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One of my favorite books is “Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, A Young Man, and Life’s Greatest Lesson by Mitch Albom. While it was originally published in 1997, the messages are timeless. Based on a true story, Albom finds out his favorite professor at Brandeis University is dying from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Albom visits Morrie and realizes the wisdom he is learning from Morrie is so meaningful to him. So, he decides to make a ritual of visiting him every Tuesday where they talk about life—money, love, death, relationships, family, aging, forgiveness, and more. The book was so popular that Oprah Winfrey produced a movie version for television in 1999.
Since Morrie knows there is no cure for ALS, he tells Albom and his friends that he would like to have a funeral while he is alive. Even though Morrie is humble, he would like to hear what people have to say about him. He wants to enjoy the celebration of life while he is alive.
Recently, I was presenting a workshop on the value of legacy letters or ethical wills. I shared this story about Morrie and one woman shared this story. The participant’s friend had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. She asked a couple of her friends to plan a “fake wake” so she could attend. Her close friends were invited, and her favorite foods and beverages were served. Friends shared stories and there was laughter and crying. The storyteller said, “It was a meaningful and memorable experience for everyone there.”