This I Believe

The following is an essay I wrote modeled after NPR's This I Believe essay series.  

     I believe everyone has a story that deserves to be heard. Every person, every being, every thing has a story and contains stories. And all of these interconnect. By building our own stories and listening to those of others, we gain a sense of meaning in our existence and how we relate to the world. 

     Stories allow people to see themselves in others. A good one can capture our attention and pull us in, making us want to know more. As a listener, we open up and allow space for the message to be received. What is important is not whether or not we agree with the message but that we connect with it. This openness deepens our relationship to the world. We see how our life affects and is affected by the lives of others.

     During my first year in college my friends teased me about my habit of asking new acquaintances, “What’s your story?” It wasn’t until someone turned the question on me that I realized how difficult it was to answer. How do I reduce my life to a single story? And then it dawned on me that every person, every thing, every place has not one but many stories. They weave in and out of one another forming multiple narratives for everyone and everything. 

     Stories have served humans since our ability to create them. A powerful narrative holds the strength to unite human beings across all spectrums of existence. They color experience and deepen perceptions. They unite people and link disparate lives, transcending cultures, creeds, and battle lines. They hold the power to build bridges and tear down walls. Everyone has a story that deserves to be heard. This I believe.