How We Should Live Our Lives Vol 2 How We Should Live Our Lives By: Throughout this semester, I have learned so much about college and myself. This semester has been an uphill climb for me, but I can’t help but feel as if it will help me in my future endeavors. My mission in life is to live every day to the fullest and not take anything for granted. Father time is slowly catching up with me, and I can’t outrun him forever. I have learned a lot more about myself and the world around me. I believe God has tested me and put me through the gauntlet this semester. Reflecting on it now, I can’t help but feel blessed and thankful for the adversity God has brought before me. I am grateful that God protected me even in danger. I learned that I am stronger and tougher than I could’ve ever imagined this semester. I am the biggest believer in hope, and I have found it. My mission for the rest of my time at Notre Dame, as well as for the rest of my life, is to be a power of good within this world. Someday I would like to share the wisdom I have collected within my short time at Notre Dame. This wisdom is learned through experiencing hardship and suffering. Someday I would like to leave my mark on this world, my footprint. I believe that love always beats hate and shall always be the most powerful driving force. Lastly, the keys to living a life well-lived, in my opinion, are, Love what you do and those around you, enjoy the small moments and simple joys in life, last but not least is, to live every day like your last because it very well may be. The first step in pursuing a life well lived is finding balance within our lives by balancing what we do in our free time. According to Pico Lyer, “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”(Why We Need To Slow Down Our Lives by Pico Iyer- Moreau FYE week one). In today’s society, we are constantly looking for the new thing, a new way to entertain ourselves when we need to be more reflective in our free time or at least if you need to do something, go and talk to others instead of sitting on a device. https://ideas.ted.com/why-we-need-a-secular-sabbath/ The second step in pursuing a life well lived is being an instrument of change. The concept of fighting for what you believe in gives life substance. At this University, we have had many great alumni and University leaders who have gone out into the world and done great things in the name of change. For example, Father Hesburgh is the greatest example of fighting for what you believe in. Father Hesburgh was once quoted as saying, “Whatever you value, be committed to it and let nothing distract you from this goal. The uncommitted life, like Plato’s unexamined life, is not worth living.” (Father Hesburgh- Moreau FYE week two). This quote embodies the true definition of living a life well-lived. Along with fighting for change in the world, one needs to fight for equality for all people, no matter gender, race, or religion. You have to live life with courage, “We will return fathers and mothers to their sons and daughters, particularly when their only “crime” was to be born the wrong color.” (I am George Floyd. Except, I can breathe. And I can do something. By Dean G. Marcus Cole-Moreau FYE week twelve). Building upon the idea of a religious figure comes to an idea from a nun. Sister Alethia is a former atheist who converted to Catholicism and brought along some very interesting methods of thought. She is quoted as saying, “My life is going to end, and I have a limited amount of time…We naturally tend to think of our lives as kind of continuing and continuing.” (Meet The Nun Who Wants You To Remember You By Ruth Graham-Moreau FYE week three). I agree with Sister Alethia and the point she is trying to get across. She wants you to acknowledge the fact that you are going to die, and the sooner you do, the faster you can get living. I know that may sound contradictory, but the idea goes along with my mission statement, father time is chasing after us, and the only way to avoid be caught is living every day to the fullest. The next step in living a life well-lived is to be adventurous and have a spirit of exploration. Considering that, I have learned that, “The only way to know more about yourself is to test the waters - just get out and experience life!”.(Navigating Your Career Journey-Moreau https://hesburgh.nd.edu/fr-teds-life/an-extraordinary-life/in-his-own-words/hesburgh-quotes/ https://law.nd.edu/news-events/news/dean-g-marcus-cole-i-am-george-floyd-except-i-can-breathe-and-i-can-do-something/ https://law.nd.edu/news-events/news/dean-g-marcus-cole-i-am-george-floyd-except-i-can-breathe-and-i-can-do-something/ https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/14/us/memento-mori-nun.html https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/14/us/memento-mori-nun.html https://undergradcareers.nd.edu/navigating-your-career-journey---moreau/ FYE week four). Being adventurous doesn’t mean just going random places and finding things. Being adventurous means stepping out of your comfort zone and doing things you wouldn’t normally do. For example, this semester, I was being adventurous by making it a goal of mine to meet and introduce myself to at least one person everyday. Doing so helped me develop new friendships and gives life a sense of adventure. Something I often find myself reminiscing about is god and religion. I believe that religion gives life purpose and meaning. I believe that I have “in a place of endless acceptance and infinite love. We have wandered into god’s own jurisdiction” (Tattoos On The Heart by Father Greg Boyle- Moreau week seven). As well as being religious and spiritual, I believe one has to look in before they can look for a higher being. Being introspective is a key component of religion and living a life well-lived. There are good ways and bad ways to be introspective. Bad ways can hurt our minds and negatively impact our well-being. ”introspection can cloud our self-perceptions and unleash a host of unintended consequences. Sometimes it may surface unproductive and upsetting emotions that can swamp us and impede positive action. Introspection might also lull us into a false sense of certainty that we’ve identified the real issue.” (The Right Way To Be Introspective by Tasha Eurich PhD-Moreau FYE week six). To do this is to take a leap into the idea of pursuing a life well-lived. To find happiness in life, you need friendship. You need a group of people you can rely on when you are down. You need someone to accompany you in every step of your journey, “To accompany someone is to go somewhere 2 with him or her, to break bread together, to be present on a journey with a beginning and an end. There's an element of mystery, of openness, of trust, in accompaniment.”(Teaching Accompaniment: A Learning Journey Together By Steve Reifenberg- Moreau FYE week nine).For example, my friend Junior and I are very close and always have discussions to build on our friendship and what we can do personally to be better people. (Moreau FYE week five). In the idea of friendship comes the concept of wisdom. To be wise means being skeptical and knowing what is real and what is fake. “Championing the https://canvas.nd.edu/courses/39695/files/523981?module_item_id=167999 https://ideas.ted.com/the-right-way-to-be-introspective-yes-theres-a-wrong-way/ benefits of extreme exercise when some members start to express concern that the group is developing unhealthy norms.” (How to Avoid an Echo Chamber By Dr. Paul Blaschko- Moreau FYE week eleven). In conclusion, I like to think my mission statement and layout for living a life well lived goes along with a part of Notre Dame’s mission statement that being “The University of Notre Dame strives for a spirit of inclusion among the members of this community for distinct reasons articulated in our Christian tradition. We prize the uniqueness of all persons as God’s creatures. We welcome all people, regardless of color, gender, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, social or economic class, and nationality, for example, precisely because of Christ’s calling to treat others as we desire to be treated.” (The Spirit of Inclusion At Notre Dame- Moreau FYE week ten). I have laid out the steps to live a life well lived within this text. Every day I am constantly pursuing happiness which one can not obtain but within the pursuit is where happiness lies. Continuing with my mission statement, I like to reflect on my Eulogy, which embodies who I am as a person, that being “There are many small moments in life that the majority of those take for granted. was not one of those people. Every day was a new mission and a new goal for him. He never took the small moments for granted. Joey was always present, and that was his greatest gift from God.” ( The Life of - Moreau FYE week eight). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaIVxQcqnLs&t=1s https://dulac.nd.edu/university-mission-and-vision/spirit-of-inclusion/