Post 1: Morrie's Wisdom
Assigned: Friday, May 5th
Response due: Monday, May 8th
2 comments due: Wednesday, May 9th
* Include direct textual evidence from Tuesdays with Morrie in your post. Evidence must be introduced with context and cited correctly.
* Your response should be a minimum of ten sentences. Use proper grammar, spelling, etc. and organization (topic and concluding sentences, transitions).
Topic: Morrie, as a professor of sociology and later a man dying of a terminal illness, often reflected on the meaning of life. One of Mitch Albom's main purposes in writing Tuesdays with Morrie was to share Morrie's wisdom with a wide audience. At this point in the book, consider Morrie's insights and wisdom you have read. For example, Morrie tells Mitch, "Well, for one thing, the culture we have does not make people feel good about themselves. We're teaching the wrong things. And you have to be strong enough to say if the culture doesn't work, don't buy it. Create your own" (Albom 35). What piece of Morrie's wisdom or his outlook on life has made the strongest impression on you? Why? How does this wisdom/outlook relate to your own life?
"Once you learn how to die, you learn how to live." (Albom, 82). This quote by Morrie left the strongest impression on me because people tend to refuse to believe that one day they will die, therefore, you want to live life to the fullest with no regrets. Personally, this quote helped me realize and accept that people do not live forever. We have to learn how to live our lives in the moment and not get caught up in the future, because who knows when our “future” will end. I believe that this piece of Morrie’s wisdom can relate and affect everyone. We aren’t all going to live forever. This quote made me realize that you have to cherish life and take opportunities you would never imagine to do. I think Morrie was trying to say that you have to appreciate the smaller and more genuine things in life. You shouldn’t get caught up in things that don’t matter or are irrelevant because you don’t know when death is.
ReplyDeleteYour point about cherishing life and taking opportunities is a really strong one. I think people usually do not focus on how long they are going to live or when they are going to die, and it is sometimes difficult for them to be able to do things most people would not do. I also think reading this helps me understand more that we don't understand forever. Personally, I do not always cherish everything and I need to start doing that more because I could die at any time and I would not have done stuff that I do want to actually do. Nice job buddy!!!
DeleteI agree with you,Madison. People need to accept the fact that one day, we all will not be here. Therefore, we need to live life with a carefree attitude and do the things we want. You said that "This quote made me realize that you have to cherish life and take opportunities you would never imagine to do." Before you saw read this quote by Morrie about how we have to live, was there something holding you back from taking opportunities and not living life to the fullest? Reading that quote also made me realize that I need to take more opportunists, and live life to the fullest.
DeleteI totally agree with you. People do need to realize that there will come a day when others and you will pass. There is no telling when that will happen but you can just live your life until it does. I also like how you put that the small and genuine things in life are important to. They can mean a lot in the end. Are you afraid for when you or others pass? Are you going to hide from it or ignore it and live your life? I would live my life and spend time with people that I care about!
DeleteMorrie is someone I would enjoy in my life because of the way he perceives how people live and die. "Maybe death is the great equalizer, the one big thing that can finally make strangers shed a tear for one another," (Albom 51). As soon as I read that line I marked my book with stars and big letters reading "QUOTE TO REMEMBER". After reading that line, I took a step back and looked at the world in a different and new perspective. I have known a few people that have passed away, and many were close to my family. I think that one thing, death, is something that brings people together, to grieve and mourn about, like Morrie said, even strangers can shed a tear for someone else’s death. Personally, this quote makes me realize that someday we will all die, every single one of us, and that we are equal in the way we come in and out of the world. In my family when someone dies we get together and talk about it, and for some reason we all stop taking each other for granted for a while, but then it goes back to normal. If we all realized that we all die, then maybe taking people for granted would not be regular. Death is an equalizer, an equalizer for everyone on the face of the Earth, therefore we should all live life to best we can and appreciate the presence of the people we have. Hopefully, after reading and interpreting this wisdom from Morrie, I will appreciate everything I have in my life and accept the fact that everyone dies so I can make the best out of my days.
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DeleteI really like how you made personal connections to your quote. When you mentioned about when you ave a death in your family I thought that really touched. Another thing that I really enjoyed was that you used the sentence "Death is an equalizer". I really thought that that was an interesting way of putting it but I liked it, it was thought out differently and that was nice about paragraph.
DeleteI agree that the quote you have provided is one to remember. It's true that people never really think how much someone means to you or how the little things they do will matter so much when there not there to do it anymore. Morrie has many great life lessons and great quotes to remember through the book.
DeleteHe is a very caring and you can learn a lot from someone one like him.
Reading this also made me realize that we need to appreciate life more. Some of my family members have died and I never really got to love them or spend as much time with them as I could have. Making this mistake of not valuing family members, or even friends, enough sucks because once you lose them you will never get to spend more time with them. I think I need to start respecting more of the people in my life because of the chances of them passing away.
DeleteI used the same quote! As the quote did for you, it jumped out at me and made my think about the world. It is a very meaningful quote that was said be Morrie. Everything you said I agree with 100%. I have also dealt with some deaths in the family and it is a hard time for everyone that was close to that person, friends or family. Everyone is brought closer together and now all have one thing in common, that one thing being the death of a loved one. That was a great point that you made when you said that we all have to realize that we will die one day and that we can't take each other for granted. Good job Allie, great response.
DeleteI totally agree with you Allie, the idea of not believing in the actions that will end up happening in you life have a large impact on you. Knowing that death is real and will end up to have an impact on all of us has a large impact on me. It is always good to never underestimate the opportunities that are in your life.
DeleteI would also love for someone like Morrie to be in my life too! He also tries to turn the unfortunate things into something good. For example his death is a depressing thing, but Morrie tries to look on the bright side and live his life while he has time too.
Delete“I may be dying, but I am surrounded by loving, caring souls. How many people could say that?” (Albom 36). Many people are unhappy with the culture. Morrie is dying with ALS he cannot do many activities that most people could do. This quote has a strong impression on me because it portrays the purpose that Morrie is not like most people. He has a disease that will kill him soon. Morrie looks at the bigger picture, he knows he is loved by many people. He is making an impact on society and that's what he cares about. This connects to my own life because just like Morrie, I am always trying to make other people happy. Everyone has a purpose in life and I think mine is to put others before myself. I think that helping other people be the best they can will make will impact my life in many ways as well.
ReplyDeleteMakayla, you make a really good point about what you believe your purpose in life is. Many people do not figure out their purpose until they're older and much wiser. Also, many people struggle finding out what their purpose is on Earth and it is great that you figured it out. I'm curious how long you thought about what your purpose in life is before you actually found out it was to make others happy. Overall, I think you did a good job connecting to what Morrie said, and the message that Morrie was trying to send, you understood.
DeleteMy favorite part was during the end of your paragraph when you mentioned something about your impact on the world and what you think that your purpose is. I also do agree that everyone has a purpose in life and that they make an impact on not only others but their own as well
DeleteYour quote really sticks out but makes me feel very positive. I like how your quote goes with the story,Morrie believes he is alright and happy because he's around people who care about him. When you say Morrie looks at the bigger picture that's very true. He values are lives just as much as his life and that's hard to do when you are dying of a non-curable disease. You really relate to Morrie as you said in your Blog that you put others before you. Good work.
Deleteknowing that your are surrounded by people that love you for you and are a great support system for you when your at your lowest point are amazing to have around. They keep you moving because they want the best for you. morries students had a lot to learn from him. when he was diagnosed he realizes that life is to short to not learn anything from the things around you.
DeleteIt can be hard for many to turn their attention to others, especially when they are dealing with an illness. Morrie is aware that there are people in his life who really care about him, and he choses to live in a way that will make a lasting impact on their lives when he is gone. He wants to be remembered as one with a positive outlook. Makayla,I feel that you can relate to Morrie in your purpose to help and uplift others, which does leave a lasting impression. Nice work in conveying Morrie’s message.
DeleteWhat really impacted me was Morrie's outlook on life after he figured out he was going to die of ALS. Even after he realized that soon he was going to die he wanted to help people to be happy and make sure they understand the meaning of life. "The culture we have does not make people feel good about themselves. We're teaching the wrong things. And you have to be strong Enough to say if the culture doesn't work don't buy it. Create your own. Most people can't do it they're more unhappy than me, even in my current condition” (Albom 35). Morrie wants to help people instead of focusing on himself, which has a huge impact on me. If I were to be diagnosed with a terminal illness i would rather spend my time doing all the things I've ever wanted to do in life, but Morrie doesn’t think this way. He is always more interested in helping others rather than himself.
ReplyDeleteYour point about Morrie's selflessness is important, Johnny. It amazes me too that he is able to focus on others, such as people close to him (students, friends, etc.) but also those in the world who suffer who he does not know. It can be difficult for an individual to be selfless under any circumstances, let alone when one is dying from an illness as intense as ALS. You mentioned that you would "rather spend my time doing all the things I've ever wanted to do in life"- what is one of the things you'd want to do before you die? We call this a bucket list, right? Something on my bucket list is to to to every National Park in the US; my family and I are planning a trip this summer to begin this journey!
DeleteI really like how you emphasize the facts that he is dying but takes his time to tell people he doesn't really known about his thoughts on life and his meaning of life. Your quote really proves a great fact that you don't have to be mainstream,you can try and speak out about whatever it is you are talking about. Morrie could be doing whatever he wants before he dies most of us would like to have materialistic things but before he dies he wants to impact the world and tell the audience the mistakes that have came along the way for him,and what is more important than anything and to Morrie that's life. Nice job,John.
DeleteI would call it a bucket list, and right now in my life I don't have many things that I would want to do, or maybe I just haven't really thought about it. I feel that if I knew the end of my life was approaching I could think of so many things to do. I guess right now, at this current time in my life, I would like to get married and start a family. And if I where to already have these things at the time I got diagnosed with this deadly illness, I would probably like to attend an Olympic event either in the winter or summer. I feel that I would like to see the skiing events in the winter and the baseball event in the Summer. I would like to watch these activities because these are two of my favorite hobbies.
DeleteJohnny, I think you really understand how uncommon a reaction Morrie had to dying. There must be so many thoughts one has when told of having a terminal illness. It would be logical to turn your attention on helping yourself to fulfill your needs. Yet, Morrie does just the opposite and tries to focus on helping others with the time that he has left. He goes against what is the normal reaction to dying in our culture. He wants others to be happy in life, so that they will get the best out of the life that they have left.
DeleteIn Tuesdays with Morrie, Morrie is a wise man. Even though he has a terminal illness and is going to pass away soon, he is still positive and looking at the bright side of things. Whenever Morrie gives Mitch some advice, it is always something that leaves a good impression. Morrie is wiser than most people I have ever read things or heard about. He is talking to Mitch when he says: "So many people walk around with a meaningless life. They seem half-asleep, even when they're busy doing things they think are important. This is because they're chasing the wrong things. The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning," (Albom 43). This is the statement I remember the most about Morrie so far. This describes so many people now because they do not take time to realize some things that are important. He says that you have to put meaning into your own life, which is true. People decide how they want to live their life and what kind of person they want to be. The ones that actually do things and make their lives better are the ones that are utilizing their time. This relates to my life because sometimes I do things that are not meaningful. I could change and be doing other things like helping people or doing things that have meaning to me.
ReplyDeleteWhen I read those quote, it impacted me, as well. I felt that it portrays how we all live, like you said, "The ones that actually do things and make their lives better are the ones that are utilizing their time." I think that sentence is really thought out and accurate. I personally feel that I should stop binge watching Netflix and reading about gossip, because that it is not utilizing my time wisely or thoughtfully. Do you have certain things that you would change about your everyday activities? If so, what would you change to make your life more meaningful or impacting?
DeleteI agree with your point saying, "people decide how they want to live their life and what kind of person they want to be". You can either spend your life living in a negative point of view or a positive. I agree with what Morrie as well, I think that you should always look on the brighter side of things no matter what the situation may be. I also like how you said that some things you do are not always meaningful, I'm glad you added this because it shows how you can't always be positive or do meaningful things in your life, but that's how you know the way you live can always be improved/changed. Good job bestie!
Delete“Maybe death is the great equalizer, the one big thing that can finally make strangers shed a tear for one another“(Albom 51). This just jumped out at me when this was said. I was just at a loss of words when I read this. The reason why this quote is so great is because, in my opinion, it is so true. I feel like nothing can bring the whole world together more than death can. I never really realized that till I read it. I feel like that quote expresses Morrie's wisdom more than anything. Out of all the things Morrie said throughout the first 100 pages of this novel, that specific quote jumped out to me the most. This quote does not really relate to me in any way, but it just has such a strong impression and message. People should think about this more. A terrible thing such as death, is the only way that can like make us equal and care about each other. The people of the world should always care about each other no matter what, not just for a death. The quote above in the beginning of my response had the strongest impression on me in the novel so far.
ReplyDeleteAs I read the book, the same quote jumped out to me. I was speechless and took some time to ponder about what I had just read. Your point about the terrible event, death, being the strongest thing to bring people together. We also looked at the quote differently, I thought that this showed in the end, we all die.
DeleteMy favorite point you made is when you said: "I feel like nothing can bring the whole world together more than death can". I have never really thought of death in that way. I agree with you, grieving over someone deceased can bring people together because they are all are missing someone in their lives. Great job on choosing this quote! Both your quote and your response both changed my perspective on death.
DeleteI feel the same way that death brings everyone together and this quote also stood out the most for me as well out of all the quotes it has such a deep meaning to it.
DeleteIn the book "Tuesdays with Morrie", Morrie Schwartz sounds like a very inspiring man. One of my favorite quotes he has said is: “Sometimes you cannot believe what you see, you have to believe what you feel. And if you are ever going to have other people trust you, you must feel that you can trust them, too-even when you’re in the dark. Even when you’re falling”(Albom 61). I feel that this quote this very important because it talks about how if you want someone to trust you then you have to trust them in return. You need to trust someone even when you're feeling alone and down and need someone to help you through. This relates to my life because I trust my friends with everything and when I’m not having the best of days I go to them for help. Not only do I trust my friends, but I also trust my family and they get me through hard times. Another one of my favorite quotes by Morrie is: “Because it's the ultimate sign of dependency. Someone wiping your bottom. But I’m working on it. I’m trying to enjoy the process.” (Albom 49). I love the comedic take on this quote. It shows how even when times get rough with Morrie that he always tries to be pessimistic about things. I can really tell that Morrie has made an impact in Mitch Albom's life because he is definitely going to make an impact in mine by the end of this book.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Katie, your quote really shows how trust has an impact on people. I like how you said "if you want someone to trust you then you have to trust them in return". This really shows how the things in your life can be impacted by the things around you just like the people in your life that you get to know through trust.
DeleteI really enjoy your second quote. When I have hardships in my life I try my hardest to make a joke about it. If I do not joke around about it I get very scared for the future and whats going to happen. No one should stress over any problem they have because one day none of that will matter.
Delete“Sometimes you cannot believe what you see, you have to believe what you feel. And if you are ever going to have other people trust you, you must feel that you can trust them, too” (Albom 61). This quote dealt with Morrie teaching his students about the importance of trust by their participation in a trust fall. Most of his students could not carry it to completion because they thought that they could not count on their partners to catch them. They lacked trust in one another. This is a common condition for most people. Trust can be hard. It is a balance between being naive and trusting everyone, and being paranoid and trusting no one.
ReplyDeleteTo get trust from others, you must open yourself up to trust them. This can be hard to do if you’ve been let down or hurt by someone. Trust creates connections and bonds between people, which is especially important when hardships create the need for comfort and advice from others. This quote made me understand that putting your trust in another can make you feel exposed and vulnerable, but shutting out another to avoid these feelings can make you feel lonely and lost, which can be worse. Like in a trust fall, sometimes it is best to just close your eyes and rely on people you trust to catch you and carry you through things.
I agree that trusting someone puts you in a very difficult position. Having someone to talk to and tell your secrets to can make you feel a lot better. When many people know things about my personal life I am very paranoid. If I was not able to trust anyone it would make me go crazy! Having certain connections with people will make your life be a lot easier. Good job Sarah!
DeleteI feel that you point about trust is very crucial key. I think how you describe his students trust put it in perspective of other people helped explain your point. I like how you said that you that it is hard to open up because a lot of people have a hard time opening up. I feel your post is very well written and how you related trust to everyday people’s lives creates a good image. Good job.
Delete"Morrie danced all by himself... They just thought he was some nut" (Albom, 5-6). This action Morrie did had the strongest impression on me because it shows that you should live the life you want to live without caring what other people think of you. Morrie went to church party's with a bunch of students and danced to his hearts desire. He didn't care that the students thought he was strange. Sometimes, he even brought his own music. I think this shows that his outlook of life is to do you find fun, no matter who thinks you are a nut. And many people thought Morrie was. I believe that this piece of Morrie's wisdom can affect everyone who reads it because many people feel self conscious about what they do. This made me realize that I can do somethings that I have always feared because I thought I would be judged for. You should just go out there and be you. Don't let anyone stop you.
ReplyDeleteIn the novel “Tuesday’s with Morrie” by Mitch Albom, Morrie’s wisdom really touches my heart. A quote that really inspires me is, “Accept what you able to do and what you are not able to do”(Albom 18). This quote is very uplifting and inspiring. In life, people need to realize that some things are out of their hands, and things that you can not change. People in life will hear about others struggles and they feel the need to do something to help that person prosper and get better. That situation though is out of their hands and they can not help that person because it is not their battle to fight. This wisdom relates to my life because I love to help people and I love making others happy. When I see others upset I try to do everything in my power to allow that person to get better, I have to realize though that there are some situations that I can not fix, or some people I can not help. I need to learn to accept what I am able to do and what I am not able to do in life.
ReplyDeleteThis was a great quote that you found, Olivia. People do have to realize that they can't do everything and as you said,"that some things are out of their hands, and things that you can not change". Also, way to make a personal connection to this quote. Having a personal experience to the message or quote, always lets you or someone else comprehend it better. Good job Olivia!
DeleteOlivia, I totally agree that this quote fits your life. I have seen through being your friend all these years that you truly do want the best for everyone and I know for a fact you have helped me plenty of times. I actually thought of many people when reading this quote in the book and you where one of them! Its just crazy how you picked this quote to post on the blog. Overall I liked how you picked the best quote to describe your life and how you want to always help others.
Delete“Sometimes you can't believe what you see; you have to believe what you feel”(Albom 61). This quote was used when Morrie did an activity with his students about trust fall. You have to trust your partner to catch you when you are falling. But this will only work if you trust them if you don't it's going to be hard for you. This is important because it teaches people that they need to trust others even if you are having a hard time you need to trust them in order to get help. This left a strong impression on me because I trust my family a lot and I also trust my friends and also the teachers here. Even if I am having a hard time at school or anything I know I could go to them to help me out, because those are the most supportive people in my life. That is why this quote leaves a strong impression on me.
ReplyDeleteAs Mitch is going to see Morrie on Tuesday the one thing that really impacted me was the idea that you will see life differently based on the events that happen in your life. Morrie wants Mitch to know that once you are confronted with the problems in life that’s when you know what living life is all about. At Morrie’s house he is talking to Mitch about the things that he has learned about living: “...most of us all walk around as if we’re sleepwalking. We really don’t experience the world fully, because we’re half-asleep…” (Albom 83). When Morrie is faced with the idea that he has ALS and is going to die soon, he wants Mitch to understand that if he lives his life to the fullest then you will never miss out on the most important idea of life which is enjoying every moment. As Morrie is talking about life, he talks about how untill you are faced with a life decision or a life impact then you don’t really know what living life to the fullest is all about. The goal Morrie is trying to show is you may think you are living life to the fullest you may not be until you know what it feels like and has an impact on you like Mitch spending most of his time at work makes him miss out in spending time with his wife. Morrie really wants to express that you should not give up on opportunities that life throws at you. The life impression of living life to the fullest had the largest impact on me because that way you will never miss out on all of the impacting events going on in your life. This relates to my own life because doing all of the activities that I am able to do and I want to do allows me to learn and do all of the milestones in life. The most impacting ideas that are in your life will end up having the largest impact on you and your life.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, Makenna. I think it is very important to live your life to the fullest because then you may miss something. I like how you said it allows you to do your milestones because those are very important in in a life. I think this is very well written and relates to everyone's personal life. Good job.
DeleteI feel like thats how anyone should live their life to the fullest. And if people dont live their life to the fullest they might have some regrets. I think your point says all the reason why you should.
DeleteIn "Tuesdays with Morrie", Morrie talks about the world and how ever since he was diagnosed he pays attention to what happens in the world. Morrie is dying and is wanting to know what is happening in the world. He feels people's pain that are on the news and what they are going through, such as when he says to mitch, "But it's hard to explain, Mitch. Now that i'm suffering, i feel close to people who suffer than i ever did before. The other night, on TV, I saw people in Bosnia running across the street, getting fired upon, killed,innocent victims... and I just started to cry," (Albom 50). Morrie feels sympathy for others more than he does for himself. He also feels connected to people through pain. There are people in this world that have less than us and go through a lot more awful situations than others. People in other countries are being killed and forced to work for no reason. I think Morrie's wisdom can relate to my life by when I see something happen to someone or see someone in poor conditions, I want to help them. For example, there are a lot of homeless people in the world and there are some things that we can do to help but people chose not to. When I was in New York one time, me and my family were walking down the street and there were so many people sitting on the streets with cups. They were asking for money, every person that I saw just kept walking. Me and my sister felt so bad for these people and asked our parents if we could help them so we gave them a couple of dollars. In the future I can volunteer, donate, inform others about the situation, and have a fundraiser to help others in the world. Morrie chose to see the situations in the world after he was diagnosed but I am choosing to view the situations in the world as I live my life.
ReplyDelete“Learn to forgive yourself and to forgive others” (Albom 18). This quote really spoke to me because when my grandfather was very sick he was scared, yet he found that once he would forgive himself he would be able to pass in peace. I also feel that if you are not able to forgive, things cannot get better in your life or in anyone else's. In many ways Morrie shows close characteristics of my grandpa and it connected how they would act even though they both knew they had little time left, and for them to be relieved they had to forgive themselves. For this reason, Morrie shows that no matter how many things you have done, haven’t done, or regretted, you are able to forgive yourself, and that we are all humans and have to accept that. Forgiveness is a hard thing to have, many people are unable to forgive and do not live peacefully, but once you learn that you have a small time left, you must forgive in order to accept that there is no way out of death. When my grandfather was sick he forgave himself for being in the army and what happened when he was overseas, he was scared to leave but he knew that the people that had passed from him would forgive him as well. When you forgive yourself your life opens up and relieves you of the things that happened , and is why it is so important to let it go.
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