Integration Three Moreau Mr. Oswald 4 March 2022 How to Not Waste Your Life Away Many people live their lives doing things that do not make them happy, which makes them feel unfulfilled even to their death. One must contemplate their values in life so that they pursue activities or professions that make them feel fulfilled, rather than feeling like they wasted their life away. Throughout the past semester in Moreau, I have contemplated my definition of a life well-lived and how I can put this definition to practice in my own life. This is especially important as I go forward in choosing activities and majors to pursue in college and post-college plans. My reflections in Moreau have helped me see that a life well-lived consists of giving back to the community, pursuing something that fulfills me, and finding time to slow down. Giving back to the community benefits the well-being of others, which increases a person’s moral virtue and satisfaction. The documentary “Hesburgh” stated, “Father Hesburgh recognized that we a had a duty to serve and give back to the greater community” (“Hesburgh” by Jerry Barca and Christine O’Malley - Moreau FYE Week Two). Father Hesburgh is a famous figure of morality due to his actions as an educator, public servant, and social activist. Father Hesburgh dedicated his time and energy towards helping others which allowed him to thrive. He believed that we must serve and give back to the greater community to fulfill our moral duty and live a life well-lived. Father Michael Himes would agree with this, as he disputed, “If no one else needs my gift, even though it may be a sense of happiness and joy to me, even though it may be something I am good at, it’s not my vocation” (“Three Key Questions” by Fr. Michael Himes - https://notredame.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=10159379-7eca-4549-8581-ab9500c9ecd9 https://canvas.nd.edu/courses/39695/files/469291?module_item_id=144741 Moreau FYE Week Three). If we spend our lives doing things that only make us happy, we are not doing what’s morally right. At Notre Dame, I give back to others by involving myself in Best Buddies and the social impact division of SIBC. Luckily, I love both of these clubs and they contribute towards the greater good, which develops my moral virtue. We must benefit others and foster positive change to live a life well-lived as Father Hesburgh did. However, a person must not only pursue a profession that benefits others, but also a profession that fulfills them. This is done by ensuring that their values, interests, and skills are a significant part of their life. Within the article “Navigating Your Career Journey,” the Undergraduate Career Services remarked, “He contended that career satisfaction/success depends in part on how well a person can identify and implement his/her self-concept, which is comprised of your values, interests, personality, and skills” (“Navigating Your Career Journey” by Meruelo Family Center for Career Development - Moreau FYE Week Four). Pursuing a career that interests a person ensures that they will feel fulfilled in later years. It’s also important that they are skilled at what they do so they don’t feel incompetent. If both of these factors are secured, they won’t feel dreadful about getting up and going to work every day and feel like they’re wasting away their life. In Moreau week five, I contemplated how these factors applied to my future. I discussed, “When discussing the prompt’s questions with my mom, she confirmed many views I had about myself. For example, she said I would feel most fulfilled in a profession where I’m helping others and making a difference, but also one where I can be independent and support myself” (“Discerning a Life Well-Lived Discernment Conversation Activity” by The University of Notre Dame - Moreau FYE Week Five). My mom helped me see that I can benefit the greater good, which is a significant value I hold, while also doing something that I’m interested in and good at. I’ve always been interested in special education law because I would https://undergradcareers.nd.edu/navigating-your-career-journey---moreau/ https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yZ7hqvx-u4EuW2nlK-fRbWFiurQm1mZv_KpoeeiN4So/edit not only benefit the greater good by defending students in special education, but I would also feel fulfilled by pursuing my interest in law. I am particularly interested in law because I’ve always been skilled at reading and writing, which is why I chose to pursue political science at Notre Dame. I want to become well-versed in the operations of the government and understand the political structure, so I can make a large impact within education law. This is a good example of how someone would be able to pursue a job that would fulfill them and also benefit others. Nonetheless, one must still not spend all of their time working towards their profession. Finding time to slow down allows a person to slow down to appreciate the current moment and express gratitude for their blessings. Iyer stated in “Why we need to slow down our lives,” “The very people, in short, who have worked to speed up the world are the same ones most sensitive to the virtue of slowing down” (“Why We Need to Slow Down our Lives” by Pico Iyer - Moreau FYE Week One). By not slowing down, a person allows the current moment to pass by quickly. This shades a person from appreciating their current situation. It’s hard to express gratitude when a person is unable to slow down and reflect on their blessings. Dr. Kim experienced a tragic situation that forced him to slow down and recognize everything he had to be grateful for. Dr. Kim in the “5 Minutes” video expressed, “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, can be a blessing for some others” (“5 Minutes” by Aria Swarr - Moreau FYE Week Six). Dr. Kim realized that before, he didn’t take the time to slow down and count his blessings. After he became paralyzed, he realized everything he had taken for granted, like the ability to walk. Now he recognizes that he still has many things that others desire. This was similar to Clever’s experience in Fr. Greg Boyle’s “Tattoos on the Heart.” When one of Clever’s coworkers passed away, he conveyed, “He was not my enemy. He was my friend. We worked together” (“Tattoos 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://canvas.nd.edu/courses/39695/files/523981?module_item_id=167999 on the Heart” by Fr. Greg Boyle, S.J., Moreau FYE Week Seven). Clever was only able to realize his appreciation for his coworker, an opposing gang member, after he had died. This is likely because he took the current moment for granted and wasn’t able to express his gratitude until after his coworker was taken away from his life. As important as it is that people spend their lives doing work that is significant to others and themselves, it’s also important that they find the time to slow down and show appreciation for their blessings. The Grotto is a place that helps me slow down and reflect on my blessings at Notre Dame. I always remind myself of how lucky I am to be at this school and thank God for all of my blessings when I pray there. People cannot let their lives pass by without reflecting and counting their blessings. Altogether, to live a life well-lived, people must pursue something that benefits the well-being of others to increase their moral virtue. Nonetheless, they must also pursue something that fulfills them and ensures that their values, interests, and skills are a significant part of their profession. However, people must also find time to slow down and appreciate the current moment and express gratitude for their blessings. Each of these aspects would make sure that someone did not feel as if they wasted their life away. They would feel fulfilled, content, and a valuable member of society. https://canvas.nd.edu/courses/39695/files/523981?module_item_id=167999