MelaBooks discussion

Although our main book (entree) for the month is "The Host" I have been doing some light reading and via a review on NPR heard about "Tuesdays with Morrie." I absolutely love this book and I think I might be sending it out as gifts! Wonderful message wonderful man. I learned so many things from this book. Let me back track, this is a true story about a man named Morrie who is terminally ill and the lessons he teaches as he gets sicker. It is obvious that having this illness is not what has made Morrie a good man, he has always been one even though he grew up in extremely difficult circumstances.

I didn't read this book several years ago when it came out (though it seemed like everyone on the planet was reading it). It was actually required reading for my Psychology of Adult Development/Aging class in the fall of 2007. Probably my favorite assigned reading project ever! One of my favorite lessons was when Morrie said to embrace each stage of life, each year, each decade, so that when you are forty, you're not still trying to be thirty, when you're ready for retirement, you're not trying to catch up on career and family, etc. Same goes for emotions. As he recognized and embraced fear and sadness, he dealt with it much better. Ah, a world without denial!

I also loved that part of the book, don't be envious of younger people when you are older, single people when you are married, you have gone through that stage of life already, enjoy where you are.

Also like you said, embracing your emotions. Morrie knew he would suffocate and die some day so he recognized the emotion of terror and as he said he would, "step away from it." He didn't want to die terrified during a coughing attack, we wanted to be calm. Wow, that shows the courage he had, I was really amazed and impressed with Morrie. He took care of himself, mentally, physically, spiritually and also fed hundred, now thousands of other people.

Loved this book! I'm pretty sure it should be required reading for LIFE. (Which reminds me, I should probably read it again...) I totally identify with the concept of embracing emotion. I learned this principle somewhere else, but it definitely makes life so much better. Embrace it, feel it to it's fullest, and then move on.

Okay...so I guess I have a book to read...

Learning to embrace emotion is a really important coping tool in life. So many people revolt against negative emotions. Like my in-laws. When Justin's Grand-dad died, no one would talk about it, they didn't have a funeral, and they still don't talk about it to this day. They are all terrified of death and I think a lot of the reason for that is that they won't let themselves think about it and process it. Life is beautiful through the joy and the sorrow.