"A teacher affects eternity, he can never tell where his influence stops."- Henry Adams

Tuesdays with Morrie - Mitch Albom

Tuesdays with Morrie is a life-changing book. It’s a true story about Albom finding his way back to his favourite college teacher, Morrie Schwartz, who is suffering from ALS (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). Morrie spends last fourteen Tuesdays of his life sharing with  Mitch his thoughts on love, marriage, feelings, forgiveness, the modern culture, and the  inevitable- death.  

      Things Morrie says are so right that one can't help but wonder about one's own life and the choices one has made. While reading the book I was fascinated by Morrie's personality. After being diagnosed  with ALS he doesn't crawl into his room and wait for death to come, complaining and being bitter. Instead he finds positive sides to his condition, he gives love more than ever before, and is determined to keep teaching by sharing his experiences with anybody who wants to listen. Furthermore, the contrast between simple, concise sentences and the deep, meaningful thoguhts that are conveyed throughout the book is remarkable. 

      Tuesdays with Morrie confirmed my convictions that some teachers have teaching only as a profession, where as others have that special something- For them teaching comes fromt the heart, and they dont need a classroom for it.

      At the end of the book the author asks if , "You [have] ever really had a teacher? One who saw you as a raw but precious thing, a jewel that, with wisdom, could be polished to a proud shine? If you are lucky enough to find your way to such teachers, you will always find your way back." I have had the luck of having great teachers througout my education so far, and I'm happy that some of them are still in my life, offering their guidance and support whenever I need it, and I will always be thankful for their friendship. 

Here are some quotes from the book that I found memorable :

-          “We need to forgive ourselves...For all the things we didn't do. All the things we should have done. You can't get stuck on the regrets of what should have happened.”

-          "So many people walk around with a meaningless life. They seem half-asleep, even when they're busy doing things they think are important. This is because they're chasing the wrong things. The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning."

-          “When you learn how to die, you learn how to live.”