Log #7

The Life List

Lori Nelson Spielman

Pages : 75-166

My Life Goals

1. Have a baby, maybe 2

2. Get a dog

3. Stay friends with Carrie Newsome forever

4. Help poor people

5. Have a really cool house

6. Buy a horse

7. Fall in love

8. Perform live, on a super big stage

9. Have a good relationship with my dad

10. Be an awesome teacher

Within 2 months, Brett has managed to fulfill 3 of her life goals. Brett, who used to mock over her mom for having her to accomplish her 'silly' dreams, has finally started to understand her mother's intention. Everything comes clear to Brett when she realized her boyfriend only love her wealth and power and they ended up break up with each other. Honestly, It is quite scary for her mom to be able to see through mostly everything, even more than Brett herself. But it is just the nature of mother right? They always knew what is best for us even though we do not realize it by ourselves.

The message I get from this reading is the love of a mother to their children. Their love is like working behind the stage, without us knowing. But we know it is there.  They never meant to harm us even though sometimes their ways do not work well with us.

Another message was to live our life to the fullest. Spend your time with the right person. Helping each other and do what you really desire the most. I think this is why her mom opposed her relationship with her boyfriend and wants her to find her true love. It is also shown when Brett suddenly realized the idea of being a teacher (which she despised a lot) is actually work out with her. And for once in forever, she found out that she really like to teach. 

There are also parts where I don't really understand. Like when Brett found out about her biologist father. Why now? Why her mom tells her now after all this time? and why her mom suddenly want her to have a good relationship with her dad? well, this still remains a mystery but I hope the search of her biologist father goes well and they can reunite as fast as possible. I believe there must be some hidden purpose behind it and I can't wait to find it out.

There is a story from the novel that I really like and feel like to share with you :

"Perhaps you remember the story I used to tell you of the old man in search of happiness. He wanders the world, asking everyone he meets to share with him the secret to happy life. But nobody is able to articulate what the secret is. Finally, the old man meets a Buddha who agrees to reveal the secret.The Buddha leans down and takes hold of the old man's hands.
He looks into his weary eyes and says, "Don't do bad things. Always do good things."

"The old man stares at him, confused. But that's too simple. I've known that since I was three years old!".

"yes, the Buddha says. we all know this at age three. But at eighty we have forgotten".

This was written in a letter from Brett' mom to her. I think this is also a moral lesson that all of us could learn and apply in our life.