I saw this movie yesterday, during a movie marathon. A couple of mentionables on that list are “The Invinceable” and “A Good Year.” We attempted “Blood Diamond” and it was just way too violent and bloody for us to even get through.
We ended the marathon with “Tuesdays with Morrie” which I had heard about from others. It is a screen adaptation of a book by Mitch Alborn who’s other movie “5 People You Meet In Heaven” is on my movie myspace list. I will be adding Morrie as soon as I’m finished blogging here.
So many things about this movie is in total alignment with life coaching including how the main character Mitch called Morrie “Coach” even though he was a sociology professor. Morrie and his former college student journey together into an exploration of what it means to live, really live your life as Morrie faces death due to ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease.
Discussing many topics such as relationships, fear, and living, one of the most profound things Morrie says is that “We must love one another or die,” that’s it, period. This made me think about a concept Rhonda Britten has brought to life for me through her book Fearless Loving where she says “Love is a risk we must take.” Morrie supports Mitch in discovering why it is sometimes scary to love… it’s not just about being vulnerable and letting someone else in as much as it is about choosing to Love another inspite of the fact that they may leave us (or in this case die.)
Another profound concept discussed in the movie is the fear of getting older. I loved this exploration because very frequently in my life I hear this common concern from others. On the eve of my 38th birthday, I can’t help but wonder for myself how I have come to be so comfortable with aging. I can still remember my mother’s 30th birthday and how she didn’t want to celebrate it or have it even mentioned. She was very depressed. Something she showed me about getting older that I personally refuse to buy into… that it’s a sad or horrible thing. Many people mention how their bodies change with little wrinkles appearing around their eyes and things just not working the way they used to. I continue to embrace each year, wondering what life will bring, what new experiences will unfold, how will I grow, where will I find myself next year at this time? Each time I look in the mirror and see the signs of age, I am grateful to see them, even find beauty in them, a sexiness about it because I feel more at home in my self, in my body than ever before in my life. And truth be told, I would not go back to 20 if I had to unlearn what I know today. Morrie states in the movie that the people who are afraid of getting older have not yet connected with a sense of meaning in their lives. This just totally resonated with me because today, more than ever before, I am living my life with a sense of purpose and meaning. Everyday I get to decide what that means to me, clarify it a bit more so that I can be very focused on what I’m attracting into my life.
For today, this is what I know for sure… I want to be happy. I want to feel joy. I want to feel contentedness. What I’m working on this year is not very different from what it was last year. The biggest difference is that my time in no longer split between two jobs… the one I choose to release last December and the one I love doing today and everyday. So my birthday wish is for everyone to see Tuesdays with Morrie and to find the courage to take the risks in their own lives that will bring them forward toward move love, joy, purpose and passion. Sometimes this looks like a life-dream. Sometimes the clarity begins with uncomfortable feelings of uneasiness, an achy internal emptiness. That is your joy calling out to you.
Love one another or die… inside… slowly.
