When Ted Koppel did a series of televised interviews with Morrie Schwartz in 1995 I missed them. We were a bit distracted that year, anticipating the arrival of Older Daughter.
I’m not sure what distracted me from Koppel’s interview with Morrie’s student and collaborator Mitch Albom last September, I usually tune in religiously to CBS Sunday Morning.
But as Morrie said and Mitch gratefully learned, it’s never too late to reconnect with old teachers and friends. “There is no such thing as 'too late' in life.”
Morrie was one wise sociologist. He also said…
“Death ends a life, not a relationship.”
“Once you learn how to die, you learn how to live.”
“Don't let go too soon, but don't hold on too long.”
“Devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning.”
“Don't cling to things, because everything is impermanent... But detachment doesn't mean you don't let the experience penetrate you. On the contrary, you let it penetrate you fully. That's how you are able to leave it.”
And of course,
A little wave, bobbing along in the ocean, [is] having a grand old time. He's enjoying the wind and the fresh air-until he notices the other waves in front of him, crashing against the shore. "My God, this is terrible," the wave says. "Look what's going to happen to me!"
Then along comes another wave. It sees the first wave, looking grim, and it says to him, "Why do you look so sad?"
The first wave says, "You don't understand! We're all going to crash! All of us waves are going to be nothing! Isn't it terrible?"
The second wave says, "No, you don't understand. You're not a wave, you're part of the ocean.”