tuedays with morrie

After watching the movie Tuesdays with Morrie, I thought nothing has changed in my life. But after I sit down and think about all the things Morrie taught us about, I know there has been change. At least, I am fine to accept the fact of death, the grief of separation. I remembered that when my grandfather passed away, I cried and cried until there are no tears any more. But at the last scene of Morrie’s death, I did not cry. I think that might be one of the treasures I get from the movie—the courage to accept death. When Michi asked Morrie what the last lesson is about; is it about death? Morrie, the dying man said no, it is about life. knowing how to die can make you know how to live. In the past, young as I am, I have never given much thought to the big topics of what life is and what death is. But young though I was, I feel death is something dark and terrible. I cannot help but feel sorrow facing it. But after watching the movie, I think I can better deal with death now.

When Michi asked, “your time is limited, don’t you feel sad?” Morrie says death is one of the things that will make people sorrow, but living unhappily is another one. We keep running all the time in our life. We are constantly pushed forward by deadlines. Yet we rarely stop and give a thought about it whether we like the thing we do. We never step back to judge whether this is the life we want. We chase after fame, money just like everybody do. But that is not the core idea of life. If you do as Michi, to let a bird always stand on your should to watch what we are doing. Are they the things that we want for life? And then we may see the essentials of life.

Another lesson I get from Morrie is to forgive and to love. In his opinion love ranks the top above everything. Even he is dying, he still cares about others; he still wants to teach. He asked Michi, why am I still caring for others, am I not suffering. No, I am suffering. But to love and to give love can make me feel that I am really living. This is the feeling that wealth or even my look in the mirror cannot provide. Only when I devote my time and the people I love smile happily again will I feel as healthy as ever. This is the spirit of love. Besides, Morrie teach us to forgive. It is important to forgive others. But it is even more important to forgive yourself. Never indulge yourself in the past moments. Life will move on no matter what.

Here to share Morrie’s favorite poem with you:

All I have is a voice

　　 To undo the folded lie,

　　 The romantic lie in the brain

　　 Of the sensual man-in-the-street

　　 And the lie of Authority

　　 Whose buildings grope the sky:

　　 There is no such thing as the State

　　 And no one exists alone;

　　 Hunger allows no choice

　　 To the citizen or the police;

　　 We must love one another or die.

　　 ——September 1.1939-by Wystan Hugh Auden