This is my own definition of what it means to live a good life: > A good life is lived striving to be worthy of love and recognition with praise from every perspective I agree with, and to seek out and integrate new perspectives. Let's break this down a bit: - Love and recognition with praise are the two most worthy goals I can think of. - "Love" has to do with my inner self and could be a synonym with care or concern from myself and others. - "Recognition with praise" has to do with the quality of my output in the world according to myself and others. - If I don't *receive* love or recognition with praise, I am still enough if I'm worthy of those things. Note that this worthiness is determined by me, not by others. - If I'm not yet *worthy* of love or recognition with praise, I am still living a good life if I'm *striving* to be worthy. The striving makes all the difference. I've compiled this definition from an eclectic set of sources: - Teddy Roosevelt's idea of [[The man in the arena]] - The Thomas Aquinas quote, "Glory is clear recognition with praise" - Other things I haven't identified yet (TBD)