You Only Live Once Discerning what a life well-lived consists of is certainly difficult given that I have so much of my life awaiting. However, I have come to realize that I define a life well-lived as one that is rooted in relations of love; a life well-lived is a life that makes an impact on others and promotes happiness, peace, and compassion. I have determined that these factors are important in a meaningful life through interactions I have had with others, figures in my life I look to for inspiration, and through mindfulness practices that allow me insight on my own life. The first person that comes to my mind when I think of someone who has a life well- lived is Father Boyle. His immense compassion and selflessness for others is astounding, and I strive to live my life like him. I admire how he is willing to help anyone and everyone no matter their background or identity. I can tell that he treats each person that crosses his path as family, and I know that he makes a big impact in the lives of many by “bridging the gulf of mutual judgment and replacing it with kinship” ("Tattoos on the Heart" by Father Greg Boyle – Moreau FYE Week Seven). Each person is created in God’s image and deserves to be celebrated for their own unique abilities and talents, and I strive to promote connectedness and respect in my everyday life. In addition to Father Boyle, I appreciate Pope Francis’s words about connectivity and how we can only build the future by being inclusive and standing together ("Why the Only Future Worth Building Includes Everyone" by Pope Francis – Moreau FYE Week Seven). I truly believe the highest form of happiness is achieved through relations with others, since after all, connection with others is part of what makes us human. At Notre Dame, I strive to develop meaningful relations with others in my day-to-day life, even if it is by simply getting lunch with someone. I also strive to promote social inclusion and equality by attending forums and conferences that educate me on what it means to stand in solidarity and address discrimination. file:///C:/Users/Blair/Downloads/_Tattoos%20on%20the%20Heart_%20-%20Chapter%208_%20Jurisdiction%20(1)%20(1).pdf 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 I hope to continue to build relationships beyond college in my future career. A career can be such a defining factor in one’s life, and it is important that my career has a positive impact on others. I liked how the career center acknowledged that “planning your career is much like planning for a trip,” ("Navigating Your Career Journey" by Meruelo Center for Career Development – Moreau FYE Week Four) and it involves a lot of exploration and personal reflection. Although I know that I want to be a doctor, I still recognize that this decision is a lifelong process. It takes significant discernment to identity values, interests, personality traits, and skills, and how you can combine them into a career. Additionally, I valued Father Michael Himes’s key questions in order to gather more insight into my goals and aspirations in life ("Three Key Questions" by Father Michael Himes – Moreau FYE Week Three). I often find myself doing things because of societal expectations of success, but I am striving to focus on activities and topics that I am passionate about and receive joy from. As Sister Aletheia discussed, we must live our life to its fullest and cherish each moment and live authentically. I appreciate the idea of “Memento Mori: Where am I headed, where do I want to end up?” because it reminds me to create meaning in my life every day ("Meet the Nun Who Wants You to Remember You Will Die" by Ruth Graham – Moreau FYE Week Three). Living a meaningful life means doing something that brings more happiness into the world, and I greatly admire how my mother has used her career as a doctor to make impacts on others through her time with Doctors without Borders. I hope to follow in a similar path and help others who do not have access to adequate healthcare. I chose to have a conversation with her about my strengths and values and how I can use them to make a positive impact (Moreau FYE Week Five). We discussed how I really value unconditional love and kindness, and we discussed my desire for a more caring world that is respectful towards people’s different cultures, beliefs, https://undergradcareers.nd.edu/navigating-your-career-journey---moreau/ https://canvas.nd.edu/courses/38593/files/470631?module_item_id=145531 https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/14/us/memento-mori-nun.html https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/14/us/memento-mori-nun.html and identities. We also talked about how my education will hopefully grant me even more skills to address issues in the world and take action just as the Domer Dozen have. I admire the work of the Domer Dozen, and they serve as a reminder of ways to use a Notre Dame education for good. For instance, I appreciate the work of Tia B. Paulette, who represents wrongfully convicted clients ("Domer Dozen" by Notre Dame – Moreau FYE Week Two). She is an excellent example of a life well-lived, since she uses her skills as a lawyer to help those from wrongfully being accused. I hope to one day be able to leave a mark and be just as impactful as the alumni that have gone before me. While I believe outward connection with others and helping others through love and compassion is a defining factor of a life well-lived, I also believe a life well-lived stems from within; it is ultimately a sense of self-awareness and self-understanding that is a catalyst for a positive outward impact in the world. The qualities most critical for success in today’s world “including emotional intelligence, empathy, influence, persuasion, communication, and collaboration all stem from self-awareness” ("The Right Way to be Introspective" by Tasha Eurich – Moreau FYE Week Six). Throughout this semester, one of the ways that I have found most valuable for gaining deeper knowledge of myself, as well as inner peace and happiness, has been mindfulness. We only have one life, and in order to make the best of it, sometimes we must slow down and reflect. There is abundant scientific evidence demonstrating the physical and mental health benefits of taking a moment to be still and mediate ("Why We Need to Slow Down Our Life" by Pico Iyer – Moreau FYE Week One). As a student at Notre Dame, this has been difficult, but I have found that when I take just five minutes to meditate, I feel more calmness and clarity. I think it is important to maintain a balance between staying curious about myself, but also allowing myself to move on from the past. I have utilized not only meditation, but also https://domerdozen.nd.edu/ https://ideas.ted.com/the-right-way-to-be-introspective-yes-theres-a-wrong-way/ https://ideas.ted.com/why-we-need-a-secular-sabbath/ https://ideas.ted.com/why-we-need-a-secular-sabbath/ other mindfulness exercises such as journaling and yoga as a way to learn more about myself. I also appreciated Dr. Kim’s advice of thinking about the little things we have to be grateful for each day and appreciating the beauty of what we have been granted in life by God ("5 Minutes" by Grotto – Moreau FYE Week Six). Overall, I believe a life well-lived is about taking the gifts and strengths one has and using them to make a positive impact in the world and not being complacent with inequalities and injustices. While living a life well-lived does not necessarily mean doing something momentous or winning a Nobel Peace Prize, it does involve actively striving to promote love and kindness for all. At Notre Dame I aim to brighten people’s day around me, as well as help those in the greater south bend community through volunteering. After I graduate, I hope to take the new skills I have gained during my time here and utilize them in my career and by serving others. https://grottonetwork.com/make-an-impact/transform/why-does-god-allow-suffering/?utm_source=moreau&utm_medium=class&utm_campaign=spring_2022