“True confession is good for the soul,” so said somebody. Maybe it was the great philosopher Skybo. Although maybe not, because he also said, “I’m not as smart as I look.”

Regardless, maybe it’s time for me to do a bit of “true confession.”

But first, let me — which is a catalyst to my thinking here — pass along my congratulations to each member of the Daily News staff who was honored at the fairly recent state press association’s annual meeting for their work over the past year.

All of which is a lead-in to my “true confession.” Allow me to explicate.

Just a few short years ago I inquired of Vail and Ashley about perhaps entering some of my weekly column scribblings in the annual competition.

They very graciously agreed, I selected the requisite number of entries one could make, and then patiently awaited hearing the results. Would I win a first place designation? Second place? Third? An honorable mention?

And I patiently waited. And waited. But there was no word from on high.

So. Being the smart fellow I am, after finally ascertaining the results, and not seeing my name anywhere, I concluded (I told you I was smart) that I didn’t win “squat.” That’s a technical term.

Well, now, I told myself, maybe my friends at the paper just forgot to enter my outstanding journalistic efforts. Or maybe the judges just overlooked my entries.

Or, maybe the winners in my category were just better than I. Nah. That couldn’t be it.

Disappointed, sure. But there’s always next year, I told myself.

And, sure enough, next year came. “If at first you don’t succeed … ” was my mantra. I’m a philosophical kind of guy, you see.

I did it again. That is, chose which columns I wished to enter in the competition, passed this along to my WDN friends, and then began the long wait.

Now, I know this is going to be hard for you, kind readers, to believe the final outcome. Just buck up and face it, as did I.

Because … I didn’t win squat. Again. Not even an honorable mention. Can you believe it? What’s wrong with those judges? Indeed.

All of which bring me back to the beginning of this riveting expository effort. “True confession is good for the soul.”

This is where I now should admit to myself, and to you, my reader friends, that maybe, just barely possibly, I’m really not all that good at this column writing endeavor.

Well. That would be the noble thing to do. The proper thing. The right thing.

Forget that.

And as for the annual NC Press Association competition, don’t be looking for any more entries from me. You had your chances.

That’ll teach ’em.