Journal 1-Dependancy

1.  There is much dependancy in the world.  Everyone and everything depends on one another for many things.  But what it is exactly?  I would say that dependency is needing a person or thing to carry out one's life in a normal fashion.  My philosophy is that everyone is extremely dependent on almost everything else in the world.  When we are children, we depend on our parents to provide for our needs, to make sure we are successful, and to provide support.  When we become adults, we are more independent, but we still need friends and family to provide compassion, and when we grow old, we once again rely on other people to help care for us.  On a less obvious level, however, we depend on farmers to grow food for us, medical professionals to care for our health, the government to maintain a stable environment, and an uncountable number of other things.  I think that almost as important, though, are the dependencies between people, such as relying on someone else to provide advice, aid, or compassion in tough times, and it is this kind of dependencies that appear in Tuesdays with Morrie.

2.  There are several parts in the book that illustrate philosophies about dependancy.  Morrie thought of it, not as something to be ashamed of, but just something to accept and treat as the way it has to be.  He wasn't embarrassed to have someone, even one of his colleagues, help him use the bathroom, even though it was a sign of his ever increasing dependency.  He knew he was very dependent and relied on other people to help him, but for him it was just something to accept, and it became another part of daily life for him.  Another part of the book with a philosophy about dependency was when Morrie said "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."  This means that he thinks that dependency is just a phase of life, and it should be enjoyed like any other aspect.  This is unusual, because dependency is usually thought of as something undesirable, but Morrie is trying to enjoy it and appreciate the things he doesn't have to do, such as taking out the garbage.  Morrie has a very optimistic view of dependency, and he is trying to appreciate and adjust to it.

3.  I do agree with the philosophies the examples are giving.  I think that it should be something that should just be accepted when it has to be, because it's the only option available, and it's a lot easier to get things done and to live life when one is accepting the things they can't change back to how they used to be.  I think that dependency should be enjoyed as much as possible simply because it will make life more enjoyable for the dependent person, and it will make the rest of their life more worthwhile.  I think that it is tough to see the bright side as Morrie does, but dependency is not necessarily something to be  ashamed of if one doesn't have a choice.  The book has made me think about how many people are dependent on something in some way, and it's also caused me to think about how people react to it.  I hadn't thought about it before, but now I realize how dependency can change people's lives and even what that person is like.

4.  A question that I've come up with is, "Who and what are you dependent on in your life, and what do you think of being dependent on other people or things?"

I am dependent on my parents for food, clothing, and shelter; my friends and family for friendship and compassion; and civilization as a whole for education, laws, and resources.  I think that dependencies are just part of being human, and they're unavoidable, and therefore should just be treated as a part of life.