good afternoon everyone and thank you so much for coming I wanted to start off
much for coming I wanted to start off
much for coming I wanted to start off today’s talk by examining these two
today’s talk by examining these two
today’s talk by examining these two well-known Olympic athletes base it yeah
well-known Olympic athletes base it yeah
well-known Olympic athletes base it yeah sorry based on these pictures alone can
sorry based on these pictures alone can
sorry based on these pictures alone can you tell which of these women is a
you tell which of these women is a
you tell which of these women is a bronze medalist and which is a silver
bronze medalist and which is a silver
bronze medalist and which is a silver medalist as it turns out Chinese swimmer
medalist as it turns out Chinese swimmer
medalist as it turns out Chinese swimmer foo you aren’t we here on the left
foo you aren’t we here on the left
foo you aren’t we here on the left actually earned the bronze medal while
actually earned the bronze medal while
actually earned the bronze medal while American gymnast mckayla maroney here
American gymnast mckayla maroney here
American gymnast mckayla maroney here earned the silver medal so why is it
earned the silver medal so why is it
earned the silver medal so why is it that the bronze medalist the Chinese
that the bronze medalist the Chinese
that the bronze medalist the Chinese swimmer here looks so much happier
swimmer here looks so much happier
swimmer here looks so much happier despite achieving less Cornell
despite achieving less Cornell
despite achieving less Cornell University’s thomasgillam vich set out
University’s thomasgillam vich set out
University’s thomasgillam vich set out to investigate the strange paradox and
to investigate the strange paradox and
to investigate the strange paradox and his stutter and his study entitled the
his stutter and his study entitled the
his stutter and his study entitled the bizarre psychology of the bronze medal
bizarre psychology of the bronze medal
bizarre psychology of the bronze medal winner and over a hundred interviews and
winner and over a hundred interviews and
winner and over a hundred interviews and independent evaluations of the athletes
independent evaluations of the athletes
independent evaluations of the athletes facial features and reactions to
facial features and reactions to
facial features and reactions to initially winning their medals professor
initially winning their medals professor
initially winning their medals professor Gil evicts strangely discovered that
Gil evicts strangely discovered that
Gil evicts strangely discovered that silver medalists seemed consistently to
silver medalists seemed consistently to
silver medalists seemed consistently to be less happy than their bronze medal
be less happy than their bronze medal
be less happy than their bronze medal counterparts professor Gil evict
counterparts professor Gil evict
counterparts professor Gil evict reasoned that while bronze medalists
reasoned that while bronze medalists
reasoned that while bronze medalists often are grateful and happy to receive
often are grateful and happy to receive
often are grateful and happy to receive award at all the silver medalists often
award at all the silver medalists often
award at all the silver medalists often constantly compare themselves to what
constantly compare themselves to what
constantly compare themselves to what they could have done to achieve the gold
they could have done to achieve the gold
they could have done to achieve the gold now in this way we can see that
now in this way we can see that
now in this way we can see that happiness truly is a mindset more than
happiness truly is a mindset more than
happiness truly is a mindset more than anything else and when we approach life
anything else and when we approach life
anything else and when we approach life with this mentality our happiness
with this mentality our happiness
with this mentality our happiness becomes independent of our
becomes independent of our
becomes independent of our accomplishments and accolades but rather
accomplishments and accolades but rather
accomplishments and accolades but rather a product of our state of mind that’s
a product of our state of mind that’s
a product of our state of mind that’s exactly what I wanted to talk about with
exactly what I wanted to talk about with
exactly what I wanted to talk about with you all today how we can all position
you all today how we can all position
you all today how we can all position ourselves to better be happier
ourselves to better be happier
ourselves to better be happier individuals in our everyday lives now to
individuals in our everyday lives now to
individuals in our everyday lives now to begin I believe its first important to
begin I believe its first important to
begin I believe its first important to understand the ancient underpinnings of
understand the ancient underpinnings of
understand the ancient underpinnings of the philosophy of happiness and don’t
the philosophy of happiness and don’t
the philosophy of happiness and don’t confuse this with a perfunctory exercise
confuse this with a perfunctory exercise
confuse this with a perfunctory exercise or just a dry philosophy lesson because
or just a dry philosophy lesson because
or just a dry philosophy lesson because in my opinion it’s important to analyze
in my opinion it’s important to analyze
in my opinion it’s important to analyze in order to gain a deeper understanding
in order to gain a deeper understanding
in order to gain a deeper understanding of what happiness is it’s important to
of what happiness is it’s important to
of what happiness is it’s important to analyze what the great thinkers who
analyze what the great thinkers who
analyze what the great thinkers who first analyzed the human psyche thought
first analyzed the human psyche thought
first analyzed the human psyche thought indeed classical philosophers set out to
indeed classical philosophers set out to
indeed classical philosophers set out to expand on this rapidly growing school of
expand on this rapidly growing school of
expand on this rapidly growing school of thought focused on human flourishing and
thought focused on human flourishing and
thought focused on human flourishing and his famous work Nicomachean ethics for
his famous work Nicomachean ethics for
his famous work Nicomachean ethics for exam
exam
exam Aristotle articulates the concept of
Aristotle articulates the concept of
Aristotle articulates the concept of eudaimonia which are which translates
eudaimonia which are which translates
eudaimonia which are which translates into human flourishing greco-roman
into human flourishing greco-roman
into human flourishing greco-roman authors wrote prolifically about how to
authors wrote prolifically about how to
authors wrote prolifically about how to achieve this enlightened state of being
achieve this enlightened state of being
achieve this enlightened state of being and how to be happier in their everyday
and how to be happier in their everyday
and how to be happier in their everyday lives during this metaphysical quest
lives during this metaphysical quest
lives during this metaphysical quest these riders expanded on lots of
these riders expanded on lots of
these riders expanded on lots of literature and produce many great works
literature and produce many great works
literature and produce many great works of art and in the end these classical
of art and in the end these classical
of art and in the end these classical thinkers seemed to distill happiness to
thinkers seemed to distill happiness to
thinkers seemed to distill happiness to two essential pillars the first of which
two essential pillars the first of which
two essential pillars the first of which was virtue Aristotle and vision virtue
was virtue Aristotle and vision virtue
was virtue Aristotle and vision virtue as the highest human trait that of moral
as the highest human trait that of moral
as the highest human trait that of moral excellence arguing that people have
excellence arguing that people have
excellence arguing that people have innate admiration for those who can
innate admiration for those who can
innate admiration for those who can carry out acts of moral beauty glasgow
carry out acts of moral beauty glasgow
carry out acts of moral beauty glasgow philosophers agreed and asserted that
philosophers agreed and asserted that
philosophers agreed and asserted that all people have an equal ability to
all people have an equal ability to
all people have an equal ability to accept virtue and lived by its tenets
accept virtue and lived by its tenets
accept virtue and lived by its tenets and out and have a virtuous life stoic
and out and have a virtuous life stoic
and out and have a virtuous life stoic philosopher Seneca for example wrote
philosopher Seneca for example wrote
philosopher Seneca for example wrote that virtue is the same in a rich man as
that virtue is the same in a rich man as
that virtue is the same in a rich man as in a poor and the sickly man as the
in a poor and the sickly man as the
in a poor and the sickly man as the sound and in a strong man as in a week
sound and in a strong man as in a week
sound and in a strong man as in a week using these dichotomies Seneca taught
using these dichotomies Seneca taught
using these dichotomies Seneca taught that virtue as oak as universal and open
that virtue as oak as universal and open
that virtue as oak as universal and open to all of us we can all accept its
to all of us we can all accept its
to all of us we can all accept its tenets and live by its fundamental
tenets and live by its fundamental
tenets and live by its fundamental teachings however philosophers such as
teachings however philosophers such as
teachings however philosophers such as Plato and Marcus Aurelius pragmatically
Plato and Marcus Aurelius pragmatically
Plato and Marcus Aurelius pragmatically pointed out that not all of us fall over
pointed out that not all of us fall over
pointed out that not all of us fall over to you as a as a guide for life even
to you as a as a guide for life even
to you as a as a guide for life even though all of us may possess a small
though all of us may possess a small
though all of us may possess a small green event within ourselves so
green event within ourselves so
green event within ourselves so ultimately it’s only when we tap into
ultimately it’s only when we tap into
ultimately it’s only when we tap into this undiscovered and latent reservoir
this undiscovered and latent reservoir
this undiscovered and latent reservoir of character within us that we elevate
of character within us that we elevate
of character within us that we elevate ourselves to a higher state of moral
ourselves to a higher state of moral
ourselves to a higher state of moral excellence equally important to
excellence equally important to
excellence equally important to classical thinkers and the pursuit of
classical thinkers and the pursuit of
classical thinkers and the pursuit of happiness was this idea of the value of
happiness was this idea of the value of
happiness was this idea of the value of friendship and its work day on mekia for
friendship and its work day on mekia for
friendship and its work day on mekia for example Cicero posits that friendship is
example Cicero posits that friendship is
example Cicero posits that friendship is the ultimate relationship we as humans
the ultimate relationship we as humans
the ultimate relationship we as humans can achieve calling it an agreement of
can achieve calling it an agreement of
can achieve calling it an agreement of all things divine in human joined with
all things divine in human joined with
all things divine in human joined with kindness and affection Cicero argued
kindness and affection Cicero argued
kindness and affection Cicero argued that while other aspects of human life
that while other aspects of human life
that while other aspects of human life such as riches health power and honor
such as riches health power and honor
such as riches health power and honor are all dependent on the capricious
are all dependent on the capricious
are all dependent on the capricious nature of fortune true friendship is
nature of fortune true friendship is
nature of fortune true friendship is steadfast and unwavering Seneca even
steadfast and unwavering Seneca even
steadfast and unwavering Seneca even argued that a true friend can represent
argued that a true friend can represent
argued that a true friend can represent an extension of oneself saying that a
an extension of oneself saying that a
an extension of oneself saying that a friend is an eye a whore
friend is an eye a whore
friend is an eye a whore a tongue a hand at all distances so here
a tongue a hand at all distances so here
a tongue a hand at all distances so here we see this bold idea that friendship is
we see this bold idea that friendship is
we see this bold idea that friendship is as essential to humanity as literal body
as essential to humanity as literal body
as essential to humanity as literal body parts are to human existence so to
parts are to human existence so to
parts are to human existence so to briefly summarize what we see coming out
briefly summarize what we see coming out
briefly summarize what we see coming out of this classical era with regards to
of this classical era with regards to
of this classical era with regards to the philosophy of happiness are these
the philosophy of happiness are these
the philosophy of happiness are these two equally powerful ideas of virtue and
two equally powerful ideas of virtue and
two equally powerful ideas of virtue and in friendship which collectively embody
in friendship which collectively embody
in friendship which collectively embody the spirit of mastering both the self
the spirit of mastering both the self
the spirit of mastering both the self and virtue and mastering our personal
and virtue and mastering our personal
and virtue and mastering our personal relationships and our interactions with
relationships and our interactions with
relationships and our interactions with others within friendship but now that we
others within friendship but now that we
others within friendship but now that we understand a little a little bit about
understand a little a little bit about
understand a little a little bit about the philosophical roots of happiness the
the philosophical roots of happiness the
the philosophical roots of happiness the question becomes how do we achieve
question becomes how do we achieve
question becomes how do we achieve happiness and seeing that countless
happiness and seeing that countless
happiness and seeing that countless poets playwrights authors and
poets playwrights authors and
poets playwrights authors and psychologists have tackled this question
psychologists have tackled this question
psychologists have tackled this question for millennia now it would be foolish of
for millennia now it would be foolish of
for millennia now it would be foolish of me to profess that I somehow hold the
me to profess that I somehow hold the
me to profess that I somehow hold the ultimate secret to happiness or I’ve
ultimate secret to happiness or I’ve
ultimate secret to happiness or I’ve even come close to unraveling all its
even come close to unraveling all its
even come close to unraveling all its mysteries rather as a senior I wanted to
mysteries rather as a senior I wanted to
mysteries rather as a senior I wanted to share with you all my personal
share with you all my personal
share with you all my personal experience of growth and realization
experience of growth and realization
experience of growth and realization throughout my high school journey so
throughout my high school journey so
throughout my high school journey so without further ado here’s my story the
without further ado here’s my story the
without further ado here’s my story the first step in my transformation was
first step in my transformation was
first step in my transformation was understanding that the the need for
understanding that the the need for
understanding that the the need for recalibration we live in a world
recalibration we live in a world
recalibration we live in a world dominated by scientific and economic
dominated by scientific and economic
dominated by scientific and economic progress yet how is it that more and
progress yet how is it that more and
progress yet how is it that more and more of us feel so empty indeed the
more of us feel so empty indeed the
more of us feel so empty indeed the Dalai Lama articulated that the great
Dalai Lama articulated that the great
Dalai Lama articulated that the great paradox of our times is that we spend
paradox of our times is that we spend
paradox of our times is that we spend more but have less we have bigger houses
more but have less we have bigger houses
more but have less we have bigger houses but smaller families we have learned how
but smaller families we have learned how
but smaller families we have learned how to make a living but not how to make a
to make a living but not how to make a
to make a living but not how to make a life similarly why is it that we care
life similarly why is it that we care
life similarly why is it that we care more about our gross national product
more about our gross national product
more about our gross national product instead of our gross national happiness
instead of our gross national happiness
instead of our gross national happiness for example John F Kennedy observed that
for example John F Kennedy observed that
for example John F Kennedy observed that the gross national product does not
the gross national product does not
the gross national product does not account for the health of our children
account for the health of our children
account for the health of our children the quality of their education or the
the quality of their education or the
the quality of their education or the joy of their play it does not include
joy of their play it does not include
joy of their play it does not include the beauty of our poetry or the strength
the beauty of our poetry or the strength
the beauty of our poetry or the strength of our marriages and measures neither
of our marriages and measures neither
of our marriages and measures neither our wit nor our courage neither our
our wit nor our courage neither our
our wit nor our courage neither our wisdom nor our learning it measures
wisdom nor our learning it measures
wisdom nor our learning it measures everything in short except that which
everything in short except that which
everything in short except that which makes life worthwhile so in light of
makes life worthwhile so in light of
makes life worthwhile so in light of these profound contradictions i
these profound contradictions i
these profound contradictions i discovered the need for us to
discovered the need for us to
discovered the need for us to recalibrate and perhaps revert to more
recalibrate and perhaps revert to more
recalibrate and perhaps revert to more ancient definitions of happiness
ancient definitions of happiness
ancient definitions of happiness less focused on materialism but more on
less focused on materialism but more on
less focused on materialism but more on the aspects that make us as human beings
the aspects that make us as human beings
the aspects that make us as human beings flourish and thrive like virtue and
flourish and thrive like virtue and
flourish and thrive like virtue and friendship now the next the next part of
friendship now the next the next part of
friendship now the next the next part of my journey was understanding that the
my journey was understanding that the
my journey was understanding that the key to recalibration lied in
key to recalibration lied in
key to recalibration lied in introspection now I dumala G
introspection now I dumala G
introspection now I dumala G etymologically the word introspection
etymologically the word introspection
etymologically the word introspection comes from the Latin prefix intro
comes from the Latin prefix intro
comes from the Latin prefix intro meaning within combined with the Latin
meaning within combined with the Latin
meaning within combined with the Latin verbs spectro SPECT re which means to
verbs spectro SPECT re which means to
verbs spectro SPECT re which means to look so at its core introspection is the
look so at its core introspection is the
look so at its core introspection is the process of looking within oneself this
process of looking within oneself this
process of looking within oneself this process of self-examination is critical
process of self-examination is critical
process of self-examination is critical to recalibration because it enables us
to recalibration because it enables us
to recalibration because it enables us to engage in ourselves in a deeper
to engage in ourselves in a deeper
to engage in ourselves in a deeper capacity and on a deeper capacity as
capacity and on a deeper capacity as
capacity and on a deeper capacity as well if we neglect this inward looking
well if we neglect this inward looking
well if we neglect this inward looking process we lose sight of what matters in
process we lose sight of what matters in
process we lose sight of what matters in life and the bigger picture of course as
life and the bigger picture of course as
life and the bigger picture of course as Socrates famously stated the unexamined
Socrates famously stated the unexamined
Socrates famously stated the unexamined life is not worth living and
life is not worth living and
life is not worth living and surprisingly I’ve personally found that
surprisingly I’ve personally found that
surprisingly I’ve personally found that the place is most conducive to
the place is most conducive to
the place is most conducive to introspection aren’t necessarily always
introspection aren’t necessarily always
introspection aren’t necessarily always these spectacular gems of nature
these spectacular gems of nature
these spectacular gems of nature completely devoid of human touch rather
completely devoid of human touch rather
completely devoid of human touch rather I’ve witnessed that tremendous beauty
I’ve witnessed that tremendous beauty
I’ve witnessed that tremendous beauty can be seen all around us if we simply
can be seen all around us if we simply
can be seen all around us if we simply take the time to stop and notice it a
take the time to stop and notice it a
take the time to stop and notice it a couple of weeks ago for example I was
couple of weeks ago for example I was
couple of weeks ago for example I was waiting here on campus at six-forty-five
waiting here on campus at six-forty-five
waiting here on campus at six-forty-five just waiting for my dancer or so to
just waiting for my dancer or so to
just waiting for my dancer or so to start with so few friends on campus at
start with so few friends on campus at
start with so few friends on campus at that time I decided to go to davis field
that time I decided to go to davis field
that time I decided to go to davis field and lie down putting my phone and
and lie down putting my phone and
and lie down putting my phone and computer away and just watching the sky
computer away and just watching the sky
computer away and just watching the sky and gazing at all the clouds in the sky
and gazing at all the clouds in the sky
and gazing at all the clouds in the sky after a while I felt the shouts
after a while I felt the shouts
after a while I felt the shouts emanating from the JV water polo game
emanating from the JV water polo game
emanating from the JV water polo game and the clamor of construction softened
and the clamor of construction softened
and the clamor of construction softened to a dull murmur as I found myself lost
to a dull murmur as I found myself lost
to a dull murmur as I found myself lost in the blueness of the sky and
in the blueness of the sky and
in the blueness of the sky and intoxicated by the wild air as thorough
intoxicated by the wild air as thorough
intoxicated by the wild air as thorough would say during this opportunity to
would say during this opportunity to
would say during this opportunity to seemingly stand outside the world for a
seemingly stand outside the world for a
seemingly stand outside the world for a brief moment of time among the
brief moment of time among the
brief moment of time among the exigencies of schoolwork and the demands
exigencies of schoolwork and the demands
exigencies of schoolwork and the demands of extracurricular activities I
of extracurricular activities I
of extracurricular activities I relinquished my mind to the forces of
relinquished my mind to the forces of
relinquished my mind to the forces of imagination and contemplation it’s in
imagination and contemplation it’s in
imagination and contemplation it’s in quiet moments of liberation like this
quiet moments of liberation like this
quiet moments of liberation like this that I’m reminded of a much more simple
that I’m reminded of a much more simple
that I’m reminded of a much more simple definition of happiness and while the
definition of happiness and while the
definition of happiness and while the process of introspection will
process of introspection will
process of introspection will undoubtedly lead to different thoughts
undoubtedly lead to different thoughts
undoubtedly lead to different thoughts and musings for all of you it’s still
and musings for all of you it’s still
and musings for all of you it’s still important nonetheless
important nonetheless
important nonetheless to consciously make that decision and
to consciously make that decision and
to consciously make that decision and step back and examine ourselves indeed
step back and examine ourselves indeed
step back and examine ourselves indeed Aristotle wrote that the life of
Aristotle wrote that the life of
Aristotle wrote that the life of contemplation is the highest form of
contemplation is the highest form of
contemplation is the highest form of human activity since it promotes
human activity since it promotes
human activity since it promotes individuality and self analysis so my
individuality and self analysis so my
individuality and self analysis so my challenge to you is to once in a while
challenge to you is to once in a while
challenge to you is to once in a while put your phone and computer away for
put your phone and computer away for
put your phone and computer away for just 30 minutes and simply spend time
just 30 minutes and simply spend time
just 30 minutes and simply spend time just by yourself all alone whether that
just by yourself all alone whether that
just by yourself all alone whether that be watching the sunrise in the morning
be watching the sunrise in the morning
be watching the sunrise in the morning or just walking through your local
or just walking through your local
or just walking through your local neighborhood and this way we can all
neighborhood and this way we can all
neighborhood and this way we can all start to recalibrate and live the more
start to recalibrate and live the more
start to recalibrate and live the more examined life as the classical classical
examined life as the classical classical
examined life as the classical classical philosophers would have advised us to do
philosophers would have advised us to do
philosophers would have advised us to do and equally important as what we do with
and equally important as what we do with
and equally important as what we do with our own time such as introspection is
our own time such as introspection is
our own time such as introspection is how we treat other people which is why
how we treat other people which is why
how we treat other people which is why we need to embrace empathy and kindness
we need to embrace empathy and kindness
we need to embrace empathy and kindness more in our daily lives when pursuing
more in our daily lives when pursuing
more in our daily lives when pursuing happiness in his great and is filmed the
happiness in his great and is filmed the
happiness in his great and is filmed the great dictator Charlie Chaplin argued
great dictator Charlie Chaplin argued
great dictator Charlie Chaplin argued that our knowledge has made us cynical
that our knowledge has made us cynical
that our knowledge has made us cynical our cleverness hard and our cleverness
our cleverness hard and our cleverness
our cleverness hard and our cleverness hard and unfeeling we feel too we think
hard and unfeeling we feel too we think
hard and unfeeling we feel too we think too much but feel too little more than
too much but feel too little more than
too much but feel too little more than machinery we need humanity more than
machinery we need humanity more than
machinery we need humanity more than cleverness we need kindness indeed in a
cleverness we need kindness indeed in a
cleverness we need kindness indeed in a world preoccupied with selfish pursuits
world preoccupied with selfish pursuits
world preoccupied with selfish pursuits such as that of wealth it’s important to
such as that of wealth it’s important to
such as that of wealth it’s important to not forget what makes us human we need
not forget what makes us human we need
not forget what makes us human we need to start living by the advice to not be
to start living by the advice to not be
to start living by the advice to not be impressed by money titles followers or
impressed by money titles followers or
impressed by money titles followers or degrees but to be impressed by integrity
degrees but to be impressed by integrity
degrees but to be impressed by integrity humility kindness and compassion too
humility kindness and compassion too
humility kindness and compassion too often do we see wealth as treated as a
often do we see wealth as treated as a
often do we see wealth as treated as a more admirable characteristic than the
more admirable characteristic than the
more admirable characteristic than the strength of our character a clever
strength of our character a clever
strength of our character a clever anonymous saying goes that people were
anonymous saying goes that people were
anonymous saying goes that people were created to be loved and things were
created to be loved and things were
created to be loved and things were created to be used the reason why our
created to be used the reason why our
created to be used the reason why our world is in such chaos right now is
world is in such chaos right now is
world is in such chaos right now is because things are being loved and
because things are being loved and
because things are being loved and people are being used in this light we
people are being used in this light we
people are being used in this light we need to start understanding each other
need to start understanding each other
need to start understanding each other on a deeper level and making connections
on a deeper level and making connections
on a deeper level and making connections with people with their feelings and
with people with their feelings and
with people with their feelings and their emotions when someone is
their emotions when someone is
their emotions when someone is unsuccessful for example it’s important
unsuccessful for example it’s important
unsuccessful for example it’s important to offer encouragement and support not
to offer encouragement and support not
to offer encouragement and support not derision and contempt in fact the new
derision and contempt in fact the new
derision and contempt in fact the new Guney people of South Africa have a word
Guney people of South Africa have a word
Guney people of South Africa have a word for this Ubuntu which directly
for this Ubuntu which directly
for this Ubuntu which directly translates into humanity towards others
translates into humanity towards others
translates into humanity towards others popularized by Desmond Tutu and Nelson
popularized by Desmond Tutu and Nelson
popularized by Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela
Mandela
Mandela wouldn’t you refer to the common
wouldn’t you refer to the common
wouldn’t you refer to the common humanity that unites all of us as human
humanity that unites all of us as human
humanity that unites all of us as human beings insert in South African regions
beings insert in South African regions
beings insert in South African regions for example when someone makes a mistake
for example when someone makes a mistake
for example when someone makes a mistake the entire community bands together
the entire community bands together
the entire community bands together bringing him or her to the center of the
bringing him or her to the center of the
bringing him or her to the center of the village and for two days reminds him or
village and for two days reminds him or
village and for two days reminds him or her of all the good things he or she has
her of all the good things he or she has
her of all the good things he or she has done in life by emulating this model of
done in life by emulating this model of
done in life by emulating this model of empathy and forgiveness we can start to
empathy and forgiveness we can start to
empathy and forgiveness we can start to forge a more inclusive and understanding
forge a more inclusive and understanding
forge a more inclusive and understanding community my fight the final step in my
community my fight the final step in my
community my fight the final step in my high school journey was understanding
high school journey was understanding
high school journey was understanding the importance of cultivating
the importance of cultivating
the importance of cultivating experiences because what matters at the
experiences because what matters at the
experiences because what matters at the end of life is not what we’ve
end of life is not what we’ve
end of life is not what we’ve accomplished and what we’ve achieved but
accomplished and what we’ve achieved but
accomplished and what we’ve achieved but what we’ve experienced and when we
what we’ve experienced and when we
what we’ve experienced and when we approach life with this mindset the
approach life with this mindset the
approach life with this mindset the forging of long lasting memories with
forging of long lasting memories with
forging of long lasting memories with those closest to us becomes incredibly
those closest to us becomes incredibly
those closest to us becomes incredibly valuable one personal example from my
valuable one personal example from my
valuable one personal example from my life comes one comes from last fall
life comes one comes from last fall
life comes one comes from last fall during during the beginning of junior
during during the beginning of junior
during during the beginning of junior year the notoriously brutal time in
year the notoriously brutal time in
year the notoriously brutal time in every high school students life I was
every high school students life I was
every high school students life I was considering going to the high school
considering going to the high school
considering going to the high school football game it was a Friday night and
football game it was a Friday night and
football game it was a Friday night and I distinctly remember myself sitting at
I distinctly remember myself sitting at
I distinctly remember myself sitting at my desk remember asking myself if I
my desk remember asking myself if I
my desk remember asking myself if I should go to this homecoming game or
should go to this homecoming game or
should go to this homecoming game or study for an upcoming test on Monday
study for an upcoming test on Monday
study for an upcoming test on Monday after mentally debating myself for about
after mentally debating myself for about
after mentally debating myself for about 20 minutes coming to no conclusion
20 minutes coming to no conclusion
20 minutes coming to no conclusion something unexplainable compelled me to
something unexplainable compelled me to
something unexplainable compelled me to get up and go to the homecoming game
get up and go to the homecoming game
get up and go to the homecoming game that night I wasn’t disappointed that
that night I wasn’t disappointed that
that night I wasn’t disappointed that night I came home without a voice having
night I came home without a voice having
night I came home without a voice having lost it screaming at the top of my lungs
lost it screaming at the top of my lungs
lost it screaming at the top of my lungs and the bleachers today I don’t even
and the bleachers today I don’t even
and the bleachers today I don’t even remember what test it was that I thought
remember what test it was that I thought
remember what test it was that I thought I desperately needed to do well on but I
I desperately needed to do well on but I
I desperately needed to do well on but I can tell you that I’ll never forget
can tell you that I’ll never forget
can tell you that I’ll never forget curing the harker football team to
curing the harker football team to
curing the harker football team to victory in the fourth quarter with some
victory in the fourth quarter with some
victory in the fourth quarter with some of my closest friends by my side that
of my closest friends by my side that
of my closest friends by my side that night and just to clarify this is not to
night and just to clarify this is not to
night and just to clarify this is not to be confused with the message that since
be confused with the message that since
be confused with the message that since you only live once you should go out and
you only live once you should go out and
you only live once you should go out and party every day while I understand that
party every day while I understand that
party every day while I understand that some people do indeed enjoy themselves
some people do indeed enjoy themselves
some people do indeed enjoy themselves in this way for example I personally
in this way for example I personally
in this way for example I personally don’t always find gratification and
don’t always find gratification and
don’t always find gratification and these larger and louder events
these larger and louder events
these larger and louder events cultivating experience can just as well
cultivating experience can just as well
cultivating experience can just as well mean spending quiet afternoons with you
mean spending quiet afternoons with you
mean spending quiet afternoons with you the closest of your friends an author
the closest of your friends an author
the closest of your friends an author Kurt Vonnegut at once wrote enjoy the
Kurt Vonnegut at once wrote enjoy the
Kurt Vonnegut at once wrote enjoy the small things in life because one day
small things in life because one day
small things in life because one day you’ll look back and realized that they
you’ll look back and realized that they
you’ll look back and realized that they were the big things so for one last time
were the big things so for one last time
were the big things so for one last time let’s take a step back in
let’s take a step back in
let’s take a step back in three and rewind a bit during the age of
three and rewind a bit during the age of
three and rewind a bit during the age of the Enlightenment John Locke enumerated
the Enlightenment John Locke enumerated
the Enlightenment John Locke enumerated the fundamental rights of life liberty
the fundamental rights of life liberty
the fundamental rights of life liberty and property and crafting the
and property and crafting the
and property and crafting the Declaration of Independence however
Declaration of Independence however
Declaration of Independence however Thomas Jefferson codified the
Thomas Jefferson codified the
Thomas Jefferson codified the inalienable rights of life liberty and
inalienable rights of life liberty and
inalienable rights of life liberty and the pursuit of happiness by deliberately
the pursuit of happiness by deliberately
the pursuit of happiness by deliberately replacing the Lockean concept of
replacing the Lockean concept of
replacing the Lockean concept of property Jefferson established the
property Jefferson established the
property Jefferson established the groundwork for the natural right to
groundwork for the natural right to
groundwork for the natural right to happiness the powerful idea that all of
happiness the powerful idea that all of
happiness the powerful idea that all of us have an equal ability to enjoy the
us have an equal ability to enjoy the
us have an equal ability to enjoy the fruits of the life well-lived but at the
fruits of the life well-lived but at the
fruits of the life well-lived but at the end of the day we need to make a
end of the day we need to make a
end of the day we need to make a decision about what kind of people what
decision about what kind of people what
decision about what kind of people what we want to be do we want to live life by
we want to be do we want to live life by
we want to be do we want to live life by simply going through the motions and
simply going through the motions and
simply going through the motions and adhering to hollow standards of success
adhering to hollow standards of success
adhering to hollow standards of success or do we want to consciously step back
or do we want to consciously step back
or do we want to consciously step back recalibrate and examine ourselves on a
recalibrate and examine ourselves on a
recalibrate and examine ourselves on a deeper level do we want to let our
deeper level do we want to let our
deeper level do we want to let our cleverness make us conceited and cynical
cleverness make us conceited and cynical
cleverness make us conceited and cynical or do we want to let our humanity make
or do we want to let our humanity make
or do we want to let our humanity make us kind and empathetic do we want to
us kind and empathetic do we want to
us kind and empathetic do we want to pursue lives in which we are enslaved by
pursue lives in which we are enslaved by
pursue lives in which we are enslaved by filling bottomless wallets with money or
filling bottomless wallets with money or
filling bottomless wallets with money or do we want to pursue a life in which we
do we want to pursue a life in which we
do we want to pursue a life in which we cultivate experiences and create
cultivate experiences and create
cultivate experiences and create memories with those closest in our
memories with those closest in our
memories with those closest in our hearts because at the end of the day
hearts because at the end of the day
hearts because at the end of the day don’t we all deserve to be happy thank
don’t we all deserve to be happy thank
don’t we all deserve to be happy thank you
”
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