HW 22

Tuesdays With Morrie
by, Mitch Albom
Published by Doubleday in September of 1997
The Chapter, The second tuesday we talk about feeling sorry for yourself, is a very strong chapter about Morrie's views on a situation that most people go through when they know they are going to die. As of right now in the story Mitch finds visiting Morrie more as an act of kindness then learning what may be his important lesson, and it also may be his only chance to learn this. Most would expect somebody dying slowly and painfully to always be feeling sorry for themselves but Morrie is different. Of course there is some self grieving but not that much. He claims that he only feels it in the morning but then he thinks of all the good things in his life and then gets on with his day. In a way he thinks he's lucky that he gets so much time to say his final good byes.
"Maybe death is the great equalizer, the one big thing that can make strangers shed a tear for one another."pg. 51
This is a very interesting claim. I think that it makes a lot of sense because it is one thing that connects us to everybody and everything living. Everything that lives dies. If you feel and know that kind of pain and fear you may be a lot more sympathetic to people who are unfairly suffering miles away.
"I want someone to hear my story. Will you?" pg. 63
This quote reminded me of some thoughts that I've had. I think that everybody wants to let there story out but it isn't truly appreciated until somebody is dying but that is also when one would want to tell there story the most.
"Ted, we've had thirty-five years of friendship. You don't need speech or hearing to feel that."pg. 71
I Think that this is a beautifully written sentence and I completely agree with it. If you have such a strong relationship with somebody there's a point where just the presents of one another is what strengthens your relationship. Just to know a person is truly there for you is an amazing thing.
This book is really sharpening my views on death and illness for the best. I'm not going to apply all of my thoughts on death on this book but before I read this I had no idea about what happens to people when they die and how they go about doing it. All I knew is I had plenty of reasons to hate death. There is a lot of ambivalence in this book. It shows from what I have heard the happiest dying story and in a way it makes it even more sad. The happier it gets the sadder it gets. This shows that in society death is viewed as a sad thing. Especially to people who do good and don't deserve it. Being sick for most people holds them back but Morrie does something different. He uses dying as a chance to educate and learn. Thats not a very popular way to look at dying. Most would use their time dying to self mourn and pity themselves.