Issue 40 - Masterclass

Welcome to Issue 40 of Deep Life Reflections. A special welcome to our new readers. In this edition, titled ‘Masterclass’, we rediscover the power of second chances in Tuesdays with Morrie, find self-discovery with a flawed French genius in Looking for Eric, and contemplate life beyond the relentless chase for growth. Join me as we explore this week’s Friday Five.

1. What I’m Reading

Tuesdays with Morrie. By Mitch Albom.

Have you ever had a mentor who saw the world in ways that enlightened your younger self? Someone older, patient, and wise? Mitch Albom found such guidance in Morrie Schwartz, his college professor. In their first class together in 1976, Morrie said, “Mitch, I hope that one day you will think of me as your friend.” Mitch vowed to stay in touch with Morrie after college. He didn’t. Life got in the way, and he lost track of his mentor as the years passed. Now, two decades later, Mitch learns that his dear and wise professor is dying.

Tuesdays with Morrie is about second chances. Mitch feels like he hasn’t done the things in life he said he would. He buried himself in his work, thinking that accomplishments would give him control and satisfaction. But he’s lost and unfulfilled. The classroom wisdom from Morrie about “being human” and “relating to others” is in the distant past. Yet, reuniting with Morrie sparks a rediscovery: a final series of life lessons from a mentor he thought he’d never see again. They take place every Tuesday at Morrie’s home. Mitch is the only student.

Far from being depressed in his final months, Morrie is inspired to share his wisdom with Mitch, collected over a lifetime. He discusses death, love, emotions, and family, invoking W.H. Auden: “Love each other or perish.” His teachings also address the grace of forgiveness, the joy in giving, and the fear of ageing: “Accept who you are and revel in it.” Morrie never judges Mitch. He gently reminds him it’s never too late for change; we are always learning and teaching, often without being aware.

Tuesdays with Morrie is a true story that warms the soul. Morrie’s final gift is both to Mitch and us: lessons in how to live.   

2. What I’m Watching

Looking for Eric. Directed by Ken Loach.

Eric Bishop’s life is spiraling out of control. He’s plagued by anxiety, contending with a chaotic home life raising two defiant teenage stepsons, and the enduring pain of a long-ago breakup with his wife, Lily. Amid the turmoil, Eric only has two things he can turn to: the support of his friends (who provide much of the film’s humour) and his beloved Manchester United, especially the team’s legendary French player, Eric Cantona.

Ken Loach is a filmmaker who has made a career of depicting the struggles of British working-class life. His films are often raw and hard to watch. Looking for Eric, however, while still full of Loach’s stark realism, has a more comedic and lighter touch, infusing humour, philosophy, and football. There’s a fantasy element too.

With Eric at rock bottom, he’s visited by his hero, Cantona, who becomes a kind of life coach and mentor, helping guide Eric towards self-discovery. As a lifelong fan of Manchester United, Cantona is one of my heroes, too. Not only was he a magnificent footballer and the catalyst for helping transform the club into title-winners for the first time in 26 years (how we need another Cantona right now), he was also unique among footballers for his love of philosophy, art, and expression. Cantona is great in the film, adding a nice touch in self-deprecation along with the quotes from Voltaire.

This is a film about having people you can rely on when all seems lost. As Cantona tells Eric, “Trust your teammates. Always. Or you are nothing.” It’s also about the need for hope. For Eric Bishop, hope came in the guise of his hero, Eric Cantona. In looking for Eric, he found himself.

3. What I’m Contemplating

Our culture’s infatuation with scale and hustle has created a model that seems to favour those who grab our attention. This can damage our society, as well as overshadow the contentment in smallness. In his book, The Company of One, Paul Jarvis puts forward an alternative approach. Jarvis, who quit the corporate world and moved to an island off the coast of Vancouver, advocates for staying small and avoiding growth. He believes this approach not only improves our own happiness, but also helps to build more rewarding and supportive communities. Working for himself, Jarvis relishes the freedom from the relentless pressure for more productivity and expansion.

Reflecting on the life lessons within Tuesdays with Morrie and Looking for Eric, the pursuit of scale, growth, and hustle may not always be the best path forward. Certainly, Mitch Albom would agree. The last decade in Silicon Valley provides a good example, where the chase for growth has often come at a cost to society. Instead, what might truly enrich a community is the quiet offering of what we have—our time, concern, and skills. “Being a little more human,” as Morrie might say. This can create relationships in our society and communities that are valued for their depth and quality rather than their quantity.

It’s the realisation that sometimes less can be more, and that small can indeed be beautiful. As Eric Cantona said, “We’ve always got more choices than we think.”

4. A Quote to note

“What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal.”

- Albert Pike, author and poet.

5. A Question for you

Who has been a guiding force in your life, perhaps a mentor you've lost touch with over the years, and could this be an opportunity to reconnect and express your gratitude for their influence on your journey?

This week’s featured image is digital artwork by MedalXD and features on DeviantArt. Eric Cantona made 143 appearances for Manchester United between 1992-1997, scoring 64 goals. United fans still sing about him 26 years later. I’m one of them.

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Thanks for reading and being part of the Deep Life Journey community. Have a great weekend.

James