Life is a journey whose destiny is death, the quality of the journey depends on the choices made by the individual. The fact that life will have to end in death, people are obliged to live a life that will affect other people both during their life and even after death "Do you take care of others or take care of your 'inner child?' return to traditional values or reject tradition as useless? Seek success or seek simplicity? Just Say No or Just Do It?" (Mitch). Tuesdays with Morrie is a book that focuses on the life of a dying man who has a lot to share. Mitch has the opportunity to listen to the advice of a teacher who had many impacts in his college life, which has not changed despite the fact that he is nearing death. Compared to Mitch who had to keep changing his career, Morrie knew what he lived for and aspired to be the best that he could be. He was a lecturer, a career he had cherished all his life. He did not only consider his career as only lecturing students but also being a father figure to them. Mitch was somewhat confused, as he could not find fulfillment in what he did. He only discovered worth in his work when he started spending time with Morrie “if you've found the meaning in your life, you don't want to go back. You want to go forward. You want to see more, do more”.
There are many lessons we can learn from the conversation between Morrie and Mitch. This is coming from two experiences of life where by Morrie chose to pursue his interests without necessarily being influenced by the society. He had learned a lot about the effect of the society and more especially popular culture on the young people. Mitch on the other hand had lived a life where he thought following after celebrities would be the thing that will grant him satisfaction. After a period of dissatisfaction with his career, he decided to follow a different route where he finally encountered Morrie who changes his career path. He discourages him against popular culture and insists on the fact that it does not bring satisfaction. It is during this sick moments that Mitch realizes the sense in his words considering the experience he has heard. He cherishes this wise counsel from Morrie that he brings him food each Tuesday ad never missed a date with him. This he did, even when Morrie was too weak to eat or carry out other chores. He found satisfaction on just belong close to a person that had made such impact in his life.
Finding satisfaction and fulfillment in life is usually the desire of every person, whether young or old. In the process of searching for it, young people find themselves trying out almost everything. They never bother about finding where the passion is and perusing it, even when they realize their passion, most of them will despise it and look for something that will give them more money and probably earn them that fame. They may be overwhelmed with issues of life and since they failed to search for wise counsel, they become frustrated with no one to talk with. What they display in public is contrary to what they are in their closets. They are also not ready to display their real image with the fear of how it will affect their careers. They will hence resort to drugs and immoral lifestyles just to forget what they are going through. Morrie’s advice to the young people is to shun anything that is aimed at granting them fame and money and pursue what they will enjoy doing "Life is a series of pulls back and forth. You want to do one thing, but you are bound to do something else. Something hurts you, yet you know it shouldn't. You take certain things for granted, even when you know you should never take anything for granted." (Mitch).
The most difficult thing for Mitch was to detach from his best friend and mentor Morie. He had become so much acquainted to him that the thought of him living him left him emotionally sick. The most important thing for him at that moment was to tape record each word he spoke until when he breathed his last. This would also aid in the healing process where by instead of having to visit him on Tuesdays after he has passed on, he would listen to the tapes and read the materials. He would also spend such morning sessions writing a book about the moments he spent with him. This would give him perfect consolation with the assurance that even though he is gone; his legacy still lives on through literature.
Works cited
Mitch, Albom. Tuesdays with Morrie. New York: Read How You Want, 2010.
