Foster Wallace's story, This is Water, given to the 2005 graduating class of Kenyon College, explains that the key to life is through happiness; he explains that one should go through life with a positive outlook and make life worth the living through kindness and learning how to balance the " day in and day out," (Wallace, XII-XIV). As the years pass after his death in 2008, the message of his speech becomes clearer; he was telling his student to live life positively and to the fullest, and not to let everyday pass them by without looking at things differently and finding happiness in every situation. One song in particular that compliments Wallace's This is Water is "Life is Worth Living" by Justin Bieber. His song focuses on getting through the toughest parts in life, never to give up on hope, and explains that no matter what, someone will always be there to lend a helping hand and life is always worth living. Bieber describes vulnerability and the meaning of hope throughout his song. Living a more optimistic life can be achieved through having a more positive outlook, experiencing life's rocky moments, and by the power of freedom.

People constantly ask what life is really about. Well, what the heck is life? "What the hell is water?" (Wallace XII). Life is about being optimistic; life is about finding who one is in this world; life is finding happiness in everything. Happiness is in everything, as twisted as it may be. People can find happiness in just about everything: reading, writing, walking, sports, academics, and sometimes even in a twisted manner like murder. A great amount of people try to live a life filled with unhappiness and anger all the time; they try to avoid happiness, but it cannot be escaped. In Wallace's speech he quotes, "The point is that petty, frustrating crap like this is exactly where the work of choosing comes in," (Wallace, XIV). He explains that one chooses to act frustrated and angry at the world. It is strictly the person's decision on whether or not they should change and see life in a positive outlook. People should take others into consideration as well, but one should know that they can predict what life is going to be like; they can choose how they react to certain situations, and only then is that a measurement of one as a person, and life can then be made into something positive.

In Justin Bieber's song, "Life is Worth Living", the topic of vulnerability and the never-ending message of hope is sung throughout the entire song. He discusses how a person is at their most vulnerable state and having a cry for help and wonders if someone willing to give it to them. It teaches a lesson explaining that no matter what life throws at a person, life is worth living. "Life is Worth Living" shows people that life can always turn itself around. " The meaning of forgiveness. People make mistakes, doesn't mean you have to give in, life is worth living again," (Bieber). He explains that not everything is going to go the way that people plan it to, so having a positive outlook and being able to forgive is definitely something that will be beneficial later on in life. He also discusses life is going to get difficult and people are going to do things they really do not want to do, for example in Foster's speech going to the grocery store, but if one looks at life in a different perspective than before, it can easily change things around and make life memorable, joyous, and worth living. 

This is Water and "Life is Worth Living" deliver the same message in the aspect of life. Bieber's song compliments Wallace's speech because it adds emphasis on how much life has to offer and how having a positive outlook can change one's perspective of everything. "Life is Worth Living" backs up the point of having a positive outlook on life can affect everything in the long run. In the end, it is up to each individual to choose whether or not to be happy. Wallace discusses in everyday life, when one is simply in line for grocery or whenever else, people are given a choice to act the way they do. 

"Again, please don't think that I'm giving you moral advice or that I'm saying you're 'supposed to' think this way, or that anyone expects you to just automatically do it, because it's hard, it takes will and mental effort, and if you're like me, some days you won't be able to do it, or you just flat-out won't want to. But most days, if you're aware enough to give yourself a choice, you can choose to look differently at this fat, dead-eyed, over-made-lady who just screamed at her little child in the checkout line- maybe she's not usually like this; maybe she's been up three straight nights holding the hand of her husband who's dying of bone cancer, or maybe this very lady is the low-wage clerk at the Motor Vehicle Dept. who just yesterday helped your spouse resolve a nightmarish red-tape problem though some small act of bureaucratic kindness," (Wallace, XV-XVI).

This is where Wallace was explaining that this is when happiness comes into play; happiness is in the choice. Bieber and Wallace not only talk about how life is worth living in the day in and day out, but to make it worth one's while because people never take into consideration other people situations, thoughts, and feelings. In the quote given by Foster, he talks about how people are selfish enough to only think about themselves and never think of others in their surroundings. "He begins by singing about sending direction to those who lack it "(Stumme). In Bieber's song, he talks about people who have a lost of direction and are seeking help. Foster and Bieber, both, are trying to help send guidance to those who lack it. They discuss how the importance of how happiness comes into play, positive outlooks, and always being considerate of others plays an important role of happiness and how it affects one's life. 

The differentiation of "Life is Worth Living" and This is Water is that Bieber talks about more being vulnerable in life's toughest moments while Wallace talks about conquering the toughest moments life throws at a person through the consideration of others and having a positive outlook in the day in and day out. "Often in life, people feel like they lose direction or don't know where to go. They lack purpose, and Bieber here is telling a story about someone who thought things were hopeless. However, someone can to the rescue-Bieber is trying to give hope to listeners," (Stumme). Bieber sent the message out to his fans through his music that whenever a person wants to give up hope, do not, and if it does happen, someone will always be there to help. Meanwhile, Wallace was giving examples of how to find happiness in everyday life through the day in and day out. "God sent an angel to help us out, yeah. He gave us direction, showed us how to make it last for that long journey ahead; said it ain't ever over. No, even in the midst of doubt," (Bieber). He talks about considering others before oneself and then one shall receive happiness. Though Wallace's piece and Bieber's song share many similarities in finding happiness, they contradict each other to an extent in meaning, having a positive outlook on life and endless hope.

The power of freedom is something to take into consideration when finding happiness. With freedom, there are endless possibilities of what to be free about: how to worship, jobs, cars, etc. Wallace talks about the kind of freedom that is beneficial to those surrounding one. "The really important kind of freedom involves attention, and awareness, and discipline, and effort, and being able to truly to care about other people and to sacrifice for them, over and over, in a myriad petty little unsexy ways, everyday. That is real freedom," (Wallace, XVII). By having this freedom, one can find a sense of peace and accomplishment in assisting others, therefore increasing their happiness. 

In This Is Water Wallace was trying to convey to the Kenyan College class of 2005 to live their life to the fullest and always be happy. It is noted that Wallace was diagnosed with depression and in the year of 2008, Wallace took it upon himself to take his life and end his career. The overall message Wallace was trying to send was that he wanted his students to have a life worth living for. The story explains what life is really about and how analyzing life in a positive perspective rather than a negative one can benefit a person in the long run. Justin Bieber, a twenty-year old boy from Canada, came out with his recent album named Purpose. In his album, his song, "Life is Worth Living" compliments Wallace's speech because it adds emphasis on how much life has to offer and how having a positive outlook can change one's perspective of everything. Both Foster Wallace and Justin Bieber both talk about living life to the fullest and finding happiness in the littlest of things. They say not to let the smallest of things get to one and   In conclusion, "Life is Worth Living" and This is Water work well together due to the fact that they explain that no matter what life throws at a person, life is always worth living. 

