Broken Rope has German ancestors on his mother's side of the family and a Native American heritage on his father's. But he grew up feeling that he didn't belong to either culture—until a family member taught him a lesson about his identity.

Sena Jeter Naslund knew at an early age that she loved literature. But when making a career choice, she felt she should do something good for humanity, not simply indulge her passions. One moment in a college classroom changed her perspective, though, and she realized that literature does bring good into the world.

A childhood experience on a playground taught Tori Murden McClure a lesson about the importance of love and friendship that has stuck with her through the years and helped inspire her life's work.

Janet Jayne has been a "step-something" for most of her life—a step-daughter, a step-sister, a step-mother. And while she recognizes the struggles that are often a part of "blending" families, she also celebrates the love that brings new families together.

A favorite team makes the World Series while a marriage ends in divorce. Surviving life’s ups and downs led Steve Porter to believe that the good times and bad ultimately balance out.

As a child, Sherri Ellerman recalls her mother being worried about her age and living in fear of growing older. However, when her mother died at the age of 36, Ellerman realized that it isn't the number of days or months or years of life that matter. What matters is the one life we have to live.

On August 29, 2005, Dr. Patrick Cleveland's life changed forever when Hurricane Katrina came barreling through his home. But a so-called coincidence confirmed for him the knowledge that his life has a purpose.

As an attorney, William Holston made it a priority to volunteer his legal services to help refugees who were seeking religious and political asylum in the U.S. One particular client helped Holston see that service to others is a privilege—and a path to greatness.

It was a sad day when Jay Hasheider helped his son pack and get ready to move away to college. But one moment of joy amidst the sadness was a gift for both father and son.

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.

Rebecca Haynes, a former park ranger, believes that her life is made better by being part of a local community and a local environment, whether in a small town, a big city, or the wilds of the Sonoran Desert.