Yesterday, I finished reading the book titled ”Tuesdays with Morrie”. I used to read so many books a few years back. However, in the last three years or so, I have read less and less. This year, I didn’t have a goal to read books even though I bought a few books. I wanted to get back to reading books and enjoying the process. In September, I saw a lot of reviews of Tuesdays with Morrie, and I was curious to know more. Mitch Albom is the author of this book. Initially, I didn’t realize it was about actual events from the author’s life. Initially, I sought a book to move me emotionally and potentially make me cry.

I didn’t realize I would read a book that would move me to my core, and I couldn’t help but cry. Honestly, it has been a long time since something moved me like this to the point of crying. It made me reflect on many things and connect with my own emotions. This book is about how the author, Mitch Albom, who got to reconnect with his university professor, Mr. Morrie Shwartz. Specifically, 16 years later, after discovering his professor was dying from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)‘s disease from an interview on a TV show. It was the last thesis, as Morrie told Mitch when they started to tape-record their Tuesday meetings.

A Lesson That Lasts a Lifetime

This book is an open book of life lessons about many topics, such as marriage, love, regrets, family, etc. Though he was dying, Mr. Morrie shared his wisdom based on his long life experience. While reading the book, I began to wait for every Tuesday meeting they had. Each meeting had a particular theme while Mr. Morrie’s disease was progressing. As I read more about Mr. Morrie, he reminded me of my high school English teacher, Mr. B, in his wisdom and philosophy in life.

Mitch explains in his book the power of having at least one teacher who leaves a profound impact. That impact lasts a lifetime. To me, the fact that Mr. Morrie was dying, he was still positive, refused to give up on his disease although his disease was slowly killing him, and still wanted to give back to people. Regardless, he listened, shared his wisdom and laughter, and left an open heart with people and family around him. Reading this book reminded me of the power and importance of giving, the opposite of what the culture tries to convince us: to take.

Reflecting on One’s Life

My English teacher, Mr. B, who passed away in 2020. Since he taught me from 2009 to 2010, our connection extended to the year before he passed. His impact on me is profound, and I still carry it with me to this day. This book is a reminder of all the teachers who significantly impacted their students, and it goes beyond the classroom. Mr. Morrie left that impact on the author, Mitch, and he took all the lessons and implemented them in his life.

Although this book was published in 1997, I was just 3 years old, but getting to read it 27 years later and being profoundly moved by it shows the type of person and teacher Mr. Morrie was for Mitch. Even though I didn’t know Mr. Morrie personally, I felt I knew him through the words he shared with Mitch in this book. Without love, we are like birds with broken wings, as Morrie shared, and I couldn’t agree more.

As we move quickly and focus on hustling, we tend to forget the true essence of life: to slow down and look into the details we tend to forget. The book shares lessons and reminders we tend to forget, such as love and the simplicity of human connection. In addition, it shares important reminders that will get you to rethink and reconsider certain aspects of your life and make different choices.

Through Albom’s book, Morrie showed us the importance of love, family, and friendships.