HW 23 - Illness & Dying Book, Part 2

Tuesdays with Morrie By Mitch Albom Published by Doubleday in September 1997

PRECIS: As morrie's death becomes more and more evident, Morrie's life becomes more and more inspirational. Morrie shares his experiences and feels the need to make sure people understand that they cannot let the materialistic things in life, get in the way of tasting what life has to offer.

"Lets begin with this idea Morrie says. Everyone knows they're going to die, but nobody believes it."p.80
Death is a part of life, we all will someday cross that path. Everyone is so caught up trying to "live as if today is their last" but according to Morrie's standards people don't do that until it is too late. People live their lives wasting time when they should be spending it doing something actually worth while to themselves, something that they can say makes them feel good.

"The fact is there is no foundation, no secure ground, upon which people may stand today if it isn't the family...Love is so supremely important. As our great poet Auden said, Love each other or perish." p.91
The importance of love is in my mind obvious. Connections, feelings and emotions are things that run deep in our veins as human beings and we all feel the need and the desire to love and to be loved in return. We all want that acceptance from within. The feeling that we can be loved. Life should be filled with love, I think that without it you cannot truly live life.

"I grin at my brother and we are united by childish pride. That wasn't so hard we think, and we are ready to take on death again."p.99
Children are so innocent and eager. They have no idea about real danger and real issues, they live in a bubble of safety and fun. Maybe we as adults or growing adults need to return to that time. We need to remember that life isn't that serious and having fun while living it is actually fun.

Throughout this book I am finding that Morrie is not only insightful, but relatable. I feel as if I have known Morrie before I read his story. It gives me a weird sense of home. I think that Morrie has become that mentor figure in the sense that he has been there and he has a very original opinion about life, he makes you think about your own life and what areas you're slacking in and how you can make your life better in that sense.