The eighties happened. The nineties happened. Death and sickness and getting fat and going bald happened. I traded lots of dreams for a bigger paycheck, and I never even realized I was doing it. Yet here was Morrie talking with the wonder of our college years, as if I'd simply been on a long vacation. Have you found someone to share your heart with? he asked. Are you giving to your community? Are you at peace with yourself? Are you trying to be as human as you can be? I squirmed, wanting to show I had been grappling deeply with such questions. What happened to me? I once promised myself
The passage reflects on the passage of time and the changes that life brings, including aging, illness, and the sacrifices made for a higher income. The narrator realizes, somewhat regretfully, that these trade-offs led to a loss of dreams and personal fulfillment. While conversing with Morrie, the narrator is reminded of the important aspects of life that he may have neglected.
Morrie's questions about love, community involvement, and personal peace provoke a sense of discomfort in the narrator. He reflects on his own journey and wonders how he strayed from his earlier promises to embrace meaningful pursuits. This confrontation with his values forces him to reconsider what truly matters in life beyond material success.
