I was deeply moved by their rekindled relationship, which was an exquisite merger between a teacher and a student. As a reader, their mutual dialogue largely broadens my horizons in the landscape of philosophy and religion. There is no doubt as to the vibrant energy generated by Morrie’s eloquent aphorisms, which lovingly capture what is important in our lives. I suddenly burst into tears unabashedly, yearning for a glimpse of such wisdom.
The discussion concerned in this book further provokes me into pondering about the meaning of life. As Morrie said, “Once you learn to die, you learn to live.” Given the limitation of our lives, we learn to cherish every golden opportunity, adding fruitful meanings to our lives. No matter how we treasure our lives, we humans, who are mere parasites in an insignificant planet, cannot escape the inevitability of death. To face such an ultimate difficulty, what we can do is simply open our arms to embrace death. Although we eventually cease to exist, our contribution to society would remain in this world as an invaluable asset.
In this modern, sophisticated society, all of us lived under overwhelmingly strong pressure. How paradoxical it is that we soar to greater contentment, but some of us cannot even have a grasp of happiness in our lives! As the famous poet T. S. Eliot said, “We had the experience but lost the meaning.” Why don’t we learn to relax ourselves and enjoy our lives?
It is the first time I am moved to tears after reading a book. Tuesdays with Morrie touches that sensitive chord in my heart, holding much of my fascination. I hope I can age gracefully in solitary stillness, like what Morrie does.
Book title: The Conquest of HappinessAuthor: Bertrand Russell
Publisher: Routledge
Widely acclaimed as one of the greatest minds in the 20th century, Bertrand Russell’s essays are well-known for its logical reasoning and innovative idea. In this small little book, he makes an attempt to unveil the mystery of the biggest problem in life – happiness. The concept of ‘happiness’ has played a central role in Western thinking about human well being and the good life since the time of Socrates. The pursuit of happiness is seemingly an unquenchable thirst to human beings, who are consistently eager to acquire more of the happiness by leading materialized lives. How can we attain happiness in our lives? The author of the book leads the reader step-by-step through the roots of unhappiness such as fatigue, envy and fear of public opinion. He reaches an affirmative conclusion that happiness depends partly upon external circumstances and partly upon ourselves.
Indeed, I agree with the conclusion drawn by Russell. Happiness is not only a mere form of excitement, it also implies a relatively long period of inner peace and satisfaction. Despite the fact that our emotions are constantly influenced by the external world, we can in fact take control of how we perceive the world. In search of inner harmony, we must overcome emotional constraints with overwhelming courage. Even though we cannot change the objective environment, what we can alter is our perceptions.
Among all the topics in the book, I highly appreciate that the writer regards fatigue as one of the root causes of unhappiness. Having studied in Form 6 for several months, I start to realize a sense of fatigue, both physically and mentally. We have to face numerous challenges, as well as a series of adversities. Undoubtedly, sufficient sleep is certainly of vital importance to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Without adequate energy, we would not have the zest to pursue happiness.
On the other hand, this book provokes me into pondering about the meaning of life. During the journey of life, we have so many desires that it is impossible for us to achieve them all. In this modern, sophisticated world, we are often lost when encountering difficulties. Torn by disappointment and disillusionment, we sometimes forget what we want to go after in our lives. In my opinion, if we desire to accomplish a successful life, we must have a clear direction. How can we reach our destinations without any plans and targets?