Tuesdays With Morrie
By Mitch Albom
The Eighth Tuesday (pgs 126 - 127)
"There's a big confusion in this country over what we want versus what
we need," Morrie said. "You need food, you want a chocolate sundae. You
have to be honest with yourself You don't need the latest sports car,
you don't need the biggest house.
"The truth is, you don't get satisfaction from those things. You know
what really gives you satisfaction?"
What?
"Offering others what you have to give."
"You sound like a Boy Scout."
"I don't mean money, Mitch. I mean your time. Your concern. Your storytelling.
It's not so hard. There's a senior center that opened near here. Dozens
of elderly people come there every day. If you're a young man or young
woman and you have a skill, you are asked to come and teach it. Say you
know computers. You come there and teach them computers. You are very
welcome there. And they are very grateful. This is how you start to get
respect, by offering something that you have.
"There are plenty of places to do this. You don't need to have a big talent.
There are lonely people in hospitals and shelters who only want some companionship.
You play cards with a lonely older man and you find new respect for yourself,
because you are needed.
"Remember what I said about finding a meaningful life? I wrote it down,
but now I can recite it: Devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself
to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something
that gives you purpose and meaning."
"You notice," he added, grinning, "there's nothing in there about a salary."
I jotted some of the things Morrie was saying on a yellow pad. I did this
mostly because I didn't want him to see my eyes, to know what I was thinking,
that I had been, for much of my life since graduation, pursuing these
very things he had been railing against-bigger toys, nicer house. Because
I worked among rich and famous athletes, I convinced myself that my needs
were realistic, my greed inconsequential compared to theirs.
This was a smokescreen. Morrie made that obvious.
"Mitch, if you 're trying to show off for people at the top, forget it.
They will look down at you anyhow. And if you're trying to show off for
people at the bottom, forget it. They will only envy you. Status will
get you nowhere."
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