Morrie completely changed my perspective on my mother’s life.
“This disease is knocking at my spirit. But it will not get my spirit. It’ll get my body. It will not get my spirit.” ~ Morrie
A few days back as I was cleaning my desk I found a book which had been waiting for me, for a long time.
I remember started reading it but then left it half-read, not because it was not a good read, but because in between life happened.
Now that I have recently completed reading it, it’s actually one of the most heartfelt books I’ve ever read. The book is ‘tuesdays with Morrie’ by Mitch Albom.
The second time as I was reading this book, I realized that how much something holds the power to impact you depends upon the phase of the life you are in.
The first time when I left it half-read, it was a good philosophical read. However, the second time made me question my ways of life. This time the book was a healing session. This time was the time after my mother passed away.
As I began reading, I felt- ‘maybe this is not the right time to read it’. However, by the time I finished, I knew it was the best time to put my hands on this book.
Morrie was the University professor. The author Mitch Albom used to be Morrie’s student. Morrie, later in his life, was diagnosed with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). This book narrates the conversations between an ill teacher and his student.
Morrie’s struggle with his ailment reminded me of the hospital visits, medicines and physical pain of my mother.
Many times while reading I felt too weak to proceed further reading as the visuals of my mom’s fight against cancer would keep showing in my memory.
When a loved one is sick and fighting for life, all we focus on is to get them treated and they will be fine. Even though death is the possibility this fight might end, still, you won’t be sitting on that thought 24/7, especially, when you know it is curable.
As a rational person, I am aware of the catastrophic ending that the disease of cancer may have. Still, not even once, through my mother’s entire treatment, it occurred to me what if I lose my mother to this disease.
Morrie reminded me of the high spirits of my mother.
Now I think the reason that death never crossed my mind is because of the fighting spirit of my aumoni (that’s what I used to call her sometimes).
She never complained. She never even once felt depressed or scared. She always smiled. Even when she was in pain, she was more concerned that I might have gotten tired and should rest.
I vividly remember a few days before her death when she was in a hospital room, with fluids getting injected into her body, I told her ‘I cleared my Master’s degree final examination, aumoni’. She had a big smile on her face and her pale shaky hand patting my back to shower me with her blessings for my happy successful future.
Life is giving.
The book ‘tuesdays with Morrie’ leaves us with many insights into life. However, the one that touched me was Morrie’s final words- ‘Life is giving’. It is true.
When my mother died I could not come peace with the thought of her demise. I felt she died early. She had so much more to look forward to.
The one thought that kept me uneasy was that how come God took her back without rewarding her good deeds.
Somewhere, there was an unspoken thought that was troubling me- that my mother lived an unfulfilled life.
Morrie completely changed my perspective on my mother’s life.
Now, if I look back I see my mother actually lived a fulfilled and successful life.
All her life, she gave. She gave all she had. She gave her everything to her family. She gave us all her love, attention, care and time.
She lived for her relations. Not even one instance there is when we needed her and she was unavailable or had herself as a priority.
Even our short tempered behaviours never provoked her. She was all smile.
What else we want in life? If we look around, even just look at ourselves, we all are seeking the emotional balance that can keep us sane in this roler-coster of life.
‘Tuesdays with Morrie’ makes you reflect on different aspects of your life. When your mind might be traumatizing you over certain past events, Morrie reminds you it’s okay, it’s life.
Is there any book that changed your outlook towards life? I will love to know about it in comments.
