Enlightened by Tuesdays With Morrie, I now look at dying a different way. Bravely, Morrie embraced his slow invitation to death. But, would he have taken the painful, cruel, slow ending of he had to? The answer lies within Morrie's character. .
I am not one that enjoys grief and pain. Sure, they are both a part of life, but I don't like to invite then into my life. Formerly, I was terrified of death, the thought, the image, everything. I had watched as kidney failure slowly claimed my grandfather's life and took with it his energy for life, sense of humor, laugh, smile, expression. Seeing this, I cam to a conclusion. Dying as I hoped for myself would be painless, without grief or sorrow, preferably in my sleep, if I were to be so lucky. .
After reading Tuesdays With Morrie, I realized that my grandfather's experience wasn't the way it had to be, let alone should be. Remarkably, Morrie's case exemplifies how personality and character can shine through in the darkest of times. His body left debilitated and virtually lifeless, his attitude could not have been any more the opposite. Being the sociology professor he was his mind was levelheaded and open0mined. Then, he began to look at life in a different perspective. The depressing diagnosis left his dancing days behind. He was now confined to his wheelchair and the dependence on other people and machines. But, this did not confine his emotions, thoughts, imagination, appreciation. He took in the world or at least what he still could. Death did not mean a dead end, but merely a time limit. Ordinary things were now a joy. Talking with people was not sad and depressing because they knew he was dying, but lively because they were glad they had a chance to talk one last time. One thing that this death involves that dying in your sleep doesn't, it the chance for closure, to say goodbye, to enjoy one last time and to be happy about it. Morrie's case was special.
