Integration 3 Moreau Integration Three 3/4/22 A Look Back on the Life of Alex never had a concrete idea of what he wanted to be. He would sometimes ask himself what life he was living? What was his purpose? What did he want to do with his life? The stressful life of a college student came with many obstacles which overwhelmed him at times. However, he was no stranger to stress. When he was younger he was easily frustrated when work piled up or when he was confused. That continued to be the case until he finally found time for himself. He recognized the benefits of taking a step back from his work to self-reflect and to escape from the everyday troubles he encountered. He would agree with one of the most influential figures of all time, Mahatma Gandhi, who was said to have woken up and told those around him, “This is going to be a very busy day. I won’t be able to meditate for an hour.” His friends were taken aback at this rare break from his discipline. “I’ll have to meditate for two.” (Why We Need to Slow Our Lives Down by Pico Lyer - Moreau Week One) It’s so easy to get caught up in the troubles and tribulations of day to day life. The stress that comes with these everyday tasks can deteriorate one’s mental health even further. Alex came to understand the importance of taking a step back from the tasks at hand so that when he finally came around to them, he addressed them effectively and efficiently. He took walks around the lakes multiple times every week, letting his mind wander, as he soaked in the surrounding beauty. He would tell you to do the same. Even if you can’t answer the questions nagging at the back of your mind, taking time for yourself calms you down and alleviates pent up stress and frustration. Alex used to be focused on all the things he couldn’t do or control. He would become caught up in his imperfections and think about how much of a failure he was. That was until he started being grateful for the things he did have. He was healthy, had great friends, a loving family, attended a prestigious university, and so much more. There was a lot to be proud and thankful for. When he focused on these things, he was able to shut out thoughts of being a failure or not enough to others. Dr. Kim, a survivor of a horrible snowboarding accident which left him paralyzed talked about the importance of being thankful for what we have. “I was always so focused on what I cannot do. I complained that I couldn’t move my fingers, I couldn’t move my legs. But then I began to realize that some of the things that I can do, the movements that I have already, can be a blessing for some others.” (5 Minutes by Grotto/Dr. Jihoon Kim - Moreau Week Six) Alex was extremely lucky to live the life he did, and the more he realized that, the more he was able to love himself, and more importantly, love the people around him. One of the questions that always bothered Alex was what he wanted to do when he graduated from college. He never knew how to answer this question. A passage about Dr. Rene Bermea’s inspiration behind pursuing a career in medicine opened Alex’s eyes to where he could start looking, regarding his future. Bermea was, “a freshman in high school when his younger sister… was diagnosed with a rare and life-threatening brain tumor that required surgery and left her dependent on a slew of medications to support her endocrine system. This served as his motivation to pursue a career in medicine.” (Domer Dozen by Notre Dame Alumni Association - https://ideas.ted.com/why-we-need-a-secular-sabbath/ https://grottonetwork.com/make-an-impact/transform/why-does-god-allow-suffering/?utm_source=moreau&utm_medium=class&utm_campaign=spring_2022 https://domerdozen.nd.edu/ Moreau Week Two) He found Dr Bermea’s story touching. His determination to help his sister and others in similar situations was selfless and inspiring. Although Alex still had trouble deciphering what he wanted to do outside of college, he, along with many others that knew him, always saw that he loved helping people. He asked himself what classes he was most interested in and what paths they could offer him to help others. He took comfort in the fact that Dr. Super suggested, “career decision making is a developmental process that spans a person’s entire lifetime.” (Navigating Your Career Journey by MERUELO FAMILY CENTER FOR CAREER DEVELOPMENT - Moreau Week Four) Alex knew that he had the ability to try new things and help people in different ways. It went along with his go-with-the-flow attitude. As his life changed, his career could as well. Although his path wasn’t set, he knew his willingness to help others would lead him down the right path. Although one might find themselves on a path to a life well-lived, all paths eventually end. This is something that Alex frequently reminded himself of. Although it originally sounds grim, a quote from Sister Theresa Aletheia Noble explains the importance of reminding oneself about death, “The concept is to intentionally think 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/Sister Theresa Aletheia Noble (NYT) - Moreau Week Three) Death is a scary topic in modern society. Many people try to avoid this fact because it brings them momentary happiness. However, understanding that death awaits us all allows us to make the most of our time spent living. Considering we don’t know what happens after death we have to appreciate what we know and what we have right in front of us. Because Alex acknowledged and accepted this inevitable fact, he was able to step out of his comfort zone to try new things, meet new people, and appreciate the ones already in his life. Alex was far from a perfect person. He was his own worst critic in many aspects of life, that’s why it was important for him to be surrounded by people that cared about him. If you knew him, you knew his bond with his parents was extremely strong. Alex talked with his parents a lot, especially about his troubles. Having his parents and friends to talk with, kept him grounded in reality, but also pushed him to grow and become a better person. Coming from the people who knew him best, he was able to realize that he needed to broaden his horizons and try new things. Alex always liked knowing things to be certain, however, if he stuck to that way of living he’d miss out on so much. The relationships he formed allowed him to experience new things and built him into the person who many went on to know. (Moreau Week Five) “Hope is a humble, hidden seed of life that, with time, will develop into a large tree. It is like some invisible yeast that allows the whole dough to grow, that brings flavor to all aspects of life. And it can do so much, because a tiny flicker of light that feeds on hope is enough to shatter the shield of darkness. A single individual is enough for hope to exist, and that individual can be you. And then there will be another "you," and another ‘you,’ and it turns into an ‘us.’” (Why the only future worth building includes everyone by His Holiness Pope Francis (TED) - Moreau Week Seven) If Alex wanted to be remembered as someone, it would be someone who gave others hope. He never had a set career path or a specific dream, but he had a goal to become a light for someone, especially for those shrouded in darkness. He knew what it was like to be https://undergradcareers.nd.edu/navigating-your-career-journey---moreau/ 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://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 consumed by self-hatred and failure. But just as others did for him, he would do whatever it took to show others the beauty in the world. He would try to make you feel wanted and cared for. He knew each person had their own strengths and weaknesses which made each person beautiful in their own way, and he loved when he was able to see both in full force. He sought unity, respect, and mutual love for others in hopes of a brighter future. If others remembered him for these things, he would have said he had a life well-lived.