Embracing Life and What it Can Teach You Embracing Life and What it Can Teach You Living a life that is worth remembering is something everyone strives for. It is no coincidence God put us on this earth. He had a specific plan for every person, and it is our job to fulfill His will. This is something Kendall believed in. She knew you never get time back, and you have to live each day to the fullest. Not many things are certain in this world, but one thing that is unavoidable, is death. Some people fear oblivion, scared of what is beyond and when their time will come. However, Sister Altheia believed, “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 - Moreau FYS Week Three). The end is something Kendall embraced, as it brought her closer to eternity in Heaven. Kendall’s life was one well-lived, and we can all learn from her experiences and advice. In our world of constant motion, Kendall thought this was the opposite of what we should be doing. “The point of sitting still is it helps you see through the very idea of pushing forward” (“Why we need to slow down our lives” by Pico Iyer - Moreau FYS Week One). She firmly believed that being constantly on the move was detrimental in trying to live a good life. Taking the time to relax and reflect on yourself is essential in life. Doing so everyday makes a huge difference in how you perform daily tasks and interact with others. Happiness is key. You must focus on your own happiness so others can be happy too. Life is not always easy. Sometimes it throws problems at you, and it is a testament to yourself how well you deal with them. Father Hesburgh once said, “In my faith you learn there’s meaning in suffering…” (“Hesburgh Film” by Jerry Barca and Christine O'Malley - Moreau FYS Week Two). This is something that really stuck to Kendall in her life. She was a firm believer in learning from your own struggles. She embraced hardship because she knew it would only make https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/14/us/memento-mori-nun.html https://ideas.ted.com/why-we-need-a-secular-sabbath/ https://notredame.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=10159379-7eca-4549-8581-ab9500c9ecd9 her a better person. A life well-lived is one with rewards. If you were to never have a problem a day of your life, your successes would not mean anything. The reward of succeeding after you have failed and made mistakes is a beautiful thing. The knowledge you gain from this lesson is worth more than a perfect life could ever be. In a conversation with her father, Kendall received insight on how to live a better life. He gave her many good tips, but something that stuck out to her was, “Always be true to yourself” (“Discernment Conversation Activity” by Bob Burgess - Moreau FYS Week Five). When she was younger, Kendall cared too much about the opinions of others. She would act like a different person around others because she was afraid of being judged if she didn’t agree with something. She quickly realized this was not a way to live a good life. She took her father’s words and decided she would live based on what she believed. She would do what made her happy and she wouldn’t worry about being someone else. Another important lesson Kendall learned was in choosing a career. “...career satisfaction/success depends in part on how well a person can identify and implement his/her career self-concept, which is comprised of your values, interests, personality, and skills” (“Navigating Your Career Journey” by Meruelo Family Center for Career Development - Moreau FYS Week Four). When she was in college, she had no idea what she wanted to do with her life. She didn’t know if she should choose her career based on money, or if she should pick something she would genuinely enjoy. She decided to go with the latter, and she never looked back. She reflected on what it was she believed in, and realized she wanted to help people. With this in mind, she decided to become a psychologist, where she helped many people throughout her lifetime. She believed this was an important aspect in living a good life. No one should be in a job they hate because if they are, then they will only be unhappy for as long as they live. https://docs.google.com/document/u/0/d/1yZ7hqvx-u4EuW2nlK-fRbWFiurQm1mZv_KpoeeiN4So/edit https://undergradcareers.nd.edu/navigating-your-career-journey/ Something else Kendall learned is that we have to be aware of how our presence affects others. “If we’re not self-aware, it’s almost impossible to master the skills that make us stronger team players, superior leaders and better relationship builders, either at work or in the rest of our lives” (“The Right Way to be Introspective (Yes, There’s a Wrong Way)” by Tasha Eurich - Moreau FYS Week Six). In order to achieve a life well-lived, we cannot be selfish and only care about ourselves. We must love our neighbors, check on them, and genuinely take interest in their lives. If you do not do this, then you are only hurting yourself. No one wants to be friends with a selfish person. This is why it is important because if you help others, you will fill your life with people who understand and care for you. “…life is not time merely passing by, life is about interactions” (“Why the only future worth building includes everyone” by His Holiness Pope Francis - Moreau FYS Week Seven). This is a large component to a good life. If you experience this world alone, then you are wasting your time. Kendall filled her life with friends, and they cared about each other. She found genuine friends who made her laugh, cry, and everything in between. One thing Kendall always wanted was to share her life experiences and the lessons she had learned along the way. This is why I am speaking today. Her life is one worth telling, and we can all take away valuable insight in how we, ourselves, can live our life better. Kendall’s purpose in life was to help others, and she found genuine happiness and fulfillment. As I look out into the crowd today, I can see she succeeded in this purpose. Everyone here has been affected by Kendall’s kindness, and it is beautiful to see people come together in celebration of her well-lived life. It is saddening she is no longer with us, but she is now living her best life in Heaven with our Heavenly Father. https://ideas.ted.com/the-right-way-to-be-introspective-yes-theres-a-wrong-way/ https://ed.ted.com/lessons/why-the-only-future-worth-building-includes-everyone-pope-francis https://ed.ted.com/lessons/why-the-only-future-worth-building-includes-everyone-pope-francis