Episode Details

Mitch Albom, author of the bestselling memoir of all time, Tuesdays with Morrie, never meant to be a writer.

Hear the unlikely way Mitch found himself writing his beloved professor's memoir; and what it means for your unfulfilled dreams. (Hint, there just might be a silver lining!)

Hear what it was like to learn Morrie's life lessons, from Morrie himself - first as a student in his classroom and, ultimately, as a friend in his hospital room.

My friends, 15 million have read the book. Countless have watched the movie (produced by Oprah!). Today, we will hear the story behind the wisdom Morrie shared 20+ years ago.

Don't miss this world-class episode.

SHOW NOTES:

• "You know you've done a lot, when you realize how little you've done."
• The first time Mitch met his professor, Morrie Schwartz, he wanted to drop his class. Listen to find out what made him stay.
• "Morrie opened my eyes to being a whole person - and that, that was an accomplishment in it of itself. He made me think in terms of being multi-dimensional instead of just 'get a job, get a career, do well.'"
• Morrie asked Mitch to keep in touch; 16 years passed without contact. Mitch said, "There was no time to concern myself with the past... only the future. I lost track of Morrie."
  • Do you have a Morrie? Can you make time to reach out to him today? What might he say if you did?
• Tuesdays with Morrie is about Mitch's "visit after I saw him on TV and realized how guilty I felt. He was in the throws of ALS, but was much more positive about life than I was."
• Mitch saw the gap between them and wanted to know: What does Morrie know that I don't, about life now that he's looking [death] in the face?
• Mitch wrote the book to help offset Morrie's medical bills. Mitch thought: "I'll write it and it will be over. I'll have done one nice thing for this man."
• After being turned down by many publishers, Tuesdays with Morrie was published; without fanfare. It didn't debut on as a bestseller.
• Man plans and God laughs.
• What would Morrie say today? "Let me know if my head is getting swelled by this... because they aren't celebrating me, they're celebrating the message."
• Morrie felt enlightened when he was dying; his whole perspective changed in the last two years of his life.
• "I am on the last great journey of life and everyone wants to ask me what am I packing. " - Morrie Schwartz
• What was the main lesson you learned from Morrie? "I asked, 'Why don't you accept the sympathy of your visitors?' He said, 'Why would I ever take from people? Taking makes me feel like I'm dying, giving makes me feel like I'm living.' That was a very profound lesson for me and I've never forgotten it."
• The more you give the better you feel. The earlier you discover that formula, the happier you're going to be.
• The best fatherly article John has ever read, was written by Mitch, about Chika, an unlikely friend and daughter he met in Haiti. Read it here.

MITCH ALBOM'S LIVE INSPIRED 7

1. What is the best book you've ever read? Gilliad, by Marilynne Robinson. It's a story of an old p