FULLY ALIVE AND FULLY HUMAN

As an Ateneo Law student, I am expected to have within me the Ignatian values. People see me not just
a future lawyer, but a future Ignatian lawyer. WOW. BIG WORD. But what is Ignatian Lawyer really is? A
lawyer from Ateneo? NO NO.

An Ignatian Lawyer practices CURA PERSONALIS (taking care of oneself and others), MAGIS (doing more
than what is expected), PRO DEO ET PATRIA (for GOD and for the COUNTRY). Simply stated, an Ignatian
Lawyer takes care of himself/herself so he/she can take care of others, doing more and giving more than
what is expected for GOD and for the COUNTRY.

Thus, I can say that for me to become a true blooded Ignatian Lawyer, I should be fully alive and fully
human. It means that I should use all that I am; my faculties and abilities to serve GOD by serving others.

The big question is, “HOW TO BE FULLY ALIVE AND FULLY HUMAN”?

There are 5 essential steps to become fully alive and fully human. They are (1) to accept yourself; (2) to
be yourself; (3) to lose yourself by loving others; (4) to believe; (5) to belong.

Am I fully human and fully alive? Let us see.

1. To accept yourself.

Did I accept myself? I think so! I love myself from the top of my head up to the tip of my feet. I love
myself for being hardworking, diligent, intelligent, optimistic, persistence, determined,
motivated, ambitious , impulsive buyer, not a party-goer, shy, having a few but genuine friends,
not rich financially, “maarte”, and “pabebe”, being extreme: extremely sad or extremely happy,
loving OPM. I love my big round eyes, lush lushes, full eyebrows, wide forehead, pointed nose,
oily skin and dry lips. Haha. I love my success, embraces my flaws, and failures. I love my
imperfect-big-happy family. I love my friends. I love everything about me. So, element number
1, checked.

2. To be yourself.

Did I let down my barriers? Or did I wear too many masks?

Hmmnn... Not long ago, I wear too many masks because I wanted to be accepted, to belong, and to
please people. Society has so many standards. The more I acted the persona of which I am not in
order to hit the standards of the society, the more it become stressful. So I let my guard down.
Nothing feels better than being me and doing the things that I love. I feel so free, unstoppable,
and healthy. But it doesn’t mean that just because “I am myself”, I will be contented of what I
 am, and what I have. I am striving to become a better version of me every day. I told you I am
ambitious. HAHA. So, element number 2, checked.

3. To lose yourself by loving others.

What does it mean? Submitting yourself to the person you love? Or like being enslaved to the person
you love? NO No. It means that you choose the happiness of the person you love, even if his/her
happiness will hurt you. It means “loving and loving until it hurts,” said Mother Teresa. It means
“selflessness”.

There’s one person that I am romantically in love with. I love him this much that I wanted him to
become happy. If his happiness includes me, then, great; but if it doesn’t, then, I just wanted his
happiness. I just don’t want to hold him tight, because I think, if I do, it may destroy him. I want
him to held him gently, nurture him, and allow things to flow. So, element number 3, checked.

4. To believe.

I believe in myself. (I am trying here not to sound boastful. Don’t get me wrong). I believe that I have
within me the things needed to achieve my dreams. But it does not mean that I don’t feel
anxious, discourage, and afraid; sometimes I do, but most of the time, I feel that I can. (Hihihi.
True). Great things begin with a belief. May all my dreams and desires of my heart will come
true, and so is yours. ​☺​ So, element number 3, checked.

5. To belong.

Did I feel the feeling of belongingness? Hmmmnn... Sometimes I do, and sometimes I don’t. I mean, it
depends upon the people whom I am with and the situation. When I am with my family, genuine
friends, boyfriend, classroom, church, neighbourhood, I think that I belong. But when it comes
to parties, (I mean.. the one that will involve dancing hard and singing hard,
beers,etc..party-party), I really don’t feel that I belong. Like, oh, I just can’t. I’d rather stay at
home and sleep. Hahahah. That is why I don’t go with my acquaintances in videoke, or bar, or
similar places. Also, in our office, I feel “out-of-place” most of the time. I think, because during
office hours I am loaded with paper works, during lunch time, I excuse myself from them so I can
study or take a nap, and after office hours, I cannot join them on their hang outs because I am at
school, plus I am a quiet person. Like, if you don’t talk to me, it’s okay, I won’t also talk.

I should learn how to socialize more, to connect with people, so I can discover the beauty within them.

So, how to be fully alive and fully human?

 "To be fully human is really to discover who I am... To discover who I am is to discover also the unity
between my head and my heart. To become fully human is to let down the barriers, to open up and
discover that every person is beautiful," said Jean Vanier.

WOW. Nothing feels better than being fully alive and fully human!

STEPHANY A. POLINAR

ATENEO LAW 1