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After being diagnosed with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Morris final days are spent giving his former student Mitch his final lesson of life. The novel is divided into 14 different "days" that Mitch Albom spent with his professor Morrie. Throughout these days, Mitch and Morrie discuss various topic important to life and living. The novel also recounts Mitch's memories of Morrie as a professor.

The Audiovisual:
This was the first episode out of three on a "Nightline" special on Morrie and his illness. Morrie caught the eye of a "Nightline" television producer after an article was published titled: "A Professor's Final Course: His Own Death". It was through this airing that Morries old student Mitch was reminded of his old professor, causing him to reach out and reconnect.

- On the 1st Tuesday we talked about the world:
Mitch notices that Morrie still avidly keeps up with reading the newspaper. Morrie explains that his own suffering has made it so he is able to feel the suffering of others. Mitch ponders on how death might be the one "equalizer" that brings strangers together, feeling empathy. Morrie goes on to explain love, and the importance of feeling love and loving others.

- On the 2nd Tuesday we talked about feeling sorry for yourself:
Morrie talks about feeling sorry for himself, and how to avoid doing this he concentrates on the positive aspects of his life. Although Morrie understands that his progressive condition is awful and will eventually result in his own death, he talks about how grateful he is to have time to say goodbye to those he loves. Mitch has his first realization that Morrie's time is fleeting.

-On the 3rd Tuesday we talked about regrets:
This Tuesday, Mitch brought with him a tape recorder. His way of capturing his moments with Morrie and later retell his story. Mitch asks Morrie if he has any regrets in life and Morrie explains that life should be lived in such a way that you do not focus on egotistical things. Morrie also explains that it is important to have "teachers" in life that guide you.

The Audiovisual, Part 2:
"Nightline" interviewed Morrie a second time. This time, Morrie spoke about his emotions and he he can sometimes feel depressed. He talks about how his body is slowly failing him and he fears loosing his voice as well as his hands, because this is how he "gives to people".

The professor:
This section of the novel goes into detail on Morrie's childhood. The early death of his mother and his brothers struggle with polio. Morrie was a child of Russian immigrants who came to America in order to escape the Russian army. Later Morrie's life changed when he met his new step mother Eva. She would be the one to instill in Morrie a love for education. To Eva, education will be the "antidote to their poverty". Morrie's father wanted his youngest son to believe that Eva was his natural born mother and Morrie struggled with this because he wanted to keep the memory of his real mother alive. Later in life, Morrie would struggle with choosing a profession. After law and medicine did not seem to fit for various reasons, Morrie would decide on teaching.

-On the 4th Tuesday we talked about death:
Morrie's opinion on death was that it is better to be prepared for it. In being prepared for your own death, you live life in a way that is more involved. Mitch explains that Morrie's views on death are a summation of various religions. Morrie took inspiration in his beliefs from Judaism, Christianity, and Buddhism. Morrie admits that he did not think much about death until after he got sick and he explains that after he was diagnosed, he was able to see life in a different light, now focusing on the "essentials". Having limited time has also made Morrie more in touch with nature, and he now finds himself looking out his window at natures beauty.

-On the 5th Tuesday we talked about family:
Morrie tells Mitch a quote by the poet Auden "Love each other or parish." He describes love as being the most important thing, and family to be a necessary support system in difficult times. He explains that family is important, because there is always someone there to care about you. Mitch contemplates how difficult his own life would be, if he were to be in Morrie's place with no family to support him. Morrie tells Mitch that there is no experience like having children. This is the way to love and bond with another person in the deepest way humanly possible, explains Morrie. Mitch reflects on his own familial relationship with his brother, and how they live separate lives as adults. Mitch's brother was diagnosed with cancer and in fighting this disease, his brother decided to separate himself from the family.

-On the 6th Tuesday we talked about emotions:
Mitch discovers that Morrie has been unable to eat the food he has bringing because it is too difficult to swallow. Morrie's wife explains to Mitch that buy continuing his visits, he is giving Morrie a sense of purpose. Morrie talks about emotions and explains the concept of "detaching" ones self. In order to reach this level of detachment, one must first fully submerge themselves in their emotions. This way, they can overcome any feelings of fear or worry and reach a point of peace. Morrie then explains to Mitch that he needs to detach himself in order to leave the world peacefully, not fearfully.

The Professor Part 2:
Here the novel goes into Morrie's life working at a mental hospital. His work here was research based and he spent his time observing many patients including a woman who laid on the floor as others passed over and around her. Morrie made it his point to speak to this woman and get her off the floor. He learned that all she wanted was to be noticed by someone. Morrie noticed that many of the patients craved compassion and even if they came from wealth, they were not happy with that alone. After his work in the mental hospital in the late 1950's, Morrie began work as a sociology professor in university. To prevent his students from being drafted, Morrie and other professors would give their students A grades to improve their GPA's (those with a low grade point average were more likely to be drafted).

-On the 7th Tuesday we talked about the fear of aging:
Morrie explains that although always enjoying his independence, there is something to appreciate about his new state of dependency. He compares the way he is being taken care of to the way he once felt as a child. Morrie embraces aging because he sees it as a possibility to grow and learn. He explains to Mitch that when people wish to be young again, it could be because a dissatisfaction with the life they have lived. However, Morrie admits to feeling envy of the young at healthy but it is important to accept the stage of life of which you are in.

-On the 8th Tuesday we talked about money:
Morrie talks about values and how often times people value the wrong things. Morrie believes people emphasize material things in order to fill a void where love Is missing. Now that he is dying, he understand that money could never substitute the love, compassion, and tenderness he craves from others. He identifies the issue with confusing what people "want" versus what people actually "need". Morrie describes the best satisfaction in life is to "Give others what you have to give." This makes Mitch think about his own life, and the emphasis he had placed on material things. To help Mitch understand, Morrie explains that there is no use in "showing off" to others because they will either envy you or look down upon you. The thing that makes Morrie feel alive and appreciate his life is giving to others.

-On the 9th Tuesday we talked about how life goes on:
Mitch was thinking about his brother, so he called him a few times but was unable to reach him. Someone asked Morrie if he worried about being forgotten after his death. Morrie explained that the relationship he had with others and the love that was in those relationships would keep the memory of him alive, long after he was gone. Mitch reflects on how great a listener Morrie is. He explains that whenever Morrie is having a conversation with someone, he is entirely invested in that person. Morrie does this because he believes it is important to be fully present in all of life's moments. Morrie says that many people get caught in the high speed pace of life and often forget to find meaning in simple things. Morrie also goes into detail on the relationship he had with his late father. Morrie felt as though his relationship with his father was lacking of tenderness. This molded Morrie's relationship with his own children as he ensured to shower them with love and emotion.

-On the 10th Tuesday we talked about marriage:
Mitch brought his wife Janine to meet Morrie for the first time. Janine is a professional singer. and she agrees to sing for Morrie despite how she usually politely declines to do this. Morrie talks to Mitch about the importance of finding a lifelong love. He says it is a shame that not enough people value the meaning of a marriage as they either rush into one or they are too selfish. Now in his weakest and most needy time, Morrie reflects on how important his marriage with his wife Charlotte has been. They had been married forty-four years and they're relationship worked in such a way that no words were needed for them to understand each other. Morrie explains to Mitch that the best way to have a loving marriage is to respect your partner, to compromise, to communicate, and to have similar values.

-On the 11th Tuesday we talked about culture:
Morrie believed in the importance of building your own "subculture". What he meant by this was that it is important to follow some societal rules, but the way you think and believe should be your own and not determined for you. Morrie explains that society divides itself, but now as he nears his own death he sees that everyone in the world is similar. Regardless of race, religion, gender, or anything else, everyone has "the same beginning" and "the same end."

The Audiovisual Part 3:
This was the 3rd and final visit of the "Nightline" television crew. Morrie was already feeling the severe effects of his illness. He explained to the television host that although this disease would take his body, it would not take his spirit. Morrie also admits to speaking with God for the first time.

-On the 12th Tuesday we talked about forgiveness:
Morrie admits that keeping vengeance, pride, and vanity, are among the things he regrets having done in his life. Morrie holds on to a past event where he did not forget an old friend and this is one of his regrets. Morrie explains that it is not only important to forgive others, but to forgive yourself.

-On the 13th Tuesday we talked about the perfect day:
Morries perfect day would consist of a quick exercise before a breakfast of sweet rolls. Then, his wish would be to go for a swim and have an afternoon with his closest friends. They would talk about families, problems, and their own relationships with each other. Then he would go for a walk where he would make sure to notice the beauty of the nature around him. Then he'd go for dinner with his friends and eat pasta and duck. Finally, he would dance for hours before laying down for a restful nights sleep. Mitch was surprised by the simplicity of this description, however, he finally understood the point in Morrie's teachings. Finding the beauty in the simplicity of the average day.

-On the 14th Tuesday we said goodbye:
On Mitch's final meeting with Morrie he cried for the first time. Morrie told Mitch he was a "good soul" and they exchanged words of love.

Graduation:
Morrie passed away on a Saturday after slipping into a coma. He left behind his legacy and his love in everyone who knew him. Those who did not know him personally, now have the chance to know him through his students writing.

Mitch Albom:
Mitch Albom was born in May 1958 in New Jersey. Originally, he was a pianist and wanted to pursue a life as a musician. Instead he became an author, journalist, screenwriter, and television/ radio broadcaster. In his college years, he met sociology professor Dr. Morrie Schwartz who would later influence his novel “Tuesdays with Morrie”.

Morrie Schwartz:
Morrie Schwartz is a sociology professor at University who is diagnosed with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. Morrie is a very wise man who has had many experiences in life. The son of Russian immigrants, Morries childhood was not short of difficulties including the death of his mother and his brothers infection with the Polio virus. Morrie later went on to work as a researcher in a mental hospital where he learned about mental illness and how to have empathy and compassion for other people. Later in life, Morrie decided to be a sociology professor so that his teachings would influence as many people as possible. This is where he met his student and lifelong friend Mitch Albom. Morrie was married to Charlotte Schwartz and together they had two children. After a long battle with ALS, Morrie passed away on November 4th, 1995. His tombstone reads "A teacher until the end."

Friendship:
The novel discusses the importance of friendships in life and in ones final days. Morrie's relationship with Mitch begins as a professional student to teacher relationship and soon becomes a life lasting friendship. In his most difficult time, Mitch returns to Morrie, providing him with a purpose and something to look forward to as he nears the end of his days.

Life & Existence:
The novel ponders the meaning of life and existence. Morrie is a dying man, however, he chooses to live. Morrie and Mitch contemplate what it means to be alive and what the most important things in life are. Love, friendship, and happiness are emphasized by Morrie to be among the most important things. An emphasize on material things in life is described by Morrie to cause dissatisfaction later in life. Mitch struggles with this because much of his life was spent in a fast paced routine and he is now realizing that to find true happiness, he needs to take a step back and reevaluate his wants and needs.

Education:
Mitch’s describes his final days with Morrie as Morrie’s final lectures. Although not in the traditional classroom setting, Morrie's conversation is a learning experience about life, love, and dying.

Quotes by Morrie
" For me, living means I can be responsible to the other person. It means I can show my emotions and my feelings. Talk to them. Feel with them..."

“The most important thing in life is to learn how to give out love, and to let it come in.”

“Death ends a life, not a relationship. All the love you created is still there. All the memories are still there. You live on- in the hearts of everyone you have touched and nurtured while you were here.”

“Devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning."

"Everyone knows they're going to die, but nobody believes it. If we did, we would do things differently."

"Once you learn how to die, you learn how to live."

"Give others what you have to give."

"Forgive yourself before you die. Then forgive others." ""