S2Week 15 Integration 4! Prof. Pruitt Moreau First Year Experience April 29, 2022 The Good Life. “Many of us, nowadays, seem to believe that a happy future is something impossible to achieve. While such concerns must be taken very seriously, they are not invincible. They can be overcome when we don't lock our door to the outside world. Happiness can only be discovered as a gift of harmony between the whole and each single component. Even science – and you know it better than I do – points to an understanding of reality as a place where every element connects and interacts with everything else”- Pope Francis. (“Why the only future worth building includes everyone” by Pope Francis - Moreau FYE Week 7). 9 months, gone just like that. Whether a good or bad thing, the clueless Freshman I once was is gone. I’m about to be a sophomore, about to be 20 years old, about to look for a real job. Things are getting real. However, I’m not too worried. Yes, there’s a constant pressure on me to reach my goals and to succeed in all I do - partially by me and partially by my surrounding community - but that doesn’t mean my life is controlled by that. I’ve always been an individual who seeks to embrace optimism in everyday life, and after a year at Notre Dame I would say I believe in that value even more than before. “The Good Life” is a phrase I’d never heard before coming here, but one that I now here everywhere I go. It’s an open ended concept that varies person to person, but the sentiment is constant: The Good Life is a life well lived. After hearing from doctors and professors about this exact subject all year, encountering countless sources by experts on the topic, and taking time to reflect on how it relates to my own life, I think that I am well-equipped to explain my version of “The Good Life” at this very moment. 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 Kositzke It’s important to start by acknowledging the obvious. “To us, death is exotic, but that’s a luxury particular to our time and place”- Joanna Ebenstein. (“Meet the Nun Who Wants You to Remember You Will Die” by Ruth Graham - Moreau FYE Week 3). We are here for a limited time, we could lose everything at any moment. It sucks, but it’s the truth. But, that doesn’t mean we have to give up hope and wallow in pity for this fact, rather the opposite. We must live intentionally and maximize every second we are granted on this Earth. The first step to The Good Life is a realization of our finite existence and a commitment to living a full life. Another crucial step to The Good Life we must take right away revolves around a particular word: authenticity. Living an ingenuine existence is conducive to so many negative effects in a variety of ways. People spread lies in efforts to earn the respect or love of others, but it always ends with them feeling discontent or further detached. Even when we think about most politicians, it’s observable that “They're there to serve their own emotional and intellectual needs. They're not trying to move anyone. They're not trying to empower anything. They're really just trying to learn and engage in a pretty frivolous way.” (“Passion Isn’t Enough” by Eitan Hersh - Moreau FYE Week 11). There’s a legitimate philosophical term I learned that year which sums this all up: bullshit. While attractive on the surface level, a life filled with lies and fake interactions is a life filled with bullshit. We have to be mature and elevate ourselves to a more thoughtful and intentional way of living. The modern world is divided. It’s not all because of this one problem, but it is certainly a leading cause. Leaders have to be honest and real to those they engage with, for both the betterment of themselves but also the betterment of their larger community. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/14/us/memento-mori-nun.html?login=email&auth=login-email https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/14/us/memento-mori-nun.html?login=email&auth=login-email https://hiddenbrain.org/podcast/passion-isnt-enough/ Kositzke An honest life leads to learning. There are countless testimonies about how possessing an open mind and being transparent changes people and causes significant growth. One article from this year describes a man’s volunteer efforts: “Even though I had landed on their doorstep with plans to be “their helper,” they accompanied me, and during those first two years and the many intervening ones, I think I have learned – and am still learning– to accompany them as well”- Steve Reifenberg. (“Teaching Accompaniment: A Learning Journey Together” by Steve Reifenberg - Moreau FYE Week 9). You never know what you don’t know… that may sound like nonsense but trust me, it is a valuable sentiment to have. It aligns with the concept of Socratic Ignorance, an assumption that there is always more to be learned. There’s nothing but pride to be gained from thinking you know it all, so don’t. Instead, engage with others and seek to grow- yourself, the others, and everyone else. “The only way to know more about yourself is to test the waters - just get out and experience life!” (“Navigating Your Career Journey” by the Meruelo Family Center for Career Development - Moreau FYE Week 4). With the notions of living every moment and living a genuine life in mind, we can begin to explore other facets of what makes The Good Life. Take, for example, unfamiliar encounters. Though we are inclined to stay in a comfort zone every minute of our lives, I think we all know that’s simply not an option. Historical and modern events alike display the severe need for understanding both our communities but also communities different than our own. “Each of us needs to get to know people who differ from us. We must all make a conscious decision and effort to expand our circles”- Dean G. Marcus Cole. (“I am George Floyd…” by Dean G. Marcus Cole - Moreau FYE Week 12). There is everything to gain from embracing others. These encounters stimulate growth and togetherness… sounds like The Good Life to me. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hZbSdVImfn2hZDqMrdL96dZCNOtHuf6C-lg3sH-Rs30/edit https://undergradcareers.nd.edu/navigating-your-career-journey---moreau/ https://law.nd.edu/news-events/news/dean-g-marcus-cole-i-am-george-floyd-except-i-can-breathe-and-i-can-do-something/ Kositzke With an understanding of our differences from others also comes a more open stigma around how we conduct ourselves with the unfamiliar. “Socialized into a deeply internalized sense of superiority and entitlement that we are either not consciously aware of or can never admit to ourselves, we become highly fragile in conversations about race.”- Robin DiAngelo. (“Why It’s So Hard to Talk to White People About Racism” by Robin DiAngelo - Moreau FYE Week 10). We have to look inside ourselves and see the biases held, the natural assumptions, and all of the prejudices built into who we are. It’s essential in joining together with others. On the note of reflection of oneself comes another key revelation. There is power in reviewing our past and setting goals for the future, but there is also a rabbit hole that we can easily fall deep into. “Introspection can cloud our self-perceptions and unleash a host of unintended consequences” (“The Right Way to be Introspective (Yes, There’s a Wrong Way)” by Tasha Eurich - Moreau FYE Week 6). Sure, there is much value to be gained from examining our own actions, but we can’t forget about the value of living in the moment. We have to stay present in everything we do. Think about the advice of credible Moreau authors: “I continue to keep the cornucopia of technology at arm’s length so that I can more easily remember who I am” (“Why we need to slow down our lives” by Pico Iyer - Moreau FYE Week 1). Be intentional, be present, and be aware. One other key we must acknowledge is our peers. Our community. Our own world. Influences mold the people we are and the people we become, and as such it’s crucial to surround yourself with people who push you to be the best version of yourself, who motivate and inspire you. Attending an institution with ties all over the world, we see many examples of these people, https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bdVnfLDrJUJhd-4UtYb_kfRpcFgOoOeY7O1WT8_d3iw/edit 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/ Kositzke like the Fr. Hesburgh documentary shown to all first-years (“Hesburgh” by Jerry Barca and Christine O'Malley - Moreau FYE Week 2). This is a great start, but we must also hold ourselves accountable to encounter people. They’re not always gonna be presented right to us. Whether through LinkedIn, Irish Compass, or a chance meeting in person, each and every connection that we make builds us into a more complex and mature individual (Moreau FYE Week 5). The Good Life is an abstract concept, and because of that this essay hops from topic to topic with every paragraph. But that’s the point! We should live a life of diverse perspectives and practices- we can’t be tied to one single way of thinking. If you asked me a year ago, I would have given you a vastly different definition of “The Good Life”, and if you asked me in a year I’m sure it would be equally unique. There’s no one right answer. Rather, there’s an endless collection of them. With every right answer we find, we take a step closer to living a genuinely good life, and isn’t that the goal? I’ll leave you with a succinct statement of where I place my beliefs at this point and time. It’s probably already changed by the time you read this, but it’s a starting point. Here’s to improving ourselves and others, one step at a time. To collaborate with others and use my life experiences in a manner that promotes happiness and motivation in the community and those around me. I live a life which centers around relationships, passions, and a dedication to maximize every second. With these goals in mind comes my core belief to seize any opportunity I face. We only have so much time and nothing is guaranteed—it is essential to seek out opportunities and https://notredame.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=10159379-7eca-4549-8581-ab9500c9ecd9 Kositzke to act in a manner which spreads goodwill around our world. I have been fortunate enough to be presented with the resources that allow me a platform to reach a broader community, which is something that I absolutely cannot take for granted. Regardless of the situation which I find myself in, I have an obligation to reach the goals I set for myself. With such a lifestyle, I should grow in wisdom and courage and gain an understanding of how I can address problems which surround both the lives of myself and others. I pride myself on being an individual who is caring with others and can find the positives of any circumstance I face. My diverse education and supportive community act as a driving force which allows me to continue growth and mold into a leader. A life well lived is one of happiness and collaboration, which means they are traits which I seek to embody as I traverse through life. Whether consciously or unconsciously, this is my mission and I have a duty to follow it.