Live Life Fully

A true story of a dynamic man.

Tuesdays with Morrie

"Tuesdays with Morrie" is a biography about a friendship between an old professor, Morrie, and his former student, Mitch Albom. In the late 70s, when Mitch attended Brandeis University, he liked his energetic sociology professor, Morrie Schwartz. He took every class Morrie taught, and soon the two became great friends. Morrie told Mitch, "Coach," and not Professor.

Every Tuesday, they meet and talk about life and everything in between until Morrie graduates from Brandeis. He promised to keep in touch with and visit Morrie. However, Mitch became immersed in a world of money-making and fame. 

However, nearly 20 years later, now an award-winning sportswriter, Mitch realizes he is not needed by the newspaper as much as he once believed. The newspaper is on strike, and he visits Morrie, his old professor. Morrie warmly greets Mitch, who then learns that Morrie is dying of ALS.

Soon Mitch started visiting Morrie every Tuesday again, just as they used to back in college. Mitch calls his weekly visits to his teacher, his last class, and the present book, which he refers to as a term paper about the meaning of life.

Morrie is a wonderful man who loves to dance and appreciates the little things in life. Dying of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) or Lou Gehrig's Disease, he was determined to make the most of his remaining time. Morrie maintains his sense of humor and his fun personality. 

Determined not to let his ALS deter him, Morrie was very independent until his death, which Morrie said is as natural as life.

Continuing to live life to the fullest, Morrie hosted his own "living funeral," where people told him everything they would say at his funeral while he was still alive. 

Morrie was a dynamic man, making people comfortable with themselves. He made them look deep within themselves and realize their worth in spreading happiness and joy. 

Mitch and Morrie discuss death, fear, aging, greed, marriage, family, society, forgiveness, and meaningful life. A failed musician, Mitch is hardworking and ambitious but distracted by the wrong things, such as work, fame, and success. Morrie teaches him about how valuable life is in all aspects. "The most important thing in life is to learn how to give out love, and to let it come in," Morrie reminds Mitch.

Morrie's life lessons leave the reader to reflect on their own lives and could help anyone find their purpose. 

Morrie's death represents the book's message. The message is that a person who lives life to the fullest will die feeling content.

"Tuesdays with Morrie" encourages us to appreciate the little things in life, like the rain falling, looking at the beautiful flowers, and appreciating the people we meet during life's journey.

"So many people walk around with a meaningless life. They seem half-asleep, even when they're busy doing things they think are important. This is because they've been chasing the wrong things. The way you get meaning in your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning."

 Professor Morrie, with this statement, threw light on how, to achieve happiness and satisfaction, we must devote ourselves to the more significant cause, which could be to preserve humanity. 

This book is not sad. It is a warm book that celebrates life and is an excellent example of how all of us can live. That may be the reason. I've read it four times at different stages of my life and discovered new things in each reading.