Integration One Living the Good Life “What makes a good life?” This is the foundational question of my philosophy class, God and the Good Life. Throughout the semester, we are taught different philosophical theories or virtues that explain different views of a life well-lived. From Kantian Deontology to Hedonism, we are asked to weigh these topics against our own understanding of the good life. By doing this, we sharpen our own beliefs while incorporating those of different philosophers. Although broad philosophical topics may be able to explain the themes of a good life, I believe that a life well-lived is personal and entwined with one’s beliefs. I believe that strong relationships are necessary for someone to have a good life. When my town first went into quarantine during March of 2020, interactions between other people were forbidden as everyone was relegated to their house. Because of this, some people began to develop a sense of loneliness, especially those who live alone; however, spending time with my family physically and virtually with my friends helped to alleviate the issues of being confined and made it enjoyable in a different way. Instead of hanging out at school, I played video games on Xbox with my friends while communicating over the phone. During a normal year, I would only see my family a few times a day due to school and other activities; now, I spend much of my day with them as we have meals together along with events like movie night. By continuing to engage in these relationships, I found happiness in an otherwise trying time. During the last year, I’ve realized the importance of ‘true’ relationships, specifically with friends. Due to the closeness of my family, I know that we will be together no matter what; however, it is difficult to find a friendship that this holds true for. This idea of a ‘true’ friend is epitomized by the quote “The best kind of friendships are the ones where you leave with a smile on your face, knowing you’re both growing to be better people and that you’re helping each other get there” (“5 Signs You’re in a Toxic Friendship” by Olivia T. Taylor - Moreau FYE Week Four, https://grottonetwork.com/navigate-life/relationships/signs-of-toxic-friendships/). This type of friend is someone who brings out the best person that you can be and enables you to reach your full potential. I’ve been lucky enough to develop a relationship during high school with someone who I’d consider to be a ‘true’ friend. This friendship has been very helpful in dealing with difficult times, and I don’t know where I’d be without it. Although I put a lot of value in my relationships that are ‘true,’ I enjoy spending time with people who I’m not as close with, which is, in fact, a vast majority of my friendships. These relationships can be just as important to one’s happiness as a ‘true’ friendship albeit with less familiarity. I express my appreciation for all of my friends when I write “I am from my friends, Enjoying good times together, While simultaneously working through difficult ones” (“Where I’m From Poem” by - Moreau FYE Week Six, https://docs.google.com/document/d/1OTqjf3hIq72_6oVFCQqtpX3r-y0kh7rO5dxoFxOy-1s/edit? usp=sharing). However, for many, it is difficult to form any kind of relationship. During a TedTalk, Dr. Brown said that “There was only one variable that separated the people who had a strong sense of love and belonging, and really struggle for it: That was the people who have a strong sense of love and belonging believe that they are worthy of love and belonging” (“The Power of Vulnerability” by Brené Brown - Moreau FYE Week One, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4Qm9cGRub0). Based on this, one must believe that they are worthy of love in order to attain a happy, healthy relationship. In other words, a person must love themself before they are able to love others fully. I believe that learning about oneself and others is a life-long journey. During one of the required videos for the third week of Moreau, Father Pete said “The greatest journey you will ever go on is one of self-discovery . . . what truly matters is authentically responding to the best of your ability as the person you know yourself to be” (“The Role of Faith in Our Story” by Fr. Pete McCormick, C.S.C. - Moreau FYE Week Three, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcZMeqWWOIs). The idea that self-discovery is a major focus of our lives is something that I realized recently. During my last years in high school, I began to actively search for and try to become the best version of myself. Through this process, I’ve made progress on becoming who I want to be while learning more about who I am already. As I experience college, the learning of different topics is evident in our classwork while learning about myself is hidden within multiple experiences. This focus on self-discovery during college is even shown in Notre Dame’s mission of helping its students grow in both heart and mind. This journey extends beyond college and the rest of one’s life as they enter the workforce and continue the relationships that they built. In fact, one of the best ways to grow as a person is by surrounding yourself with ‘true’ relationships and learning from these people who truly care about you. In walking the path of self-discovery, a person can become the most genuine version of themselves. It is also important to learn about other peoples and cultures alongside self-reflection. During her TedTalk, Chimamanda said “It had not occurred to me that anybody in his family could actually make something. All I had heard about them was how poor they were that it became impossible for me to see them as anything else but poor” (“Danger of a Single Story” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie - Moreau FYE Week Seven, https://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_ngozi_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story). Because of her limited perspective, she was unable to fully understand him and his family; instead, they were a caricature of poverty within her mind. Her narrow perspective allowed this single trait to become their defining characteristic. In order to fully understand people, a person must be open to perspectives other than their own so that incorrect biases and generalizations don’t form. Therefore, it is important to learn about others along with yourself to have a better understanding of the world around you. I believe in the importance of helping others. During the second week of Moreau, Brooks says “We happen to live in a society that favors Adam 1 and often neglects Adam 2” (“Should You Live for your Resume or Your Eulogy?” by David Brooks - Moreau FYE Week Two, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlLWTeApqIM). Unfortunately, there is much truth behind this quote as people spend significantly more time focusing on their success than they do on helping others. However, in my life, the importance of volunteership has always been prevalent. Having been raised Christian, I learned about service and its role in our lives. I heard the biblical miracles of Jesus curing the sick and feeding the hungry. Although I can not perform miracles of any magnitude, I’ve realized that volunteering to help others can be just as miraculous as turning water to wine. During my time in high school, I volunteered at a local community center, called Beacon Place, which served an under-resourced area. It was a place where the community could gather for events like Halloween and Easter. However, its more important purpose was the education of the students. From 1st grade to 8th grade, Beacon Place worked with them, teaching them subjects from reading to robotics. When they reached high school, Beacon Place didn’t leave them; instead, it changed its role and helped the students with their college applications. By guiding a child from 1st grade to college, which would have been nothing more than a dream for many families, Beacon Place performs miracles. This reminds me of a quote from Mrs. Harris’s speech at a Notre Dame graduation ceremony. She said “The way to amplify your life is to use who you are, what you know, and who you know to help others for that will take your life from success to significance” ("2021 Laetare Medalist Address" by Carla Harris - Moreau FYE Week Five, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjSwjn-SyB4). Just as Beacon Place’s significance comes from volunteer teaching, I hope that I will be able to apply my skills and abilities towards the service of others in order to live a life of significance. Strong relationships, self-discovery, understanding other people and perspectives, and helping others are all beliefs of mine that I believe will allow me to live a good life. Although I’ve offered a strong reasoning for these beliefs, this doesn’t make them the definitive way to live. Each person’s life and choices are a reflection of themself and their own will. The idea of a good life is impossible to define; instead, each individual must have their own understanding of a life well-lived. It, like all the great philosophical questions, is a matter of subjectivity.