In my senior year of high school, my grandmother gifted me “Tuesdays with Morrie.” She told me that the book would change my life, and it did.
Mitch Albom’s “Tuesdays with Morrie” has profoundly influenced my perspective on life during two distinct moments in time — first, as a senior in high school, and now, as a senior in college.
The book records Albom’s weekly Tuesday visits with Morrie Schwartz, a former sociology professor, who is dying from ALS. During these visits, Morrie imparts his wisdom on topics such as romantic relationships, careers, family, aging, and death. Each chapter explores a different theme — each one changing Albom’s perspective on life.
Through recounting the many life lessons Albom learned from Morrie, the book provides timeless wisdom that resonates uniquely with every reader in different moments of our own journeys. Revisiting this book as a college senior has given me the opportunity to reflect on who I was four years ago, how I thought I ought to live my life then, and how I want to live it after college.
In an early chapter, “The First Tuesday: We Talk About the World,” Albom sets the tone for their talks. He remembers Morrie expressing his disillusionment with the materialistic pursuits that dominate modern life and how it can distract people from connecting with those around them.
This time around, this chapter is what made me first take notice of my newfound perspective and how differently I felt reading it again. Four years ago, this chapter helped me realize how consumed I was by the pursuit of external validation, like my grades or what college I got into, rather than focusing on the things that truly matter to me now, like the people I surround myself with and my passion for music and art.
On my first read, the book was captivating, but my 18-year-old self had other preoccupying concerns: college applications, new relationships, losing and gaining friends, and my burgeoning sense of independence. At the time, Morrie’s reflections on these topics felt like a lecture from a relative at some dinner party — general advice I should keep, but in the back of my mind. Back then, I lacked the life experience to fully grasp its significance. Now that I am older and have undergone several life changes, I personally relate to Albom and Morrie throughout each chapter.
Prior to consistently seeing Morrie again, Albom takes us through a period of guilt and grief, having waited so long to finally reunite with him. At the time of their first reunion, Morrie reassured him that the time they spent together was still valuable and meaningful. This sentiment has helped me navigate what I want to get out of my friendships and professional relationships as I prepare for the next stage of my life.
I remember Morrie’s advice: “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.” This resonated with me deeply — I have often felt pressured to follow a linear path or wait for external validation before making my next move. Morrie’s words remind me that I can create my own path.
If there is anything I have learned from being a college student and internalizing Morrie’s lessons on my second read, it’s that there is rarely ever a perfect moment for anything. You just have to do it, and taking that risk might just open new doors for you that you never believed possible. Before rereading “Tuesdays with Morrie,” I had a habit of procrastinating things I wanted to do and justifying this with the claim that I was waiting for that “perfect moment.”
On my first read, I skipped through some chapters without a passing glance, but now that I’ve settled into my identity, one quote in particular sticks with me: “Don’t let go too soon, but don’t hang on too long.” On this second read, I see this as a vital reminder to find balance between time I dedicate to myself and those in my relationships.
Toward the end of their visits, Albom writes “The Eighth Tuesday: We Talk About Money.” This chapter deeply resonated with me on my reread. Morrie shames society’s obsession with wealth and status, reminding Albom that true fulfillment comes from having meaningful relationships and doing the things that matter to you. Compared to before, this perspective has helped me balance adult priorities and reinforced the importance of pursuing work that aligns with my passions rather than blindly following what is expected of me.
In both high school and college, I basked in the highs of academic and personal achievements and persevered through the lows of navigating uncertainties about my future and the pressures of adulthood. Morrie’s wisdom on the importance of human connection has guided me through these struggles. He reminds Albom — and in turn, reminds me — that “The most important thing in life is to learn how to give out love, and to let it come in.” I have realized that, even in the toughest moments, meaningful relationships and genuine connections are what keep me moving forward.
Whether you have read this book or not, the most important takeaway from Morrie’s reflections were on how to lead a meaningful life: “Devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning.” These devotions can be as simple as catching up with a friend or putting an hour into a hobby you have been leaving on the back-burner because you “don’t have enough time.” Putting this principle into practice, I have noticed an improvement in the richness of my life. The reality is, I have even less time now than I did before, but I am using my time more intentionally, and it is making my life feel more fulfilling than ever.
“Tuesdays with Morrie” speaks to readers across all stages of life, offering everlasting universal lessons about what it means to live well. Reading this book for the second time has rewired my perspectives, not only enriching my understanding of the novel, but also reminding me that I have the power to create meaning in everything that I do. Morrie’s lessons have stayed with me, evolving alongside my own growth, and I’m confident that they will continue to do so in the years to come.
