How Morrie Learned to Live
TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE! Have you seen the movie, or maybe you’ve read the book? If you haven’t, please put it on your list of movies to watch before you die!
Tuesday’s with Morrie is the true story of Morrie Schwartz, a College Professor, played by Jack Lemmon, and Mitch Aldom, a Sports Writer, played by Hank Azaria, and the reconnection of their long lost relationship. Morrie 
Schwartz one day finds he can’t move his legs and is diagnosed with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) or better known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, also known as MND (Motor Neuron Disease) in Australia. This is a neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.*
The movie takes you on a journey about relationship, dying, living and great wisdom from the wise professor. As a writer, Mitch is keen to not let the stories and life lessons go unnoticed so he continues to spend Tuesday after Tuesday visiting Morrie on his sick bed.
As I re-watched this movie recently I was again, triggered by the much wisdom that Morrie shares with us. Things like:
“Once you learn how to die, you learn how to live.”
“Don’t let go too soon, but don’t hold on too long.”
“We must love one another or die.”
“Death ends a life, not a relationship.”
There were two quotes in particular that resonated with me:
“Dying is one thing to be sad about, living unhappily, that’s another matter.”
As I reflect on Morrie’s wisdom it sits very well with me. I guess, that’s part of what we’re on about at Journeez. One of my catch phrases is “Live life to the fullest, and remember to smile.” Life was given to us to be lived. We were not created to go through life in a ho hum kind of way. Yes, sometimes part of the road is ho hum, it’s not the whole road though. And life was definitely not designed to be lived unhappily.
Secondly:
“When we can accept the fact that we can die at any time, we live our lives differently.”
Near the end of 2012, I was finishing my final semester of Uni. The assignment list was massive, I was busier than ever with group assignments, essay after essay, practical placement, thinking (probably worrying!) about what I would do the following year… and on and on. Then I got a revelation:
I could die at any time!
I know, it sounds extreme, kind of morbid. True. All the same. I was really missing one of my closest friends who lived overseas and I was still recovering from burnout. I wanted to get a job, and at the same time I felt I didn’t have the energy for it. Then it hit me:
I haven’t had a proper break for almost 3 years! No wonder I’m tired. It’s time I start doing something for myself and stop making excuses about why I can’t do what I want to do.
And that was the day I decided to go on an overseas trip!
One year later I found myself in Uganda, then Italy, then Perth! Some of the best 5 weeks of my life. I came back feeling like a different person. Sure, I was still the same Anna! I was also refreshed, confident, brave and looking forward to the next lot of challenges on my journey!
Morries words: “When we can accept the fact that we can die at any time, we live our lives differently.”
This was true for me. I had a revelation that I really could die at anytime. And it caused me to consider:
Have I done everything I want to do?
Do I love who I am?
Am I happy making the same old excuses day after day and year after year?
I very much agree with Morrie Schwartz! “Once we accept the fact that we could die at any time, we live our lives differently.”
Are you happy with how you’re living? Is there something you’d love to change? If you could wave a magic wand and money and time were no object and you could be anywhere and be doing anything and be anyone you want to be, what would it be? What’s stopping you? Who is stopping you?
I invite you to make a choice today to not live unhappily anymore. Make a choice to live the life you want to live.
(I know it all sounds motivating and all good if you’re someone who may not have many commitments, or who does have all the money and time in the world… I can only speak for myself and I know that I’m living my life happily. I choose to live my life to the fullest.** This doesn’t mean always travelling, or being able to up and go wherever I want, whenever I want. For me, it means valuing who I am and loving who I am and making goals and dreams to get me to where I want to go. In the mean time, spoiling myself and valuing me, in the best way I can for where I am right now – to me, that’s living life to the fullest.)
When I left school, one of my teachers said “The world is your oyster.” Haha – I didn’t believe it back 12 years ago!
Now.
I do.
Take the plunge! Take the journey! Invite your friends along to join you! The road is better together!
*http://www.alsa.org/about-als/what-is-als.html?referrer=https://www.google.com.au/
** Yes, there are times when I get down about certain things and I definitely don’t feel like I’m living life to the fullest. Then something happens and I’m reminded again that I have a choice and only I can make changes in my life.
Journeez is located in North Eastern Suburbs of Adelaide and are specialists in Self Care and learning to look after yourself in this fast-paced society. Please contact me today to book a counselling or mentoring appointment. For further information about Self Care workshops and seminars for businesses, churches or community groups click here. You are also welcome to join the Journeez community by subscribing to this blog or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Enhancing Personal and Professional Well-Being.
