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We asked our readers, "What, to you, is the most important thing in life?" Many thanks to those of you who took time to share your thoughts. As much as we'd like to print all of your entries, we must bow to space considerations. In this special feature, we publish four different but significant answers

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A SMILE

How often I walk into a room or even a store, for that matter, and someone I don't know smiles at me -- for no reason at all. No matter what I'm thinking or what mood I'm in, my insides shift. I smile back.

And oh, how my heart softens at the sight of a baby smiling as it discovers its voice, feet or even themselves in the mirror. On many occasions, I see a smile slowly creep upon the face of a child after putting on a fancy dress, parading around in new cowboy boots, or telling their favorite joke. Furthermore, I've never seen a grandparent who hasn't been wearing a smile when seeing, playing or working with their grandchildren. It's unconditional love at its purest, similar to a teacher who has witnessed the smile of a student reading their very first book or getting their first "A".

Just what would my life be like without the smiles of friends? I hope I never find out, for the understanding smile of a friend is worth a thousand words. And I can't forget my special friend, the love of my life, whose smile shines down upon me telling me everything is right with the world.

But the best smile, perhaps the best smile of all ... is the smile that comes from within -- not meant for anyone or anything but me.

Victoria Evans
St. Charles, IL

EXPERIENCING PEACE OF MIND

The best thing in life, for me, is peace of mind (POM). My definition of POM is a feeling deep within myself that the circumstances of my life are okay, and exactly as they should be. POM quiets the voices of discontent; the voices that can make me feel like I have a perpetual itch that I can't scratch. Experiencing POM seems to be the common denominator when I yearn to be healthier, wealthier, or whatever yardstick I'm using to measure success.

Ever since I was young (I'm 36 now), I've believed that POM was available to me just beyond the horizon, and that I would surely arrive there to claim it if I could just get over whatever flaw in myself or hurdle I saw on my path. Because of this mindset, I've become very goal-oriented and have frequently turned to self-help resources to help me get to the top of each hill that I created. My hills have included vision quests, sweat lodge ceremonies, marathons and even an ironman-distance triathlon (a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride, and 26.2 mile run all done in the same day). These, and numerous other activities, take me away from my "normal" daily routines, and have helped to quiet the chatter in my mind that prevents me from finding what I'm searching for. All of these experiences gave me the feeling of POM, but the effects were temporary. Once I returned to my usual day-to-day existence, my blissful state would gradually fade, only to be replaced with another desire to climb yet another hill and reach another horizon.

I've discovered in all of my searching that POM is available to me without changing anything about my circumstances. Feelings of satisfaction, love and acceptance can be embraced in the present moment if I choose to do so. This is easier to say than to do, however, perhaps because I have developed the habit of being a seeker. That's not all bad, though, because a lot of joy can be found in the pursuit of a worthy destination as well as in the arrival.

I've learned to accept temporary POM, which, if you think about it, is a form of POM in itself! I'd love to have this blissful state all the time, but I'm grateful for at least knowing what it feels like, and experiencing it in my life occasionally. Who says that the best thing in life has to be constant? For now, I'm willing to find peace of mind one horizon at a time.

Blaine Rada
Brookfield, IL

I'M A GONER!

The best thing in life is falling in love. For me, falling in love doesn't mean being in love with a person. Rather, falling in love is to be in love with life. This experience has happened quite a few times.

I experience a distinct physical reaction when I fall in love. I feel that my breath has stopped. A numbness takes over my body. I feel I am suspended in air. A wave of emotion overcomes me and my last rational thought is, "I'm a goner." Then I find myself sinking, sinking. For a brief amount of time, I am entering another dimension.

I never know what will trigger this intense love emotion. One time I fell in love with a Siamese kitten. This psychic love bond continued for nineteen years.

Another time I fell in love with a five foot crystal sculpture in an art museum.

I remember the first time I heard the music of Scheherazade by Rimsky-Korsakov. Right before sinking, I thought, "If I die today it will be all right, because I have heard this music."

One day while walking through the woods, a doe stood in front of me and sat down. We stared into each other's eyes and from that point on, I knew I was hopelessly in love.

One day I was running through a shopping mall when my eyes spotted a dress in the window. Purple chiffon it was. I knew it was the most beautiful dress in the world and I loved it.

I do not always get what I love. But this doesn't bother me. Just to experience this wonderful emotional sinking feeling is enough for me. What is exciting is that I never know when or where or what will trigger this love experience. What I do know is that I will experience a lot more fallings in love.

Jeanmarie Dwyer
Hoffman Estates, IL

LIVING ONE'S TRUE VISION

The best thing in life is living one's true vision. Once the vision has been glimpsed and is held close to the heart, the nurturing begins. There is the quiet confidence of knowing it will come in its own time, like a seed planted in fertile soil, lovingly tended. When the combination of moisture, light and temperature is right, it stirs, awakening to its own song, and thrusts upward through the soil.

The seed of intent thus planted with expectancy and love, held protected in that secret place, will begin its magic work. In ways that cannot be explained, it draws to itself the right situations, events and people, creating opportunities for one to act upon which will further aid in the manifestation of that vision. Each little step taken toward that goal makes the next step easier. Ever walking with one's eye trained on that outcome, one cannot help but bring the vision to reality. Never mind the challenges, delays or obstacles that come along the way – it will be done. Remember that the journey is also part of the miracle and should not be forgotten, for it has been the way traveled to reach the destination.

What one can visualize one can accomplish, and nothing is more powerful than an "idea whose time has come." A quote comes to mind from a book I read long ago: "Two sturdy asses bind the will of man; their names are Fear and Unbelief. When these are caught and turned aside, the will of man will know no bounds; then man has but to speak and it is done" (The Aquarian Gospel). Living one's true vision brings total peace, meaning and and joy to one's life. There is a feeling of completeness, a contentment that comes with each new day born of the harmony that is the result of spirit, mind, heart and body all working together for one purpose.

Donna Voss-Veeneman
Carpentersville, IL