Self-help books are all the rage these days, but I was gifted a classic biography that taught me so many lessons on life and living it the right way. There have been so many reviews and articles written about this book but let me add a few lessons I took away.
- Ask my dad and other elders around me specific questions
- There are so many great questions I ponder when escaping the “busy life”, I was blessed enough to spend quiet time with my mom at the cottage before she passed. She told stories of her past without questions and delivered so many fun stories that for some reason I thought to take notes on my phone. There are so many questions I had asked her…and I’m not making the same mistake twice. With my father, I set up a storyworth account and put in some of the questions I ponder. I will also be making sure to think of questions before each visit with him going forward, along with others in my life.
- Do not fear death, instead live the greatest life
- “So many people walk around with a meaningless life. They seem half-asleep, even when they’re busy doing things they think are important. This is because they’ve been chasing the wrong things. The way you get meaning in your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning.”
- Forgive yourself and move forward
- “It’s not just other people we need to forgive…We also need to forgive ourselves…for all the things we didn’t do. All the things we should have done. You can’t get stuck on the regrets of what should have happened”
- Release your tension with others
- A piece of the book I took so much from and isn’t always mentioned is about conflict with others. Morrie speaks about confronting the conflict and setting up a discussion with the individuals to clear the air. This can help you resolve the conflict and rebuild the relationship or to simply clear up the tension in your mind now that you’ve confronted the issue.
- Live a life of love
- “Devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning”
I highly recommend this quick read and creating your own lessons towards living a more meaningful life.
Dan Julien's Musings 