Tuesdays with Morrie and Craig.

Hi Guys. Not so much a post today, as a recommendation and a G’day.

As most of you know, for the last two weeks I’ve been at the beach house doing a whole lotta not much. No phone, no computer (my laptop had a myocardial infarction) and no ‘to-do’ list. My brain has been set to holiday mode and I have had the power-save function switched on; thinking periodically, and concentrating only when absolutely necessary. Nice.

On one of those very stressful days sitting in my big-ass chair on the verandah, I inhaled a book that I was given for Christmas called Tuesdays with Morrie. Apparently I’m one of the few people in the known world who hadn’t read, or even heard about, this little literary gem.
Very, very cool book.

If you haven’t read it, I recommend you do – you’ll thank me. Even if you’re not much of a ‘book person’ (perhaps a little ’1980′ for you), I’d encourage you to break with tradition and give something that’s not on a computer screen a go. There’s something special about immersing yourself in an engaging story (a true story) and having to actually turn pages. Remember pages? And paper? Ah, those were the days.

Anyway, if you’re a thinker and a seeker, you’ll love it. It’s a short little book and only takes a few hours to get through. Maybe four or five if you’re a plodder. If you have read it, drop me a line (via the comment thingy) and let me know what you thought of it. It’s so nice when we find these little unexpected treasures that can take us on an amazing journey without us even getting out of our chair.

It challenged me, made me laugh, made me uncomfortable and pushed all kinds of buttons in me. So much so that there were allegations of the big fella sitting on the verandah blubbering like a big baby. As if. Real men don’t cry. We hunt. If it ain’t on film, it didn’t happen. There were absolutely no tears.
Okay, maybe one.
Thousand.

Pathetic.

Everybody will take different lessons away from the book, but this is what I got (and no, I’m not ruining the story for you).

1. A body is not who we are, it’s just where we live. Pity we’re such a body-obsessed culture. Such a waste of time. We so don’t ‘get it’. Healthy and fit is good. Obsessed with our appearance is sad and destructive. And prevalent. For people whose identity starts and finishes with their looks, I feel sorry. When we step out of the physical and begin to invest into the other dimensions of us (spiritual, emotional, cerebral), then we start to really grow, learn and understand life and all it’s intricacies in a new and amazing way.

2. Ego gets in the way. In the way of relationships, personal growth, effective communication, honesty, learning and understanding. Lose the ego and we start to find our true self. Our best self. The self we like.

3. The ultimate success is to love and be loved. We all claim to know this but interestingly, we seem to spend so much time and energy on everything else. Knowing it and living it ain’t the same. Show me someone who has all the trappings of ‘success’ but is totally unloved and I’ll show you someone who’s sad, lonely and miserable. And not successful.

4. People want to be listened to. Intently. Our ability to genuinely listen to people and engage them in a meaningful way, will add infinite value to all of our relationships. It is a skill which should be consciously developed and nurtured. Invest in others. Take an interest. Make the conversation about them, not you, and you’ll get more than you ever give.

5. If you love someone tell them. Often. It’s amazing how many people don’t verbalise this important message to loved ones. Especially men. Dysfunctional little creatures that we are. Yes I’ll go to war with you. Yes I’ll take a bullet for you, but tell you I love you? Don’t be stupid. Unless of course you’re dying, then I’ll be the most affectionate thing you’ve ever seen. Three simple words seem to be incredibly hard for some people to share. Give it a go blokes.

Okay, it turned out to be a post after all, didn’t it? Oh well, I do have a tendency to be somewhat verbose (as pointed out by my fifth grade teacher several decades ago). It’s an only-child thing. Get that book if you get a chance and enjoy your weekend.

Peace.

* Thanks to Annie (Mrs Johnnie) for my Morrie experience. xx

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