Integration 3 - Moreau FYE 3/4/2022 : The Story of My Life We gather here today to celebrate the life of . Despite his passing, Nolan would want all of us to save their tears and celebrate his life. So, while we are all together, let's take time to reflect on Nolan’s life well-lived. Although he always worked hard and made sure to put his full effort into everything that he did, Nolan also knew how to rest and recenter himself. For Nolan, the work life balance was not just something he focused on, but he knew that it was an essential part of living a fulfilling life. Nolan often said that “The need for an empty space, a pause, is something we have all felt in our bones; it’s the rest in a piece of music that gives it resonance and shape” (“Why We Need to Slow Down Our Lives” by Pico lyer - Moreau FYE Week One). He thought that so many of us think of rest as a sign of weakness, a sign that you are not being productive, however, Nolan knew that by taking time to think about yourself and relax, you were improving your mental state and letting your body re-center itself. By letting himself rest, Nolan was able to lead a life well-lived. Nolan never considered anyone an enemy. He made friends wherever he went and with whoever he saw. He had no place for hate in his heart and Nolan thought that everyone should treat everyone else with respect. He especially disliked when people would marginalize others and be intolerant of those with different backgrounds or ideas. His life reminds me of the movie Hesburgh where one of the people talking to Hesburgh during the civil rights movement says “I’ve made friends with soldiers on both sides. I just don’t want to see my friends dead” (“Hesburgh” by Jerry Barca and Christine O’Malley - Moreau FYE Week Two). Nolan never wanted anyone to suffer and he would always do anything he could to help out other people and make sure they lived a comfortable life. https://ideas.ted.com/why-we-need-a-secular-sabbath/ 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 Nolan was also great at finding lasting happiness and joy. He always lived with a smile on his face and a positive attitude on life. He did not think of happiness as a goal, but a source of motivation and drive to be the best person that he could be. He always liked to say that “Contentment is an obstacle. Joy always pushes us forward. It’s a impulsion, a pressure to move forward, to do more, to expend oneself more deeply, more richly, to open ones talents even more widely than one had before” (“Meet the Nun That Wants You to Remember That You Will Die” by Ruth Graham - Moreau FYE Week Three). He always lived with the force of joy pushing him to be his best and achieve everything that he wanted to achieve. I think we could all learn from his devotion to using joy to push him to a fulfilled life. Nolan also realized that every event in his life held importance and influence on his goals and aspirations. He took every opportunity to squeeze as much as he could out of everyday life as well as the unique experiences along the way. He understood that “you’re not just checking a box and moving on. Every experience shapes you in some way, whether you realize it at the time or not” (“Navigating Your Career Journey” by Meruelo Family Center for Career Development - Moreau FYE Week Four). Nolan took every opportunity to make sure he got the most out of his life. Nolan also understood the importance of communication and having conversations with everyone around him. He particularly liked to talk with people of all different backgrounds and ages to get their perspectives on life and everything else. He knew that “there is a lot you do not understand about yourself until people point it out” (“Week 5 QQC” by - Moreau Week Five). He thought that it was also necessary to have others gauge your strengths and weaknesses. He thought that oftentimes people get too caught up in their own perspectives of themselves, so he always liked to converse with others and help them realize aspects about themselves that they had never considered before. Nolan enjoyed self-reflection. He was always trying to be the best version of himself that he could. To him, this meant that it was important to take time to reflect on oneself. However, he https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/14/us/memento-mori-nun.html https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/14/us/memento-mori-nun.html https://undergradcareers.nd.edu/navigating-your-career-journey---moreau/ https://canvas.nd.edu/courses/40253/assignments/49146?module_item_id=143014 knew that there is a certain way that someone should go about doing this. Nolan thought that if you reflect in a bad way, you only perpetuate your bad habits. Likewise, he understood that “the act of thinking about ourselves isn’t necessarily correlated with knowing ourselves” (“The Right Way to Be Introspective” by Tasha Eurich - Moreau FYE Week Six). If you do not reflect on yourself in the right way, then you will not realize the things about yourself that you actually want to decipher and discern. Nolan understood this concept and always worked to reflect in the right ways to approach the version of himself that he desired. Finally, Nolan devoted himself to making the world a better place. Specifically, he thought that peace in the world depended on the relationships that we make with others and how we treat those around us. For him, that meant maintaining the relationships formed throughout our lives and ensuring that we try to have a positive impact on everyone that we meet. He always liked to say “how wonderful would it be, while we discover faraway planets, to rediscover the needs of the brothers and sisters orbiting around us” as a way to portray the need for everyone to be dedicated in their relationships (“Why the Only Future Worth Building Includes Everyone” by Pope Francis - Moreau FYE Week Seven). Nolan understood that we are only as impactful in changing the world as the relationships we make with others, so it is in our best interest to connect with everyone possible. Nolan practiced and preached what it means to live a life well-lived. May he forever rest in peace. https://canvas.nd.edu/courses/40253/modules/items/143033 https://canvas.nd.edu/courses/40253/modules/items/143033 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