Death is Never the End

Imagine a dying man who’s only wish is to share his wisdom and experiences with his loved ones, and his friends. Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom is a book that has undeniably changed my life for the better and left a deep impact on my soul. Morrie is the mentor I’ve sought my entire life and Mitch Albom captures his beautiful existence despite the ALS destroying his body.

I remember reading it for the first time and feeling the hole inside me for the very first time. I lacked any father figure growing up and needed fatherly wisdom and advice the most throughout my life. Morrie grants that through his own perspective, even defying death in a way. I was one of the people described by Morrie as walking a meaningless life and I was looking for all the wrong things. I had no purpose, and I couldn’t understand what it meant to serve others and love others. That all changed when I got sober and for once I understood what Morrie meant when I began writing. I devoted my time and energy to something greater than myself, a collective community of others trying to do better.

I slowly began to learn how to love myself by giving others the same grace and mercy like Morrie gave throughout his life. Love was always the key to filling up the black hole inside of my heart. Love was always there even if I couldn’t see it at the time. Love held me up like the crutch held by a wounded veteran begging for change on the freeway or outside a grocery store. Because though I would never admit it, I was the wounded and bitter veteran begging for love and change.

Next came the understanding of letting myself experience my emotions to the fullest even the ones that hurt deeply. It meant processing that grief, pain and regrets so I could find love, joy and hope again. Morrie was always good at sharing his emotions and wasn’t ashamed of them. It's better to be open and honest so others can share in the vulnerability of the moment. Above all Morrie taught me that death is just the beginning of a new life. It doesn’t sever anything but life itself and we exist in memories, in stories and in others far beyond our time. His most important lesson was acceptance above all, accepting yourself and others for who they are, but also accepting our own frail mortality. Morrie made death feel like a friend, and it shaped my view of death into a kind and loving creature.