Integration A Selfless Life is a Life Well Lived entered our lives March 21, 2003. The first born child of Matt and Caci Liebentritt. He was happy, caring, supportive, persistent, and loving. He was a husband, father, family man, football player, doctor. He touched so many lives simply with his presence. It wasn’t that he was showy or flaunting, but it was the little things that he did every single day that led him to have such an impact on everyone around him. Whenever you needed anything, you knew that Barret would be there for you. He would sacrifice so much just to make his friends, family, wife and especially his children happy. From a young age, he always had big aspirations. His dream was to become a football player, and took that dream all the way from Peewee Skyhawk football to Skutt to Notre Dame. He took pride in where he was from. He loved Nebraska, he loved St. Patrick’s and he loved Skutt. He moved on to Notre Dame where he learned so much about life. While there, he used technology to keep in touch with his friends and family. He enjoyed social media, but he realized the negative effects if he used it too much. As Pico Iyer says, “The one thing technology doesn’t provide us with is a sense of how to make the best use of technology” (“Why We Need to Slow Down Our Lives” by Pico Iyer FYE Moreau Week 1). He found that the best use was to talk with friends and family when away, but when with he people, he tried to eliminate technology. He always made sure to enjoy the moment. In a world where it would be easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle, he always found a way to slow down. He found a way to be thankful for all that he had and to take in the beauty of his situation in the world. He had aspirations to help others, and this led him to find happiness through making his friends, family, and strangers’ lives better. He saw how others like Dr. Rene Bermea used their profession to impact others’ lives as she said, “I realized how important it was for us to have researchers who contribute to the knowledge base so that cases like Roslyn can live.” (“Domer Dozen” by Dr. Rene Bermea FYE Moreau Week 2) He saw first hand how research helped save his aunt’s life and help reintroduce her back into society following her stroke, and he wanted to do something similar for the world. His profession as a doctor fit him perfectly. He was able to help so many people, and he found his work very fulfilling. He did have questions in his life. He wondered why God would allow suffering, and why he was blessed to be born to such a good situation. However, he realized that everything happened for a purpose, that most things were out of his control and thus the best option was to make the most of his situation. He had a strong belief that everything happens for a reason, and this helped him get through the obstacles in his life. He believed in the quote, “Every experience shapes you in some way, whether you realize it at the time or not” (“Navigating Your Career Journey” by Meruelo Family Center for Career Development FYE Moreau Week 4). He looked at the world around him and saw that everyone seemed to have a different view on what was considered a life well lived. He recognized that some people’s view of a life well lived ultimately were unsustainable. He found that the only way to sustainable happiness was to find joy in other people's joys. https://ideas.ted.com/why-we-need-a-secular-sabbath/ https://domerdozen.nd.edu/ https://domerdozen.nd.edu/ https://undergradcareers.nd.edu/navigating-your-career-journey---moreau/ https://undergradcareers.nd.edu/navigating-your-career-journey---moreau/ He took more joy in others’ success than in his own. As Marianne Moore said, “Satisfaction is a lowly thing. How pure a thing is joy.” (Three Key Questions-quote by Marianne Moore FYE Moreau Week 3). He found satisfaction in his accomplishments and work, but he took joy seeing his friends, family, and children succeed. He was also good at listening to advice. He trusted others to guide him and help him on his path. He especially followed the advice of his father. He aspired to be like him. They were alike in many ways, and he didn’t hesitate to ask for his help. They both shared the same love for their family and friends, and made the difficult choices even when it might make some people upset at the time. His life was by no means perfect. He faced his fair share of obstacles. He struggled through middle school, and had periods of anxiety throughout his life. He sometimes found himself stuck in his own head trying to figure out what caused him to be where he’s at, but he found that it was important to not dwell on the past. As Tasha Eurich says, “Why questions trap us in our past; what questions help us create a better future” (“The Right Way to Be Introspective” by Tasha Eurich FYE Moreau Week 6). While he would reflect on the “why” to learn from the past, he focused on the “what” in order to make the best decisions based on his situation regardless of how he came to this point. He always remembered that God has a plan, and everything happens for a purpose. He chose to, “View every disappointment and setback as a lesson.” (“Discernment Activity” FYE Moreau Week 5). He found that it wasn’t the obstacles we faced that define us, but what defines us is our reactions. His relationships were obviously important throughout his life. He was especially focused on his long term friendships and family relationships. He kept a smaller circle of friends, but he put everything into those relationships. He knew he couldn’t get through life alone. As Pope Francis said, “I would love it if this meeting could help to remind us that we all need each other, none of us is an island, an autonomous and independent “I,” (“Why the Only Future Worth Building Includes Everyone” by Pope Francis FYE Moreau Week 7). These relationships helped get him through anything in life. He relied on others to help him when he needed it, and more than anything you could always count on him to do the same for you. He was the best friend someone could have, the best husband to his wife, and the best father to his kids. He is the perfect example of how living a selfless life is a life well lived. https://ideas.ted.com/the-right-way-to-be-introspective-yes-theres-a-wrong-way/ https://ideas.ted.com/the-right-way-to-be-introspective-yes-theres-a-wrong-way/ https://www.ted.com/talks/his_holiness_pope_francis_why_the_only_future_worth_building_includes_everyone/transcript https://www.ted.com/talks/his_holiness_pope_francis_why_the_only_future_worth_building_includes_everyone/transcript