Tuesdays with Morrie and other thoughts

I know people who seem to get three times as much work done in a day than any normal person would. My sister is one of those people.  I used to be one of those people. Author Eri Nelsen is a fine example. What gives these people the energy and wherewith all to accomplish so much? Some say it is organization but that can't be it. My sister is highly organized while I have a desk that looks like Einstein's did. Oh, I try to get organized but it lasts about five minutes.
What compels people to create, meet people, complete projects, work, and play hard all in one day? It could be a need to keep busy, to hide away from thoughts and emotions, to avoid other things. All of this may be true but, on some level I think it is instinct that allows certain people to focus on the truly important things in life instead of the day to day minutia.

In the book "Tuesdays with Morrie" by Mitch Albom,  Morrie tells Mitch to live as if he were dying.  Everyone knows they are going to die but not everyone lives like it. Ask yourself, "Is today the day I die?"  Are you the person you want to be today, are you doing the things that are important today.

I believe there are people who, not consciously perhaps, know deep down that today could be the day and somehow live accordingly; they are kinder, they are productive, they are more involved with life.

Tuesday's with Morrie
By Mitch Albom
length 192 pages
ISBN 0-385-48451-8

About the Book:

Sorts Columnist Mitch Albom hears on television's "Nightline" his old college professor is dying from ALS. Though he promised to keep in touch with Morrie after college he has not. Now, Morrie's time was limited.  Mitch races to his professors side and then takes Morrie's final class - A Lesson in Dying. The class meets every Tuesday with snippets not only of philosophy but, with real living as Mitch learns from dealing with his professor's decline and increasing needs.

My Take:

I loved this book.  It is quite short at only 192 pages of rather large print. Yet I took time to read it, a lot of time.  This is a book  you read one chapter and digest it for several days, then read another chapter, savoring each piece of it. Like the lessons Morrie gives Mitch and everyone else around him, reading the book seemed best taken as if you are learning too.

The style of the book is beautifully done with the past displayed in small chapters using italics. One never loses what is present day and what is from Mitch's college days. The 'lessons' are broken out; each Tuesday encapsulated in its own chapter.

Aside from the lessons, we see what it is like to deal with someone who is not only dying but getting more dependent on others with each passing day. It gives insight in the little things that must be done as the person melts away. Morrie's take on his loss of control and ability is divine. We also experience Mitch's loss which I believe could help others dealing with a similar situation.

My Recommendations:

I highly recommend this book to everyone. We tend to like books which agrees with us philosophically and politically yet I feel everyone will find something special to take to heart from this book, even it you disagree with some of it.