What a year . . .

So I finish the school year and head to Catalina in June for a few days of relaxation. It might not be Hawaii, but pretty amazing for a little island just an hour's boat ride off the coast of Long Beach.

Brought along some reading material (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: James Blake's autobiography, "Breaking Back"). Browsing through the island's only bookstore (Sugarloaf Books) and came across a title I'd never heard of until then: "This I Believe". Bought the paperback, and found inside short (extremely brief) statements from people famous and otherwise about where they stand on the deeper issues of life. One of my favorite chapters--"Be Cool to the Pizza Guy". Some light-hearted stuff, some really thought-provoking stuff.

At the back, I learn that This I Believe is actually a non-profit organization with a website: www.ThisIBelieve.org. The "movement" got off the ground as a radio program on NPR back in the 1950s where people would submit essays and if they're accepted, they would record them for airplay on the program (this practice has actually just recently been resurrected).

Online, people are invited to submit essays. So, I started writing one afternoon while on the island. Long story short, it is now in the website archives (enter USA, SMEBY and it will come up). But if you get that far, I encourage you to browse other people's essays. Inspiring, motivational, moving are just a few words that come to mind. Have fun . . . .