Precis: As Morrie's draws closer to his death as the Tuesdays of every week go by he starts to teach and uncover society’s gravity pull that manipulates. The average person cares about aspects of life that are meaningless, those who aren’t afraid of aging and dying will live a fulfilling life.
“Yet when I looked at Morrie, I wondered if I were in his shoes, about to die, and I had no family, no children, would the emptiness be unbearable?"- pg.92
Every Tuesday it’s a ritual for Mitch to come see Morrie and with every visit Mitch learns something new. Mitch always wonders how someone can constantly be positive when there so close to dying. Morrie notices Mitch's confusion that he possesses in his life and wants him to recognize this. Mitch feels empty inside, he’s come to realize that the life that’s he’s been living will probably lead to sad and lonely death. The emptiness would be unbearable unless he begins to change.
“Yes. Detaching myself... he opened his eyes. He exhaled. “You know what the Buddhists say? Don’t cling to things, because everything is impermanent." - pg.103
Morrie explains to Mitch that detaching yourself doesn’t mean shying away from the penetration of the experience. By letting yourself dive fully deep into the emotions and everything that comes with the agony that is being felt is apart of the experience. Morrie explains that sometimes you need to detach yourself from the horror but also confront it. Many people feel that detaching themselves and running away from their problems is an easy way out. But its not. Whatever you do won’t shake up the reality that you’re dealt with because just like Morrie, he’s very sick, hell pour out his tears but he won’t let them keep pouring. He won’t even let the ALS beat him in any sort of way. Strictly mental and physical strength, something that every individual should possess.
“It’s very simple. As you grow, you learn more. If you stayed at twenty-two, you'd always be as ignorant as you were at twenty-two. Aging is not just decay, you know. Its growth."- pg.118
Morrie explains that he embraces aging, and so should anyone else. When you age, you become smarter stronger and better. Morrie explains to Mitch that age comes with experience and change. At twenty-two you’re an ignorant individual, why would you want to stay that age and remain ignorant, Morrie explains. He suggests that time is actually someone’s friend; you just got to treat it well. It’s understandable that if someone has lived a fulfilling and meaning life, theirs no need to look back, only forward.
Detaching yourself from reality can be a sickness. Morrie throughout the book is their as guidance for those who are uncertain and confused. From old students who he taught at Brandies to random people who wrote him letters coming to visit him. They look for Morrie to provide them with answers that aren’t easy to find but through Morrie it’s like no other. He’s dealing with a point in life where many aren’t able to elaborate on because their scared too. But Morrie gives them hope. Many people in our society don’t know how to think for themselves, learn from their own lives, and Morrie is their reality television show.
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