Back when my grandfather passed away three years ago, I often thought about the unpleasant bed rest he endured due to a brain haemorrhage. How does it feel to suddenly become bedridden after living a normal life for seventy-eight years? Having to depend on others for your basic needs—it’s a terrifying thought. I feared ending up in the same situation, so I avoided dwelling on it. But then, just after my grandfather’s death, my grandmother became paralysed. For three long years, she was entirely dependent on others until her life finally ended in the flames of cremation.
After her cremation, a haunting thought struck me: all you need in the end is some wood to burn. My grandmother endured three years of unimaginable pain and suffering. She used to cry from the physical pain of lying in one place for so long, and her suffering left me deeply confused about life. How does one reconcile with such an existence? You’re neither completely alive nor entirely dead—a limbo of dependency and helplessness. For three years, my grandmother, once vibrant and strong, lived like a child again, unable to move or care for herself, until her time came.
Tuesdays with Morrie: A Reflection on Life, Death, and Everything in Between
I share this personal experience because Tuesdays with Morrie profoundly resonated with me. It connected me to these memories and helped me process them. My mother, a nurse working in an oncology ward, often shares stories of end-stage cancer patients. These are people who know they are going to die, yet they remain surprisingly happy, pursuing the things they once took for granted. Unlike medicines or food, humans don’t have an expiry date. We take life for granted, assuming there’s always time for later. I, too, used to save my favourite things for “later,” but Morrie’s story taught me that we never truly know when “later” will come.
Mitch Albom’s Tuesdays with Morrie is a short yet profound novel that cleared my confusion about life and death. It gave me a new perspective on my late grandparents and the terminally ill patients my mother works with. The book recounts Professor Morrie Schwartz's final lessons, delivered to his former student Mitch Albom during 14 Tuesdays leading up to Morrie’s death from ALS.
In just 88 pages, the novel offers invaluable insights into life’s most significant aspects. Mitch visits Morrie every Tuesday, and their conversations touch on love, work, family, ageing, and forgiveness. Morrie speaks candidly about living a meaningful life, even as he faces the certainty of death. The book is a mirror of the struggles young people face today. We’re so consumed by our careers, families, mortgages, and the relentless pursuit of money that we often trade our dreams for a bigger paycheck. As Morrie wisely observes, “We’re too wrapped up in egotistical things.”
But when someone close to you is dying, time becomes precious. You realise how fragile and short life truly is. This book addresses the difficult subject of death with an uplifting message: it’s not about dying; it’s about living. Morrie’s lessons remind us to live life to its fullest and cherish the moments we often overlook.
Tuesdays with Morrie is more than just a story about a dying man’s last days; it’s a guide to finding meaning and purpose in life. It’s a gentle nudge to reflect on our priorities and make peace with our mortality. If you’ve ever questioned what it means to live a fulfilling life, this book is for you. Morrie’s wisdom will stay with you long after you turn the last page, reminding you to embrace life, love deeply, and never take a single day for granted.
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| Cover page of Book |
Synopsis:
Mitch Albom was a renowned American sports journalist who became a celebrated writer. Over his career, he authored several books on life, spirituality, family, and society. Among his works, Tuesdays with Morrie is a masterpiece that has touched countless hearts. The book tells the story of Morrie Schwartz, a former professor who guided Mitch during his student years and later inspired him on a journey of spiritual and philosophical awakening. Morrie’s profound influence on Mitch’s life was the catalyst for this remarkable book.
Morrie Schwartz taught social psychology and mental health in the United States. Most of Mitch’s university courses with Morrie were held on Tuesdays. Many years later, when Morrie was in the final stages of his life, battling a terminal illness, fate brought the former teacher and student back together. Over several weeks, they met every Tuesday, a routine that inspired the title Tuesdays with Morrie. The two became what Morrie fondly referred to as "Tuesday’s people."
The final 14 weeks Mitch spent with Morrie completely transformed his perspective on life. Mitch captured these life-changing lessons in the book, allowing readers to experience Morrie’s wisdom. The story begins with Mitch realizing he hadn’t seen Morrie in sixteen years since graduation. Their reconnection happened serendipitously when Mitch saw Morrie featured on the television program Nightline. Inspired to reach out, Mitch visited Morrie, who greeted him warmly, saying, “My old friend, you have come back at last.”
Inside Morrie’s home, they sat at the dining table, sunlight streaming through the window, and talked for hours. During their conversation, Mitch called Morrie "Coach," a nickname from their university days. Morrie laughed and responded, “Yes, I am still your coach.” At the end of the visit, Morrie asked Mitch to come back often. Mitch promised, but his life soon took an unexpected turn. The next day, he woke to the news that the unions at his newspaper had gone on strike. Suddenly, for the first time in his life, Mitch was without a job or a paycheck. He felt lost, confused, and depressed. To make matters worse, the newspaper sections he once managed were seamlessly filled by others, making him feel easily replaceable.
A week later, Mitch called Morrie. Morrie’s helper, Connie, brought the phone to him, and Morrie’s voice was filled with joy when he heard that Mitch would visit again on Tuesday. Thus began their weekly meetings, where they discussed various topics about life, love, work, and death. During one of their conversations, Morrie spoke about his increasing dependency on others due to his illness. Instead of despairing, he embraced it with a childlike acceptance, saying he was happy to "become a baby one more time."
Mitch was astonished by Morrie’s positive outlook. Morrie’s unique perspective—giving as an adult and receiving as a child—was deeply moving. Despite being in the shadow of death, Morrie stayed engaged with the world. He read newspapers daily, empathizing deeply with those who suffered, even strangers who had died in accidents. Morrie explained that their pain made him feel connected to humanity and less pitiful about his own condition. He had accepted the things he could no longer do and focused on what he could still enjoy.
Mitch, whose days were always full yet often left him unsatisfied, found healing in Morrie’s words. Morrie had created a cocoon of human connection, filled with activities, conversations, affection, and interactions that overflowed like a brimming soup bowl. Even on his deathbed, Morrie embraced life with an infectious joy. He believed that death should not be embarrassing and even held a living funeral to hear the loving words of his friends and family while he was still alive. For Morrie, dying was not a futile process but a profound opportunity to share wisdom and reflect on life’s beauty.
Through Morrie’s limited time, Mitch realized the fleeting nature of life. The sports celebrities he once idolized and wrote about—individuals whose lives people obsessively followed—now seemed inconsequential compared to the simple, meaningful moments Morrie cherished. One of Morrie’s daily practices was allowing himself a brief time for self-pity. Like a Buddhist, he would acknowledge his sorrow and then move forward with a cheerful spirit. Morrie often said, “Don’t let go too soon, but don’t hang on too long.” This wisdom emphasized the importance of understanding and managing one’s emotions.
Review
Morrie taught Mitch about love, describing it as a rational and essential act. According to Morrie, the key to a meaningful life lies in learning to give and receive love. He explained that by devoting yourself to loving others, serving your community, and creating something that gives you purpose, you can find true fulfilment. “You play cards with a lonely older man, and you find new respect for yourself because you are needed,” Morrie said, illustrating how small acts of kindness can make life meaningful.
Morrie challenges the conventional pursuit of power and money, advocating instead for a legacy built on love and meaningful connections. He firmly believes that love transcends death, saying, "As long as we can love each other and remember the feeling of love we had, we can die without ever really going away." Morrie’s insight that "death ends a life, not a relationship" highlights the enduring power of the memories and love we create.
One of Morrie’s most striking observations is about status: “You’re trying to show off for people at the top, forget it. They will look down at you anyhow. And if you’re trying to show off for people at the bottom, forget it. They will only envy you. The status will get you nowhere.” This wisdom is especially relevant in today’s world, where people often equate their worth with external validation.
Mitch’s realization of life’s impermanence grows as he spends time with Morrie, who, despite being physically incapacitated, exudes mental clarity and emotional depth. Morrie’s condition underscores the futility of obsessing over physical perfection, as Mitch reflects, “Much time we spend trying to shape our bodies...and in the end, nature takes it away from us anyhow.” Morrie’s acceptance of life’s inevitabilities is a lesson in embracing life’s fleeting nature.
A profound takeaway from Morrie’s teachings is his perspective on ageing. While many dread growing older, Morrie sees it as an opportunity for growth and self-discovery. He rejects the competitive mindset of looking back, choosing instead to live fully in the present. Morrie’s ability to make every interaction meaningful, treating the person in front of him as the most important, stands in stark contrast to the “half-sleeping” approach many adopt—a state of mind where we mindlessly go through the motions of life.
Morrie’s philosophy is not just about accepting death but about living intentionally. He says, “Forgive yourself before you die. Then forgive others.” This reminder to let go of past grievances and embrace self-compassion is a cornerstone of his wisdom. His mantra to “accept the past as past, without denying it or discarding it” encourages readers to make peace with their history while moving forward.
The memoir’s structure—recounting Mitch’s weekly visits to Morrie—adds a deeply personal touch. As Mitch records these conversations, he captures Morrie’s reflections on a culture that avoids confronting mortality. “Most of us walk around as if we’re sleepwalking. We know that we’re all going to die, but we live as if we will never die,” Morrie observes. This echoes the timeless wisdom of the Mahabharata, where Yudhisthira declares, “One by one, people are drowning in the mouth of death, yet those who are alive think they will never die.”
Mitch’s journey with Morrie is transformative, forcing him to confront his own life’s direction and purpose. Morrie’s philosophy—finding meaning through love and contributing to the community—resonates universally. His reminder that “it’s never too late” is a call to action for all, emphasizing that personal growth and positive change are possible at any stage of life.
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| Documentary in Nightline |
In summary, "Tuesdays with Morrie" is a beautifully written memoir that prompts readers to re-evaluate their lives and priorities. Despite being published years ago, its message remains timeless. It’s a short yet profound read for anyone seeking clarity, purpose, and a deeper understanding of life’s fleeting yet precious nature. For those interested in learning more about Morrie’s story, the Nightline documentary available on YouTube offers further insights. This book is a must-read for anyone looking to navigate life’s challenges with grace and wisdom.
