Tuesdays with Morrie: 5 Great Lessons
1. Embrace Your Age at Any Age
Aging is not just decay, you know. It’s growth. (page 118)
If you’re always battling against getting older, you’re always going to be unhappy, because it will happen anyhow. (page 118–119)
Mitch, it is impossible for the old not to envy the young. But the issue is to accept who you are and revel in that. You have to find what’s good and true and beautiful in your life as it is now. Looking back makes you competitive. And, age is not a competitive issue. (page 120)
2. It’s Okay To Be Not Okay
I give myself a good cry if I need it. But then I concentrate on all good things still in my life. (page 57)
But by throwing yourself into these emotions, by allowing yourself to dive in, all the way, over your head even, you experience them fully and completely. You know what pain is. You know what love is. You know what grief is. And only then can you say, ‘All right. I have experienced that emotions. I recognize that emotions. Now I need to detach from that emotion for a moment.’ (page 104)
3. Stand Up For Your Own Values
Well, for one thing, the culture we have does not make people feel good about themselves. We’re teaching the wrong things. And you have to be strong enough to say if the culture doesn’t work, don’t buy it. Create your own. Most people can’t do it. (page 37)
I don’t mean you disregard every rule of your community. I don’t go around naked, for example. I don’t run through red lights. The little things I can obey. But the big things — how we think, what we value — those you must choose yourself. You can’t let anyone — or any society — determine those for you. (page 155)
4. Take Care of Others
You know what really gives you satisfaction? Offering others what you have to give. (page 126)
Mitch, if you’re trying to show off for people at the top, forget it. They will look down at you anyhow. And if you’re trying to show off for people at the bottom, forget it. They will only envy you. Status will get you nowhere. Only an open heart will allow you to float equally between everyone. (page 127–128)
But giving to other people is what makes me feel alive. Not my car or my house. Not what I look in the mirror. When I give my time, when I can make someone smile after they were feeling sad, it’s as close as I ever feel. (page 128)
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? But here’s the secret: in between, we need others as well. (page 157)
5. Live a Meaningful Life
So many people walk around with a meaningless life. They seem half-asleep, even when they’re busy doing things they think are important. This because they’re chasing the wrong things. The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning. (page 43)
To know you’re going to die, and to be prepared for it at any time. That’s better. That way you can actually be more involved in your life while you’re living. (page 81)
Because if you’ve found meaning in your life, you don’t want to go back. You want to go forward. You want see more, do more. (page 118)
