Tuesdays with Morrie

The first thing I wanted Mitch to understand is that you must not detach from the world. Even as my body failed me, I insisted on reading the newspaper every day. I wanted to feel the pain of those in Bosnia, the struggles of people I'd never meet. Why? Because their suffering is my suffering; we are all connected. It's the only way to feel truly human and keeps you from being consumed by your own troubles.

Of course, I allow myself moments of grief. I mourn the loss of my ability to dance, to swim, to use my hands. I give myself a good cry in the morning, but that's it. I don't wallow in self-pity. There's a limit to how much you should feel sorry for yourself. Once you've mourned what you've lost, you must focus on what you still have. I had my family, my friends, and these precious Tuesdays with Mitch. Concentrating on the good, on the love that still surrounds you, is the secret to not letting the darkness win. It's about engagement, not withdrawal.