Letting Go (Reflections by Morrie Schwartz)

If you are a lover of books, you have probably encountered an inspirational one entitled Tuesdays With Morrie written by Mitch Albom.  It’s a moving account of courage and wisdom shared by a mentor to one of his students. A simple but profound book about an old man, a young man and life’s greatest lesson.  Morrie Schwartz is the old man here diagnosed with ALS (Amytrophic Lateral Sclerosis) commonly known as motor neurone disease.  Mitch Albom was his student.  Morrie wrote his own book Letting Go, a book which offers his own philosophy in life, inspiring lessons and practical advice to help those who have terminal or chronic illness and anyone close to them.  My daughter and I were able  to buy a copy of Morris’ book four years ago.  And I am quoting some of his remarkable reflections on living while dying.

– Don’t stay preoccupied with your body or your illness.  Recognize that your body is not your total self, only part of it.

– Watch for emotional, spiritual, or behavioral regressions when you are most vulnerable.  Try to avoid, minimize or stop your regression.

– When you are utterly frustrated or angry, express your feelings.  You don’t have to be nice all the time – just most of the time.

– Try to develop an inner emotional or spiritual peace to balance the distresses of your body.  You might begin by learning to accept “what is” for you at any particular time.

-If you find yourself fantasizing that you are no longer sick and have been restored to your previous level of functioning, stay with the fantasy as long as it gives you pleasure.  But return to reality when the fantasy becomes painful or when it is otherwise necessary for you to do so.

– Learn to forgive yourself and to forgive others. Forgiveness can soften the heart, drain the bitterness and dissolve your guilt.

– Learn how to live and you’ll know how to die, learn how to die and you’ll know how to live.

Reading his book is also a learning experience.

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Life is Like That

Life is not lived by the book. There are no hard and fast rules that would guarantee one’s happiness.  So when opportunity knocks, grab it.  Life is not measured by material things we have in this world. Life is not measured by how accomplished and how successful you have become. Life is not measured by the amount of money you have in the bank.  So what then does make one happy and contented?

What do you value most in life? Are you happy waking up in the morning and just thanking God that you are still alive? We will never know the test of true faith until we encounter something that gives us a jolt, when we realize that life is not all roses like what we’ve been dreaming it to be.  A week ago, I underwent a procedure called colonoscopy.  Colonoscopy may just be  routine for some, but for me, it goes beyond the thirty minute anxious wait of just plain guessing what lies ahead.  This is my first time to undergo such a procedure but a decade or so ago, I had endoscopy done when I was hospitalized for continuous stomach pains and cramps.  That was the most uncomfortable laboratory test I have undergone so far.  And now this!  How would you feel, if you see your innards on a colored screen while the colonoscope is doing its job to locate what is wrong with you?  Those thirty minutes were like three hours of long wait.  While my eyes were fixed at the monitor, counting the seconds turn into minutes (the monitor was recording all those precious seconds), I heard the doctor say, “closer, deeper, forcep”.  All I could see was a round, big tunnel that was my colon and occasionally, a scrap of metal being moved and traveling from the uppermost part of my large intestine to my sigmoid colon.  Sigmoid colon, I was not even aware that there are so many parts of our large and small intestine until I was curious enough to make some research on the internet.  Yes, they found an ulcer in my sigmoid colon.  It may be malignant, it may be just that but as my gastroenterologist said, they have to operate regardless of what the final biopsy would be.

I’d like to think I am strong enough to face whatever the outcome of my colonoscopy will be.  Yesterday, I called up the doctor’s office and the secretary said that the result was ready for pick-up.  Oh yeah, this is it, it’s just a piece of paper telling you that either everything would be okay or it would be a life-changing scenario.   I was not that brave enough to go back to the hospital so my son volunteered to get the results for me.  Whatever it is, I am prepared for it.  I will be undergoing surgery soon. I know, God would never leave me in the dark alone. I know He would always be there to guide me on what to do. And I know too, that if and when I get well (and I am affirming that),  it is His will.

I would like to share these inspirational quotes which have been with me for so many years now.The author is,  Walter D. Wintle.Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

If you think you are beaten, you are,

If you think you dare not, you don’t

If you like to win, but you think you can’t

It is almost certain you won’t.

If you think you’ll lose, you’re lost

For out of the world we find

Success begins with fellow’s will

It’s all in the state of mind.

If you think you are outclassed, you are,

You’ve got to think high  to rise

You’ve got to be sure of yourself  before

You can win a prize.

Life’s battles don’t always go

To the stronger or faster man,

But soon or late the man who wins

Is the man WHO THINKS HE CAN….

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