Moreau Spring Integration III Lelonis 1 Theo Helm Moreau FYE Spring 4 March 2022 Living for Death Upon reading the prompt of this integration, my initial thoughts were that it seemed quite peculiar. After all, a living person being instructed to write their own eulogy seems a bit counterintuitive, no?. However, I quickly realized that this is less about writing a literal eulogy than it is about digging deeper into myself, channeling my metacognition in order to formulate a path of growth and development in life. This is about how I want to live, how I want to be remembered, and how I plan to create and leave the legacy I so covet. When the inevitable day comes that I meet my demise, one of the most important things that I want to be remembered for is having left it all on the table. One of the key components of this integration is about defining a life well-lived, and that is how I would define it. To me, a life well lived is a life lived to the maximum potential. I aspire to take risks, cease opportunities, fail, succeed, all of it. I truly believe that chances make champions, and that failure is one of the best catalysts for internal growth. During the semester, I picked up on this sentiment: “every experience shapes you in some way, whether you realize it at the time or not!” (“Navigating Your Career Journey” by the Murelo Family Center - Moreau FYE Week Four). At face value, this may appear mundane or cheesy, but deep down I couldn't agree more. During finals week last semester, I quite literally failed a test, receiving the lowest grade I have ever earned in my life. At first, this was disheartening, but I quickly realized that the only thing I could do was move on and grow. I intend on doing this for the rest of my life, rolling with the punches and fighting https://undergradcareers.nd.edu/navigating-your-career-journey---moreau/ https://undergradcareers.nd.edu/navigating-your-career-journey---moreau/ Lelonis 2 whatever adversity is thrown my way. Additionally, another key component to a life well-lived for me would be living for the right reasons. Early in the semester, we read about technology and the slowing down of life. An article we read during week one stated, “I’d be richer in what I prize most: days and hours” (“Why we need to slow down our lives” by Pico Iyers - Moreau FYE Week One). This resonated heavily with me, as everyday I strive to appreciate the things with true, fundamental importance more and more. As a matter of fact, I would argue that what holds the most fundamental importance is also the most valuable currency in life: time. At school, I often find myself stressed out and exhausted due to the heaps of work and exams. However, I am becoming better at putting my head down and smiling because one day I know I will miss the early mornings and late nights. When we find ourselves on our deathbeds, not a single person will ask for that fancy car, or the nicer house. We will all wish for the same thing, time. Time spent with loved ones and friends, time to learn and explore the world we so took for granted. To me, that's a life well lived, a life where the finite nature of time is understood, and in turn acknowledged as an invaluable asset. Moreover, In week seven of moreau, it was stated that, “People's paths are riddled with suffering, as everything is centered around money, and things, instead of people” (Why the only future worth building includes everyone by Pope Francis - Moreau FYE Week Seven). Not only does this reinforce the previous argument for the unimportance of materialistic items, but it also opens a new (my final) avenue of a life well-lived. The last, and what I believe to be the largest part of living a life well-lived is suffering. A life without suffering renders growth stagnant and leaves no room for perspective. It takes the rain to appreciate the sunshine in life. I believe that adversity fuels a life well lived, as it allows for people to truly find their “why”, and understand the importance of life. We have all been given such an indispensable gift, and the best way to gain understanding of that is to endure https://ideas.ted.com/why-we-need-a-secular-sabbath/ https://www.ted.com/talks/his_holiness_pope_francis_why_the_only_future_worth_building_includes_everyone/transcript Lelonis 3 suffering that makes you question it. As a young man, I have already received the gift of long suffering, and I truly believe that it has shaped me into the man I am today. Another immensely important component of a eulogy is determining what you want to be remembered for. One of the largest outlets of motivation that jumps out to me is providing comfort and happiness for those I love. During week five of the semester, I had an enlightening conversation with my father, who when asked about what I genuinely want in life, responded with, “I have never met someone in life with more focus on bettering the lives of those around them” (Brian Lelonis per Week Five Interview - Moreau FYE Week Five). Recently at school, I had an epiphany. I realized that I work so hard, pushing myself and placing substantial amounts of pressure on myself to achieve highly, but not for me. Everything I work toward is for the greater good in my life. I want to be remembered for giving my kids and wife a great, comfortable life. I want to be remembered for putting smiles on the faces of people I love- friends and family. That's why I work hard. Additionally, I want to be remembered for fighting adversity, failing, taking chances, suffering, because that will be the derivation of my growth. In the latter half of the semester, I learned that, “suffering is part of our lives, it is always there, but it is about how to respond to suffering,” (“5 Minutes” by Grotto - Moreau FYE Week Six). I want to be remembered for always getting up when I fell, a man of relentless drive and perseverance. Further, I want to be appreciated for my inquisitive nature, a willingness to expand my horizons, and an itch to learn. I want to be remembered for being open minded, and both appreciative and supportive of the differences of others. In the Hesburgh movie, Father Hesburgh himself stated, “you can’t censor ideas if they disagree with your own” ("Hesburgh" produced by Jerry Barca and Christine O'Malley - Moreau FYE Week Two). From this I learned that in order to grow you must possess a willingness to grow. Nobody will gain understanding if they don't https://docs.google.com/document/d/1CMPxFUGLOLnNvrd3dPa8o83SwcN5WB-BdIfmpaxahQQ/edit https://grottonetwork.com/make-an-impact/transform/why-does-god-allow-suffering/?utm_source=moreau&utm_medium=class&utm_campaign=spring_2022 https://canvas.nd.edu/courses/40380/modules/items/143444 Lelonis 4 search for it and place themselves in uncomfortable positions in order to find it. Finally, I want to be remembered for being kind, and living in the present. Memento mori was probably the most impactful concept that I learned this semester. The idea of, “intentionally thinking about your own death every day, as a means of appreciating the present and focusing on the future” (“Meet the Nun Who Wants You to Remember You Will Die ” by Ruth Graham - Moreau FYE Week Three). I strive to not only accept death but also embrace it, as that will allow me to diminish my worries of tomorrow and live for today. I aspire for “always lived for today” to make an appearance within my eulogy, as I want those around me to do the same. Yesterday is gone, and tomorrow will never be promised, the only thing that we have with certainty is today. I never plan on wasting today, as I don't know how many “todays” I have left. The prior traits and aspirations mentioned are what I deem to be observable signs that I had a life well-lived. I plan to move forward with these lessons in all aspects of my life, continuing my growth and development as a son, friend, student, and leader. Eulogies aren't written when we die, they are finished when we die, and written throughout the entirety of our lives. The future is scary, but I need to not worry, as I am the author of my eulogy. I plan on living life to the fullest, inspiring those around me to do the same, striving to achieve their rendition of a life well-lived. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/14/us/memento-mori-nun.html https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/14/us/memento-mori-nun.html Lelonis 5