Tuesdays with Morrie

Less than 24 hours ago I started reading "Tuesdays with Morrie" by Mitch Albom, and as I finished the last page just now I cant help but add it to the list of books that have changed my life. (and those that have made me cry!)

Morrie was Mitch Albom's favourite college professor. Mitch left his mentor behind years ago, also leaving behind so many of his dreams to blindly pursue what the world told him would bring safety, control and happiness. Sixteen years post graduation, when Mitch reconnects with his beloved professor, he realises just how far he has wandered from the ambitious dreamer that he was. Morrie is suffering greatly at the hands of a fatal disease; yet Mitch is amazed to find him more content, grateful and at peace than ever before. With Mitch eager to make up for lost time and Morrie wanting to pass on his wisdoms to a young man he loves as if he was a son; they begin one final class "lessons in how to live". Fifteen Tuesdays on what makes life meaningful. They always used to meet on a Tuesday, so it only seems right; they're Tuesday people.

"In the beginning of life, when we are infants, we need others to survive, right? And at the end of life, when you get like me, you need others to survive, right?" His voice dropped to a whisper. "But here's the secret: in between, we need others as well."-Morrie

I can relate to Mitch's fiercely independent personality, which also meant I could appreciate the true humility in recognising that we all need teachers in our lives. And what a teacher he was;

"When Morrie was with you, he was really with you. He looked you straight in the eyes, and he listened as if you were the only person in the world. How much better would people get along if their first encounter each day were like this- instead of a grumble from a waitress or a bus driver or a boss?"

To me, this book was the essence of everything that makes this life irreplaceable; love, family, friendship, faith, happiness, achievement, saying goodbye...and ultimately, finding a peace between who you are, who you've been and who you are becoming. Peace that can come from a consistency between not only knowing what we believe is important in life, but actually pursuing those things. As Morrie explains it, when asked, most people know what is truly important in their lives. But how many are actually pursuing it?

"Have I told you about the tension of opposites?...Life is a series of pulls back and forth. You want to do one thing, but you are bound to do something else. Something hurts you, yet you know it shouldn't. You take certain things for granted, even when you know you should never take anything for granted. A tension of opposites, like a pull on a rubber band. And most of us live somewhere in the middle"....

Sounds like a wrestling match....so which side wins?

"Which side wins?" He smiles at me, the crinkled eyes, the crooked teeth. "Love wins. Love always wins."

There's only one thing I love more than soaking up wisdom from others who have walked a different journey to myself; and that is giving my love and time to others. This book was the perfect demonstration of both.

"The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote

yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning".-Morrie

And finally...

"The most important thing in life is to learn how to give out love, and to let it come in."-Morrie