Microsoft Word - Week 8- Integration Three.docx Resting for a Life Well-Lived The first eight weeks of my second semester shaped and molded the person I became. My friendships, faith, and knowledge grew, forever imprinted into the book of my life. I learned more about myself and how I intended the rest of my life to proceed. I contemplated the impact I wished to make, desiring to be satisfied with what I leave behind. Faced with obstacles, I drew upon my internal strength to overcome trials and persevere. I grew stronger and built-up confidence that aided in future endeavors. This outcome came from allotted time for mindfulness and devotion to fruitful friendships, which together aided in my creation of a definition for a life well-lived. When I first started the second semester, I was very overwhelmed and discouraged. My schedule proved to be very challenging, and I often second guessed my decision to continue my Notre Dame education. I fell into the trap of comparison, contrasting my life to those of my friends who were at the University of Florida (UF). The “What if?” question popped into my head multiple times a day. I envisioned what my life would have been like at UF and felt guilty for the difference in tuition my dad was paid. Then when we had our first Moreau assignment, which looked at the text by Pico Iyer “Why we need to slow down our lives,” I was frustrated. I grew angry at myself and Notre Dame for such a hard schedule yet taught that we needed to rest. So, in that first week I did the only thing I could think of, I turned to God and prayed. I then reached out to my advisor and asked if there was anything I could do differently, and although I first received a no, she eventually helped me adjust my classes. I was relieved and thought back to what Iyer said, “The need for an empty space, a pause, is something we have all felt in our bones; it’s the rest in a piece of music that gives it resonance and shape” (Text: "Why we need to slow down our lives" by Pico Iyer – Moreau FYE Week One). It was in that moment that I could feel the impact of this statement. I just needed to trust in God to provide for me the rest I needed. When I freed the time for this rest, I became happier and remembered my love of Notre Dame. Once I was reminded of the importance that rest was to my mental and physical health, I made an effort to allocate moments of mindfulness throughout my day. I practiced changing my perspective into one like Dr. Johoon Kim has, looking at how to overcome obstacles rather than focusing on them ( Video: “5 Minutes” by Aria Swarr – Moreau FYE Week Six). I incorporated mindful practices such as nightly devotionals, prayers throughout my day, and meditation, as suggested from the mindfulness menu (Open Activity: Complete One Practice: “Ways to Practice Mindfulness” by McDonald Center for Student Well-being – Moreau FYE Week Six). These moments to myself began to have impacts in many aspects. I felt happier and equipped with more patience. I noticed smaller instances of beauty around campus and found tranquility while I walked between classes. When I was with others, I became more empathetic and understanding, which fostered stronger connections. I took to heart the words that Pope Francis said, “Through the darkness of today's conflicts, each and every one of us can become a bright candle, a reminder that light will overcome darkness, and never the other way around” (Video/Text: “Why the only future worth building includes everyone” by His Holiness Pope Francis – Moreau FYE Week Seven). In my nightly prayers, I asked God to use me as an instrument of his will and to be a light to others. I knew that I wanted to be remembered by others as someone who was devoted to Christ, who treated others with kindness and love. While I did not always fulfill this goal, I tried most days to be there for my friends and seek out those who were struggling. Through devotion of time to my friends, I matured and became surer of the person I wanted to be. I looked to my friends for inspiration of how I wanted to continue living my life. I felt influenced by my teachers and especially Father Hesburgh. The movie “Hesburgh” enlightened me about how impactful Father Hesburgh was, a figure I knew nothing about prior to my arrival at Notre Dame (Video: "Hesburgh" by Jerry Barca and Christine O’Malley- Moreau FYE Week 2). I was encouraged and infused by his lasting presence on campus, as someone who was a champion for human rights and a care seeker for the poor. I gained a new perspective on what a life well-lived is through learning about Father Hesburgh. A life well-lived is not about material success, but about finding personal fulfillment and then giving yourself to others. It is through this that rewarding relationships can be created. I then turned to what would fulfill me. This was promoted by the “Three Key Questions” as proposed by Father Michael Himes (Download "Three Key Questions" by Father Michael Himes – Moreau FYE Week 3). I asked myself what was truly important to me and whether this fit into my planned career. I felt that if I continuously asked these questions, I would feel content with the inevitable end of my life, similar to Sister Aletheia’s theory ( Text/Audio: "Meet the nun who wants you to remember that you will die" by Ruth Graham – Moreau FYE Week 3). When I was directed to think about my future career plans, the career center’s activities eased my concerns. Once I heard that “Planning your career is much like planning for a trip,” I was reassured that I did not have to decide immediately (Text: "Navigating Your Career Journey” by Meruelo Family Center for Career Development – Moreau FYE Week 4). I felt that some pressure was alleviated as I could break up my career search into smaller components. A great place to have started was with my conversation with my sister. She gave me an outside perspective on what she observed about me. I found it interesting on how her observations about me fit into what I strived to be, making an impact on others and my environment (Activity: Complete "Week Five Discernment Conversation Activity" – Moreau FYE Week 5). Overall, Notre Dame shaped who I became. I learned that through moments of peace and self-reflection, I was more whole and connected to God. By dedication of time to myself, I gave more to my friendships which in turn gave more back to me. Finally, through the coupling of these components, I gained a new perspective on what a life well-lived is and can thank the Notre Dame education for this.