Tuesdays with Morrie.

Nature of Human Beings is one of the courses I need to take, and after the first class, we were asked to read some books. Tuesdays with Morrie was my first read, and I loved it. The book was generally on life’s lessons, our priorities, and what matters. Here is a little summary of the beautiful book. 

Mitch Albom, the book’s narrator, remembered his graduation from Brandeis University in 1979. After he received his diploma, Mitch gifted his favourite professor, Morrie Schwartz, a briefcase. Mitch had a good relationship with Morrie, a father and son relationship and promised Morrie he would keep in touch, but he did not fulfil that promise. Years after, Morrie got sick and was diagnosed with ALS. Sixteen years after graduating, Mitch became a well-paid journalist for a Detroit newspaper. One night, Mitch flips the channels and realises Morrie was featured on the television program “Nightline” in the first of three interviews with Ted Koppel. He was stunned to see his former professor on television and decided to visit his professor. 

Following their first Tuesday together, Mitch returned every Tuesday to listen to Morrie’s lessons on “The Meaning of Life.” Mitch brought Morrie food each week, though Morrie could not enjoy this food as his condition deteriorated. In his lessons, Morrie advised Mitch to reject the popular culture and make his own. The individualistic culture Morrie advised Mitch to create for himself was founded on love, acceptance, and human goodness, a culture that upholds ethical values. Morrie believes popular culture is based on greed, selfishness, and superficiality, which he urges Mitch to overcome. Morrie also emphasised that Mitch must accept death and ageing, as both were inevitable. Mitch recorded his discussions with Morrie to compile notes to write a book, Tuesdays With Morrie, a project he and Morrie called their “last thesis together” because he wanted to share his story with the world, which would be achieved through writing a book.

 At Morrie’s funeral, Mitch recalls his promise to continue his conversations with his professor and conducts a silent dialogue with Morrie in his head. Mitch had expected such a dialogue to feel awkward; however, this communication felt far more natural than he had ever expected. Here are my takeaways. I hope you find them helpful.

• Time is what we see to have but cannot control
• Time with loved ones is never too expensive.
• Use your time with loved ones wisely.
• How we react in life and to life’s challenges is a choice. Choose wisely.
• Family, friends and a good heart are the simple things that matter most.
• Money isn’t the most important thing. Being fully human is.
• Invest in the human family. Invest in people. Build a little community of those you love and those who love you.
• Devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to the community around you and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning.
• When values are put in the wrong things, it leads to very disillusioned lives.
• When you learn how to die, you know how to live.
• A family is about love and letting others know someone is watching out for them.
• Learning how to give out love and let it come in is essential. Love is the only rational act.
• So many people are busy and occupied with meaningless things because they chase the wrong things. To make life meaningful, devote yourself to loving others.

Live and love.

#MMBA5.