My Weekend with Morrie

Tuesdays with Morrie was assigned by theology teacher Mr. Ingram to each of his Death and Dying classes at the beginning of the school year. Usually, i dread reading books i am forced to read for school, but Tuesdays with Morrie has always sounded like a decent read to me. In class, we had the opportunity to watch one of the Nightline episodes Morrie had been featured on. This gave us readers the chance to relate a face to the main character and see exactly who Morrie is. It was even more interesting while reading the novel, coming across part of the book that were also segments in the Nightline episode. Being completely honest, i waited until the last possible moment to read this book. I kept procrastinating and pushing it off because i thought it was just another assignment. To my surprise, when i started reading Tuesdays with Morrie, i really couldn't put it down. I am actually glad that i read the entire book at once, because i was really able to get a full glimpse into the life of Morrie. He was a witty, charismatic, and spiritual man. These characteristics did not diminish when he was diagnosed with ALS, they actually grew much stronger. I am truly able to say that the life lessons found throughout this novel have changed my life for the better. The different perspectives i now have due to Morrie's outlooks on both life and death are amazing. The crying, laughing, and smiling caused by this novel was addicting, i didn't want it to end. I wanted to hear a much greater number of Morrie's viewpoints, i didn't want him to lose his ability to talk. I felt i knew him on a personal level through the great discussions Morrie and his former (and favorite) student Mitch had while his disease ran its final course. These two men depended on each other, and i believe every person who has read this book was depending on them as well. I looked forward to each chapter, each Tuesday they met. A different topic of our overall lives was discussed each Tuesday, and this continued for fourteen consecutive weeks. This book has taught me the importance of overall forgiveness, and in contrast, the unimportance of many of the things we focus our lives on every day. Although he was terrified, Morrie did not allow this disease to control his life. Instead, he wanted this misfortune to better his life. Morrie did not put concentration into material things, the newspaper, or the current and horrifying events of the physical world. Instead, he decided to focus on his inner self. He opened his heart up to the love of others. In turn, he allowed himself to love those around him with his entire heart. All of these changes Morrie made for himself also helped me change, just by reading it. The time i spent reading this book was so worth it, and my weekend with Morrie has forever altered my view on so many aspects of life.