Growing Up: The most Meaningful Lesson

Growing Up: The most Meaningful Lesson

As I was growing up, I was constantly taught how I should treat others as well as how I should present myself. It was difficult for me to comprehend the importance of these concepts, but I always knew that obtaining these types of qualities was going to lead to pleasing my parents. It was later on in my life that I understood that these aspects were known as virtues. Virtues are valuable qualities of life to which everyone should aspire in order to live a more rewarding and joyful life. It is important to achieve as many virtues as possible while growing up, because having virtues is the core essence of peace and satisfaction. Throughout the process of maturing, every person must choose the virtues that he or she desires to represent his or her life.

According to a book titled Friends of God: Human Virtues, by JoseMaria Escriva, there is not one virtue that is more important or superior than the rest. This is proven when she states, “It is not a matter of practicing one or even a number of virtues. We have to acquire and to practice all of them. Each individual virtue is interwoven with the others and thus our effort to be sincere will also make us upright, cheerful, prudent and composed” (Escriva 76). All virtues play an important role in a person’s life, and all virtues have certain benefits for achieving them. As one gets older, and advances in life, he or she will come to realize that virtues are the roadmaps to a more righteous life. The absolute control of one’s emotions, desires, or actions is the virtue of self-control. Although the greatest outcomes come from achieving this virtue, self-control is very hard to achieve due to the fact that it must be achieved completely upon one’s own will, and that it takes a lot of practice and time. There are many temptations and luxuries of life that limit our powers on having absolute self-control over our bodies and minds. One of the greatest examples of this virtue is Siddhartha. Throughout his childhood and into his teenage years, Siddhartha had a strong grasp over his mind and soul. He meditated and had a great desire for knowledge and wisdom. He knew how to fast for great periods of time and practiced self-discipline so frequently, that it became effortless to act accordingly.