Snoopy, from the “Peanuts” comic strip, had a love-hate relationship with his typewriter. When science fiction author Ray Bradbury was asked to write an essay inspired by a Snoopy comic in 2012, he felt that conflicted relationship with the written word deep in his heart. Bradbury penned an essay about the flurries of rejections he received while trying to get his stories published, and then the breakthrough in his 40s when things started working out. He encouraged Snoopy to stay strong — though it seems like problems last forever, they will eventually subside, and we will come out the other side.

Pioneering aviator Amelia Earhart fervently believed in the value of experience and in confidence built through action. This quote, drawn from her biography “Soaring Wings,” reflects her conviction that engagement with the world expands not only our abilities but also our sense of possibility. Earhart suggests that doing more strengthens our capacity to act while deepening “one’s appreciation of fundamental things like home, and love and understanding companionship.” By taking risks and embracing new experiences, we build skill and resilience as well as emotional awareness. Exploration — whether physical, intellectual, or emotional — can broaden our worldview and help us identify what matters most.