Tuesday's with Morrie

I agreed with many of the general principles aligned in Tuesday’s with Morrie, however I disagreed with some of the philosophy behind them. For starters, I agree with Morrie when he says you can’t know how to live unless you know how to die. Life is too short for regret, so, it’s overstated, but I do believe that you should live each day as if it’s your last. However, whenever I think about this, I always laugh because I never really hold this to heart. If this were the case, then I’d probably go to Vegas, or even more likely, spend my “last day” with my family. It seems to be an impossible request to be honest. So much of our life is spent on working to better our future that we don’t live day-to-day. I’m going to college for four years so that I can go to med school for another four years so that I can get a residency for at least three years so that I can get a job for God knows how many years and earn money, live happily, and retire when I’ll actually get time to live when I’m sixty. Presumably I will like what I’m going to be doing along the way, but it’s still a ridiculous thought. Part of this is just the logistics of the society in which we live. To survive you need food and to get food you need money. However, the greater theme of materialism that is so clearly presented can not be ignored. Few can argue with the fact that our society is incredibly materialistic in nature. Yet the book takes it a step further when Morrie argues that human beings are so wound up with their material possessions that they forget that which is truly valuable: love. After some reflection, I have realized that I pretty much agree with this statement. Don’t get me wrong, I have my dream car as vivid in my mind as much as the next guy (Aston Martin DB 9 in case you were wondering), but at the end of the day it’s just another possession. People’s infatuation with material wealth is not so much a love that comes from acquiring the objects, but lust. Wealth provides an entirely different happiness from that of human interaction. It is superficial and lonesome, whereas relationships, by definition, involve a connection with another person that is often more complex and meaningful than that of a relationship with an object. Thinking mathematically, interacting with another person is like adding another variable to an equation, while interacting with an object is simply adding a constant. Change occurs in accordance with one another to create meaning, or a value, and the variety of change increases tremendously. The effect of a possession is understood. It will change you by ‘X’ amount. The effect of human interaction, however, is never really predictable for our complexity is too great. Every relationship is inherently unique since it’s defined by everything from past experience to present situation to future understanding. If anything, it’s much more fun to get to know another human being than an inanimate object. Unraveling the complexities behind them, let alone the interaction and discussions presented, is infinitely more rewarding.

The Boys and Girls Club

I want this program first and foremost to be mutually beneficial. I want my interactions with the kids to teach me about myself as well as them. I want to enjoy my time with them as much as they do. What I fear most of all is that the program will start to become a burden as opposed to a pleasure. I don’t see this happening just because I already enjoy interacting with kids (part of working at a summer camp is learning to improv with minimal resources). However, just in case, certain measures can be taken to make sure this doesn’t happen. First, there needs to be common ground between us. There also needs to be a way to explore this common ground. I think this can be accomplished through any sort of game present. I think a little friendly competition is always healthy. I’ll try anything and keep it up even if I make a fool of myself. If there are enough people and if there is enough interest, I could also bring a Frisbee and start a game of ultimate. From what I understand, there are already some of these resources present which will make it easier. I think the degree of structure depends on how many kids are present each time. My guess is that there is a norm, but I really can’t begin to guess what it is. If it’s any more than twenty, I think structure is necessary through some sort of group activity. While a one on one interaction would be nice, it is impractical considering our numbers. I think this would be easier managed with other members from the Paideia cohort, but certainly not all of us. It depends on the number of kids that are usually there, but I think three or four should be able to manage well enough. I also think, despite our inability to organize logistics thus far, that it is not an impossible achievement. I think going once a week for two hours or so would be ideal. From my understanding, many people are rather busy and might not be able to make such a commitment. That’s certainly understandable, but hopefully this would act as more of a break than an added chore. Much of what I want to accomplish really depends on the average number of kids that are present, and I’m sure that I’ll find that out during the meeting. I would also like to know what they would do if we weren’t there, or just what typically occurs. Is the primary goal of the program entertaining kids and giving both of us a break, or more one of sitting down and hearing their stories? To be honest, I’m really not too concerned about the program. I think that I’ll enjoy it, whatever it may be. Getting off campus, meeting new people, and doing something out of the ordinary seems easily enjoyable.