Tuesdays with Morrie

A book by Mitch Albom

(Discuss Possible Meanings)

Aphorisms and quotes from the book that teach each one of us the most important lessons that we can learn in life.

• "The culture we have does not make people feel good about themselves. And you have to be strong enough to say if the culture doesn't work, don't buy it."
• "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 your get meaning into you're 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."
• "Sometimes you cannot believe what you see, you have to believe what you feel. And if you are ever going to have other people trust you, you must feel that you can trust them too—even when you're in the dark. Even when you're falling."
• "Morrie tells me I need to be 'fully human'".
• "The truth is, once you learn how to die, you learn how to live."
• "It's hard to think about dying because most of us all walk around as if we're sleepwalking. We really don't experience the world fully, because we're half-asleep, doing things we automatically think we have to do."
• "How can you ever be prepared to die?" "Do what the Buddhists do. Everyday, have a little bird on your shoulder that asks, "Is today the day? Am I ready? Am I doing all I need to do Am I being the person I want to be?'" He turned hiss head to his shoulder as if the bird were there now. "Is today the e day I die?" he asked.
• "When you realize you are going to die, you see everything much differently. You strip away all that stuff and you focus on the essentials."
• "Love each other or perish."
• "Without love we are birds with broken wings."
• "There was a tribe in the North American Arctic, who believe that all things on earth have a soul that exists in a miniature form of the body that holds it…so that a deer has a tiny deer inside it, and a man has a tiny man inside him. When the large being dies, that tiny form lives on. It can slide into something being born nearby, or it can go to a temporary resting place in the sky, in the belly of a great feminine spirit, where it waits until the moon can send it back to earth. Sometimes the moon is so busy with the new souls of the world that it disappears from the sky that is why we have moonless nights."
• What was the importance of the hibiscus plant in the story?
• On Page 1"... took place once a week in his house, by a window in the study where he could watch a small hibiscus plant shed its pink leaves. The class met on Tuesdays. It began after breakfast. The subject was The Meaning of Life. ..."
• On Page 123 "... shook his head. The morning sun was coming through the window behind him, falling on the pink flowers of the hibiscus plant that sat on the sill. The quote was from Ted Turner, the billionaire media mogul, founder of CNN, who had ..."
• On Page 131: "... on being lifted from his bed and wheeled to his study, deposited there among his books and papers and the hibiscus plant on the windowsill. In typical fashion, he found something philosophical in this. "I sum it up in my newest aphorism," ... "
• On Page 173: "... then we can finally do the really hard thing." Which is? "Make peace with living." He asked to see the hibiscus plant on the ledge behind him. I cupped it in my hand and held it up near his eyes. He smiled. ..."
• On Page 188: "... I believe he knew that he was in his own bed, that his books and his notes and his small hibiscus plant were nearby. He wanted to go serenely, and that is how he went. The funeral was held on a damp, ... "

This book is about a teacher who recognizes the precious jewel that dwelled inside his student. That jewel was not yet refined; Morrie knew the great possibilities that lay within the spirit and person of Mitch. I too, can see the incredible gift that lies within each one of you. God has created you in his image…you are good and deserve dignity in every stage of your life. Do not allow anyone to abuse your God given dignity. You must hold onto that goodness that compels you to walk on holy ground…because YOU are holy. Do not become embarrassed about love, for that is what binds you to the heart of God. Look into the mirror and realize that the face of God is within that reflection. When one honors oneself…you honor God. Take courage to do what is right. Never lose hope. Risk losing yourself in order to stand up for that what is good. Be good to one another. Life is about relationships…it is not about success or about power or about name-brand clothing. It is not about exemplary grades or poor grades. At the very center of who you are, is a "tiny" you that desires only to be loved. Loving back brings more love. Learn to serve humanity from the heart, rather than in response to a religion project….discover the joy in the giving of YOU, for you are a most precious gift. Above all, know that YOU are a gift from God. Hold onto that thought because there will come a time of darkness during your life when you will become broken from the inside out. For some of you these times may be now, in the present. Sometimes you may become extremely angry with God and shake your fist at him. His love for you will remain steadfast and unconditional for no amount of hate for him can remove his infinite love for you. May God bless you and keep you. May he make his face shine upon you. May you continue to grow in relationship with God as you journey towards eternity. May you come to know how you have blessed my life. Thank you. You are a jewel, growing in beauty as life continues to polish and refine your radiance. Go with God.

Cherie Roshau, Your teacher

Instructions for Writing Your Paper

Students you are expected to write a two to three page reflection on the book "Tuesdays with Maurie". I should be double spaced, one inch by one-inch margins (all the way around your paper), # 12 Times Roman font, title page (Author, title, date etc). The title should be "Tuesdays With Morrie...A Reflection of My Life". Quotes from the book should be limited. Talking about the book should be limited...use only a "few" quotes. I do not want to say how many, but keep the number of quotes limited to about 10% of the paper. I am interested in you and your critical thinking. Ideas from Morrie should be expanded into your own experiences. Allow your heart and soul to do the writing. Be aware that too many paragraphs, incorrect spelling and punctuation will result in the lowering of your grade. Your grade is reflected in the length, grammar and attending to the basics of the reflection. Write from your own life experiences. Where and how have you encountered God? How has life challenged you? I want you to especially notice your own life experiences. Tell your story. Your story is of great value and importance. Let your life speak. What kinds of people influence your decision-making? How have society and your peers affected your decision-making? How real is your relationship with others? How have you invested in the human family? How have you invested yourself in "needing others"? Who are you? How important is your relationship with God compared to your relationship with your friends? How have you been tested in your life? What does it take to develop and remain in a healthy relationship? How have you responded to the inherent dignity of all humans? As you explore who you are as a reflection of God and God's love, how does your activity, prayer life etc. replicate it? How do you respond to the advice of others (good or bad)? How do you respond to your whole being and who you are becoming? That tiny little "you" that lives in you cries out for you to be compassionate...how have you responded and nourished the inner you? Please do not write your paper by answering these questions. They are simply written here just to get you thinking. This should be a reflection rather than a paper that answers a series of questions. Good luck. May the angel of writing be with you throughout this process.

Good luck. Be honest. Choose your own values. Don't run away. Be brave and truly see who you are. We are all more alike than we realize. How different can we be? Invest in the human family.