Five Life Lessons
Recently, I re-read a book written by Mitch Albom called “The five people you meet in Heaven.” It’s an easy read that invites you to think about life. In the story (spoiler alerts ahead), Albom uses heaven as the backdrop for someone who dies, (Eddie) to gain understanding of life through five lessons when he arrives in heaven. The lessons come from five people that he impacted in his life. Each lesson teaches him a little bit more about his purpose.
In the first lesson, Eddie learns that we are all connected and that our lives are weaved together. This lesson speaks to value every one of us has as individuals, to the whole of humanity. Our daily interactions with other people impact the world around us. A choice to treat someone with respect or kindness, is like a small ripple that turns into a wave in a vast lake. Sometimes, it means doing the hard thing because it’s the right thing to do,
In the second lesson, he learns the value in sacrifice. Eddie carries painful regret for not having the life he wanted or expected. Maybe you can relate. Maybe you didn’t get that promotion or start that business you dreamed of. Maybe you gave up your career to rise children. We often focus on what we didn’t achieve and forget the sacrifices we made for people in our lives. Maybe starting a new business required significant travel, or risk that would impact a spouse and children. We are wired to help others, so we find joy in making others happy!
In the third lesson, Eddie learns that anger is poison and how important forgiveness is for our soul. He learns that anger hurts the one who carries it, not the one at which it’s aimed. In the fourth lesson, Eddie experiences the power of love. He meets his deceased wife, and she beautifully shares that his love for her carries beyond death in their memories.
In the final lesson, Eddie faces the truth about the purpose of his own life. After many years or pain, regret, and resentment towards himself for not doing more, he learns of the impact he’s had on so many children as a simple maintenance worker for an amusement park. He understands his purpose to keep children safe. In this final lesson, he learns that we all have purpose.
The story speaks to our inclination to focus on what we don’t have and what we haven’t done. We only see the obvious (I’m still in this job) instead of seeing the bigger truth (I’m making a difference here). The story speaks to anyone who doesn’t see the difference we all make through acts of effort, kindness, courage, grace, and sacrifice.
Maybe it’s time to appreciate what we do have, and what we have accomplished (big or small). Perhaps it’s time to have some grace for ourselves. Perhaps it’s time to live life with purpose, impact our small world in whatever way we can, and love along the way!
