When we measure existence only by the brief arc of our individual rise and fall, the horizon looks terrifyingly final—until we realise we are made of something far greater.
“The story is about a little wave, bobbing along in the ocean, 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.”
Source: “Tuesdays With Morrie” by Mitch Albom
Source: http://www.rogerdarlington.me.uk/
Image courtesy https://australiapostcollectables.com.au/
Note: Tuesdays with Morrie is a poignant 1997 memoir by sports journalist Mitch Albom that chronicles his final series of weekly visits with his former college sociology professor, Morrie Schwartz, who is dying from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), a progressive nerve disease that shuts down muscle control. Meeting every Tuesday in Morrie’s home, the two engage in a deeply personal “last class” exploring fundamental human experiences—including love, work, aging, forgiveness and death—offering a profound counter-cultural message that prioritises genuine compassion, emotional openness, and human connection over material success. Albom, an acclaimed Detroit Free Press columnist and author, used the book’s royalties to help pay for Morrie’s medical bills, a life-changing gesture that launched his transition from sports journalism into world-renowned inspirational writing and widespread philanthropy.