The Importance Of Enjoying Life: "Tuesdays With Morrie"

The Influence

Morrie, a main character in the book Tuesdays with Morrie was a old professor to the narrator. He gave the narrator lessons even in his sickest state and close to death. The two characters had a strong relationship resembling one of a father and son. Every Tuesday the narrator “Mitch” would fly to visit his professor. Morrie brought Mitch back to who he used to be and taught him that material things were not of the upmost importance. People like Morrie are all around the world waiting to change people’s lives. I luckily have the opportunity to have a father like Morrie. He may not be very old and on his death bed, however is constantly giving me lessons.

Everyday my father wakes up overjoyed to be alive. Even though most wake up tired and cranky the thought of waking never bothers him. All these years with him ecstatic and jumpy when I was just trying to enjoy my breakfast, I took for granted. Before I never realized that it was a good thing to be happy in the morning even if it meant a full on conversation when I am half asleep. Like Morrie my dad is happy to grow older. It means that he has more time to live and life is the most important thing.

After a very painful argument with my father about his smoking, he took everything into consideration. I love my dad more than everything and his life was just as important as mine. I would do anything to keep him living as long as I could, and I was not going to let his smoking jeopardize that. I wanted his wisdom and lectures when I grew old as selfish as that may seem, but I had to tell him something that broke his heart as much as mine; I told him I did not care about his life if he kept smoking. From then on he stopped.

My father is constantly telling me that money is not as important as family. To him family is always first. He sticks to that whenever a family member calls in need of some repairs. As soon as he receives a call, he is in his van driving over with his tools. My dad always lets people know that when they need help he is there and he makes sure that he can be relied on. He would bend head over heels to make sure his family is safe.

There are always constant lectures that come with a father like Morrie. There are times when a family dinner would last for two hours or more. Half an hour to eat and the rest filled with his lecture. Sitting outside often gives him pleasure when he can enjoy his yard. Dad is always telling me that I should be outside as long as I can. He tells me to love nature. Most of his lectures are outside. He tells me about what is important as he tends to his vegetable garden. He tells me stories about his child hood and what I should be careful about because of his regrets.

One thing I can honestly say is that my father is my greatest teacher. Everyday my dad makes sure the relish the day. That is why he is always happy. It is seldom that he is angry about something that happens. Before he enters the house he as Morrie would say, “has his time with an emotion and then detaches from it.” My dad gets rid of his anger that he may have had and walks in cheery to get us into a good mood.

If my dad were not who he was I would have been at a loss of a teacher. He wants be to always be able to talk to him, no matter what it is I have done. My father always wants us to have the close bond we have today because I know he still has many more lessons to teach me. He knows that he has to let me go eventually as Mitch had to let go of Morrie, however, he still considers me as his baby. He reminds me of Morrie because he is not afraid of getting old or death. He just wants to enjoy life and have others enjoy life because it is short.