Mitch Albom.

Well today is Learn Something Friday.... I normally make short little lists of what I have learned from the week but I want to share something a little more meaningful today. As you have read on this blog, I recently graduated. You might remember me mentioning in my graduation post about Mitch Album speaking. Mitch Album is an American best-selling author, journalist, screenwriter, dramatist, radio and television broadcaster and musician. Some of what he has written is, Tuesdays with Morrie, and The Five People You Meet in Heaven.  As I said in my graduation post, he was really incredible and his speech really hit home to me on a deeper level that morning then it probably normally would have. Mitch talked about how "giving is living" and how important it is to do things in your life that will actually mean something to you when all is said and done. He made several references to the story that Tuesdays with Morrie was written on. He spoke about a lot of different things but really focused on appreciating those around you, and how giving to others in life will bring you more happiness then any of the material things in this world. He talked about how on your death bed, you don't ask to see and touch your big screen T.V. just one last time, but how you want your loved ones around you to know that you love them, you want people around you. He brought me to tears when he brought up 9-11 and the phone calls people in planes and burning buildings made to their loved ones expressing not, "GET ME OUT OF HERE!" but instead, how much they loved them and cared about them, thanking them for everything. He said all the phone calls were the same, everyone just wanted to say I love you.
This speech would have been amazing no matter what happened earlier that same morning, except something happened to me that made this sink in even more. That morning I realized my wedding ring was missing. I had been so tired the night before after finals and a huge event I had put on, that I couldn't even remember taking it off. I went into panic mode. My family helped me and Trevor look for it, and we spent well over an hour ripping apart the apartment. We looked everywhere. My ring wasn't insured, but it wasn't so much the money that was bothering me... I am an extremely sentimental person... and the thought of loosing something that meant so much to me, crushed me. I was a blubbering mess. I know this sounds really dramatic, but from one woman to another, you all know exactly how I felt. I was sick to my stomach. How was I going to suck it up for the rest of my big day? How could I stop thinking about this ring for one moment and enjoy my graduation? I didn't want to miss my commencement, so I decided to just go with my parents and try not think about it. Of course it was all I thought about. Then Mitch Spoke. I realized very quickly how insignificant that ring really means at the end of the day. Yes it cost a lot of money. Yes it represents something very special and important to me... but it isn't like I can take it with me into the after life. Like they say "You can't take it with you." Loosing a wedding ring doesn't mean I am not married. It is simply a symbol of my marriage, it doesn't define it. Then my emotions turned to guilt. I felt guilty for getting so upset when I thought about all the people who have lost rings and everything else they own in tsunami's and earth quakes. I know my reaction was only human... but I learned a valuable lesson about what is really important in life. When I am on my death bed I wont be looking at my wedding ring, I will want to be looking at my husband and children and family, and telling them how much I love them. Mitch Albom's words felt like they were specifically just for me. I was touched, and my parents were touched by what he had to say, and I know that I can apply what he said to all aspects of my life, not just a diamond ring. The following days I searched and searched and found nothing. I tried to wrap my mind around the idea that I might not ever find it. I was just starting to cope with that thought, when I found it. Although I am happy I found it... I learned that life would have gone on even if I hadn't. I learned yet again that Heavenly Father wants his children to be happy, and answers prayers... but also that some things are not eternal while others are.

My wedding ring is an earthly possession.... my marriage is for eternity.

I actually found a video of the whole speech, but it is the whole commencement, so if you want to just watch his you can click on this link and fast forward.

His speech starts at 51:53
http://www.kued.org/productions/commencement2011/

But here is a clip I found on YouTube that can give you an idea of how it went.