This I Believe
The Personal Philosophies of Remarkable Men and Women
Foreword by Studs Terkel
Edited by Jay Allison and Dan Gediman
In Association with npr
Reviewed by Angela Hutchinson
Spirit-Works.net
“Based on the National Public Radio series of the same name”, This I Believe is a much needed visit from the past. Coming back to us with the help of Jay Allison and Dan Gediman, this opportunity, to express your beliefs, philosophies, and wisdom, is once again extended to those who accept the challenge. NPR began its broadcast of This I Believe in 1951 hosted by Edward R. Murrow and participating people were able to share diverse pieces of what was true for them. The common factor being they all had a story to tell and those of us who listened were affected. It is a work that compels one to go further, to dig deeper. We are all so unique in expression and yet on similar paths to some form of enlightenment, and through each essay we gather each bit of that wisdom. Where else can you go to collect the major lessons of many lives? To sit back and read from the heart of each author is an honor really. “…ordinary Americans, who at times, are extraordinary in their insights and dreams” is how Studs Terkel phrased it.
The book begins with an invitation to participate, to share what you believe. So as your wheels begin to turn, the reader embarks on a thousand journeys (or 88 to be exact). “This I Believe is an exercise in philosophical self-examination in a public context. It rises from the grass roots, where people can begin to listen to each other, one at a time.” The following excerpts are only a few of the transforming stories:
“Everything changed when I turned fifty. Along with the wrinkles, softened muscles, and weak eyesight came the confidence that allows me to stick to a very small list of beliefs. I’ll leave those identity issues to other folks. I believe that I’m free to be whoever I choose to be.” -Phyllis Allen
“What Do I Believe? That the stories I tell myself shape my truth, my soul, and my life…The right story is the one that helps me to love myself the most, to create the most, to love others and to support them in their creations.” -Greg Chapman
“By remaining silent, I had muted my experience, denied it, pushed it down. This had flattened my entire life. I believe it was this moment of naming that allowed both my mother and me to eventually face our deepest demons and deceptions and become free.” -Eve Ensler
“Later, I reach for my daughter’s hand and we muddy our shoes with a springtime walk. Together, we see new leaves glowing against the sun, green hillsides shimmering with the breeze, the purple bursts of lupine. And it’s okay if there is nothing beyond this, because there is this: life, everlasting, in the bloom of every flower.” -Jamaica Ritcher
Sharing is what connects us. It bonds us to the journey and to each other. This I Believe is a much needed program in a world in dire need of encouragement and community. As we fall onto our sofas every night, exhausted in front of the evening news, we hear what went wrong. We are finally offered an alternative. It is a gift we offer each other. May we commune in life and may programs and books such as this find their way into our hearts.