Topic 1: The origin

Video explanations:

In the most in-depth sense of the word, what is our origin? How did we come to exist? How have we become who we are?

When we ask ourselves these questions, one fact becomes immediately clear: we have needed someone else in order to exist. Everything that we are is something we have received from others: our body, our genes, our education, and even the very fact of existing. No one can grant life to themselves. We cannot survive, grow, or develop — physically, psychologically, or emotionally — without others.

This shows us that human beings are not self-sufficient; from our very origin, we are dependent. In fact, what is most characteristic of the human being is the need for others. At our deepest level, we are “indebted” to others. In general, people do not like owing anything to anybody; however, to fully become persons, we must acknowledge that there is a debt we will never be able to repay — and that it is good that this is so. The greatest debt of all is having received life and everything that comes with it.

From the moment we are born, we establish special relationships: bonds or links that connect us to others. We call them Links of Origination because without them we would not exist. There is a physical sign in our bodies that reminds us that we exist thanks to a bond: the belly button. Human beings come into existence through relationships of love and care. Our lives begin because others welcomed, sustained, and nurtured us.

Therefore, we can say that if we are alive, it is because we have been wanted and, in some way, loved. This may not always be experienced in the same way by everyone; some people may not receive affection from their parents, may not be with them, or may not even know them. Even so, no one comes into the world alone or sustains life by themselves. Our existence is always linked to others.

If our origin is rooted in love and care, this leads us to a conclusion: there is a deep desire rooted in our hearts — the desire to be loved. We cannot be truly happy without the love of others.

Finally, it is important to recognize that everything we have received has been given to us freely. When something is received freely, it is called a gift. Our life is a gift. And when we receive a gift, the proper way to accept it is through gratitude.

Gratitude is an attitude toward life and toward others. Being grateful allows us to develop a way of seeing the world: an awareness of everything we owe to others. This attitude is part of the virtue of justice — giving each person what is due to them — and therefore, offering them our sincere thanks..

Developing amindset of gratitude involves:

Acknowledging the gifts we have received and not assuming they are something we are “owed”. “ .
Stopping to say thank you when someone does us a favor.
Valuing the sacrifices and efforts made by those who love us.
Never demanding gifts as if they were our rights, and showing joy for what is offered to us; knowing how to enjoy the things and situations in our lives.
Fostering a sense of wonder, especially toward what may seem small or ordinary.