Tuesdays with Morrie - Mitch Albom

This afternoon while waiting for my son attending his Buddhist class, I went into Yakun Kaya Toast buying my favorite Kopi-Peng and sat down at one corner. I took Tuesdays with Morrie out from my bag, borrowed from my friend and continued reading.

The above quote was taken from there. In one of the chapters, when Morrie was no longer able to walk and wipe his own ass, he said, "There is nothing innately embarrassing or shaming about them. " He continued, "It's same for woman not being thin enough, or men not being rich enough. It's just what our culture would have you believe. Don't believe it."

Morrie was right. He said, "We live in the environment that believe that owning things is good. More money is good. More property is good. More commercialism is good. More is good. More is good. People were so hungry for love that they were accepting subtitutes. They were embracing material things and expecting a sort of hug back. But it never works. You can't subtitute material things for love or for gentleness or for tenderness or for sense of comradeship."

"There is a big confusion in this country over what we want versus what we need. And the truth is you don't get satisfaction from those things. You know what really gives you satisfaction? Offering others what you have to give. I don't mean money. I mean your time. Your concern. Your storytelling."

The culture. It can be everything. It's not necessary for us to follow always what other do or follow. If the culture doesn't suit us, create our own.

It's same with what we face here in our day-to-day life. People become more materialistic. They want to own more money, which they believe that more money can bring them happiness.

I didn't realize when and how, I have created my own culture too... hehehe.... One day, I wrote letter to my friend and it's written like this:

"In my life, I try to own less thing. The less I have, the better it is. Haha... 'Cos I was born with nothing and will die bring nothing too. But all the experiences in life that happen to me is so much worthed for me. All the people I have met, all the place and memory I've been, that was all priceless.

For me, work is just part of life, a mean to earn living and to pay for my travel expense. That's why I'm not ambitious enough when it came to work cos I know, once I went up to high career ladder, less time I'll have to enjoy and more responsibility I have to take. So even my salary not high, I just try to spend less and save more. Hehe... That is me!"

And I've learn from my friend too, on what culture he has created and built himself that only he thinks what he does and believes are true. Because normally we just follow what others are doing.

So now, I've spent more time reading and writing instead of shopping. I bought what I need and not what I want. I invested my money more in buying fruits and veggies rather than medicines for flu and cough. I travel more than I planned as it is my passion in my life, what I love most and enjoy doing. I spend more quality time with my dear loved family and friends. Woke up at 5 am so that I could go cycling and having time to think about anything.

You too... You can also learn to create your own culture, just as what Morrie had taught us from his life experience. Wish you find what you want from your life and stick to it!! Cheers and good luck!!! :)