Tuesdays with Morrie- A gift

 

 The first time I heard about faith in universe per se was courtesy, Shahrukh Khan in his film Om Shanti Om. Till that time I wasn’t aware Paulo Coehlo had anything to do with it.

“Agar Kisi cheez ko dil se chaaho to puri kayanat usey Tumse milane ki koshish mein lag jati hai”

When you really desire something from the heart and soul, all the universe conspires you to achieve it"- Paulo Coelho, the Alchemist

That is what happened to me. As I started this week’s theme, I received a package. The ruckus in the house was astonishing. My husband kept going around asking who had ordered it. The package was in my name but since I don’t order without informing, the mystery was maintained, till I took the package in the hands only to announce that it’s a book. (I have no idea why everyone thought it will burst open into flames if they touch it.) My sister immediately interjected, Oh it would be from Prabhat!

Prabhat bhaiya,  a veteran journalist and an author himself,  had sent me a list of books a couple of weeks back. I was reading one of them. We discussed Tuesday with Morrie. But never had I imagined that this will become my Christmas gift.

I love receiving books as gifts. For me, if someone gifts a book they deem me worthy of sharing knowledge. I  feel honoured.

Tuesdays with Morrie is all about celebrating death. It relieves a person of the drudgery of life and truly explains what is important. As I read the book I am reminded of a discussion I had with a friend some 20 years backs. (Yes that is what this book will do to you, take you down the memory lanes on your own conversations and experience about death)

A friend of mine in a manner of speech said, “I am dead sure of it.” Now me being me, quickly stopped him and asked, ‘why dead sure, why not life sure”. His point was death is the only certainty and my point was so is life. Obviously, we did not take the discussion any further. (what do you expect of a couple of 20 yrs old?)

The message though is not very different. If you knew that today would be your last day, how would you want to live? Are you living a life of regrets and guilts?

The idea is to choose your priorities. Choose Love, compassion, kindness, gratitude for self and others.

 Bhaiya’s gesture of giving me this book makes me feel honoured and humbled at the same time. There is so much I need to learn and I can only feel grateful that I have mentors and guides like Prabhat bhaiya who are helping me through my journey.