I read a book called
You may be curious about what this book tells.
Morrie is an old man who was a sociology professor of Brandeis University. Funny and full of humor, has great career and happy family. What a life winner we can see. Unfortunately, he developed the disease of ALS, the same disease as Stephen Hawking's got, at the age of 77 in 1994. Everything has changed but his strong faith to the world and great passion to life.
During his staying time at home, he wasn't sorry about himself but keep thinking and writing out his thought about death. One of his friends sent his ideas to a journalist who published a story of Morrie later on the newspaper. That is the very beginning of this book. The article about Morrie was a 10w+ back then and successfully cause the attention of the Nightline, the famous broadcasting and TV station. So, Morrie shared his story with 900 millions audiences on TV with one of the most famous host Ted Kopper.
One of Morrie's ex-students saw the show and decided to visit him after 16 years of never contacting. And the visits somehow became a project and this book is the thesis of the last 14 lessons between these two men. The lessons were taught every tuesdays, rain or shine.This is where the book got the mane,
They talked about 14 topics during 14 weeks before Morrie finally left us. There are the world, feeling sorry for yourself, regrets, death,family, emotions, the fear of aging, money, how love goes on, marriage, our culture, forgiveness, the perfect day, good-bye. I was at the sixth tuesday, EMOTIONS. But I felt the most about the fourth tuesday, DEATH.
I valued every word from this chapter, but I'm just gonna highlight some words and share with you here.
Everyone knows they're going to die, but nobody believes it. If we did, we would do things differently.
The truth is, once you learn how to die, you learn how to live.
Because most of us all walk around as if we're sleepwalking. We really don't experience the world fully, because we're half-asleep, doing things we automatically think we have to do.
You strip away all that stuff and you focus on the essentials. When you realize you are going to die, you see everything much differently.
Can I tell you something? You may not like it. Well , the truth is, if you really listen to that bird on your shoulder, if you accept that you can die at any time--- then you might not be as ambitious as you are.The things you spend so much time on--- all this work you do---might not seem as important. You might have to make room for some more spiritual things.
Do what the Buddhists do. Every day, have a little bird on your shoulder that asked , 'Is today the day? Am I ready? Am I doing all I need to do? Am I being the person I want to be? He turned his head to his shoulder as if the bird were there now. "Is today the day I die, little bird.'he asked,"Is it today?'
I felt like I was asked when I saw this sentence. Is it today? I don't know. But I do know that it can be any day. Even if I know that I can die at any time, I have this clear feeling that I can not let go of what I am obsessed with, good or bad, fame or money. Understanding doesn't mean knowing something. I, the first time, realize that the most difficult thing to control is our own mind.
Maybe I'm too young to learn how to die.
There is another thing that really touch me. After graduation from college, Mitch, the book's author, had never visited his beloved teacher once, which is quite normal. I do this myself. I never visited my respectful teacher, because I'm not proud of what I've achieved. People are just strict to themselves.
And he came back and visit, and what happen afterward was beautiful, touching and meaningful. This amazing story makes me realize that we don't have to force ourselves on the planned road all the way through life. Sometimes an act from heart would change your life, or at least lead to magnificent things.
Tuesdays with Morrie, releasing day with yourself. It really worth an afternoon reading this book.
