The goal of this paper
The goal of this paper is to provide extensive information on how to improve communication, culture, and caregiving. This article's discussion will be based on the novel "Tuesdays with Morrie." In this paper, we will look at how today's culture views aging and death, as well as how individuals should care for and communicate with the elderly or dying. In presenting the paper, we will see my reaction to the book and how I felt after reading it; once again, touch and closeness will be considered as ways in which it promotes wellbeing to the elderly. Caring of adults shall be considered at the end of the paper and a quote said by Morrie shall be discussed. The paper will conclude with a conclusion.
Initial reaction
As I read the book "Tuesday with Morrie," I was overwhelmed with pity for Morrie, courage, and inspiration. The courage that Morrie displays is so great that he does not fear death at any point. Morrie has a lot of courage of taking classes and teaching young people on the different aspect of life despite his ill health. Morrie has been diagnosed with ASL. He is sure to die but gives the young people courage to work as if they are to die anytime. It is evident that Morrie has enough courage since he knows that he has done what he saw right and does not have a fear of death. Morrie gives me enough courage to work extra hard in any activity. Although I was filled with pity when I looked at dying Morrie, I finally had enough courage.
Touch and intimacy
It is evident that the elderly face touch deprivation. For instance, touch is a vital essence that should be given to the elderly. Most of the young do not consider giving the aged the required treatment. Most of the young people are concerned with their affairs and are do not have time for the wrinkled faces. Research shows that lack of touch is a distracting factor for the one receiving care. (Debrot et al., 2013) Most of the aging people today face such an intimacy of lack of touch hence is affected negatively. It is true that the aged are affected by the lack of touch hence most of them are depreciated at some point. It is advisable the young give the aging a sense of touch in their lifetime.
We can see that Morrie never suffered the lack of touch
For instance, Morrie had enough relatives who were around him. In the book we can see that Mitch gave Morrie a long hug. We can see that Mitch knew what touch meant to the elderly. Mitch knew one of the most important aspects of touch was reducing depreciation and pain. We can also see Mitch rubbing Morrie in the palm (Reganit, 2012) to reduce the pain that Morrie had. Morrie never faced any intimacy since Mitch was always around him and he had made a considerable number of friends, and he had stayed a good life with his relatives. What the issue of caring of the dying and the aged in a case of touch is well seen in the whole context.
The society today seems too careless for the aged
It also a great challenge to the nurses today (Rich et al., 2010) Most of the aged suffers from touch depreciation since the society does not see this as a matter of high impact. Since the aged cannot do anything, there are considered of less value. The young are busy, and no one seems to care about their well-being. It is clear that the society sees aging as decaying rather than seeing it as a way of acquiring knowledge. Just like Mitch, the young should be much involved with aging to get enough wisdom and advice. For instance, the young should care the aging. As nurses, we should consider ourselves as caregivers and as we take care of them give them necessary touch as we communicate with them.
Spiritual journey
As nurses, it is advisable to make the aged discover that aging is not decaying. For instance, the aging should be advised to see that as they age, they are growing in the world of wisdom. As nurses and also as caregivers it is advisable to make the old discover their potentials. Also, we should advise them by using marries example and making the aged use their wisdom to teach the young the different aspects of life due there personal experience since they have grown spiritually and there experience can be used to teach the young. Morrie spoke of being fully present. Morrie loved Mitch to end extent of saying that he would consider him his son. Morrie was fully present. Being fully present meant listening attentively. Most of the young people do not use this act of being fully present. Mitch once said that Morrie should talk and he listens (Albon, 2009). Mitch was a good listener, and nothing distracted him from listening to marries advice, it is a good way of communicating with being fully present to the aging since this shows an act of care and respect. Listening attentively is a good way of communicating.
Care should be given to the aging in our today culture
Taking care of the aged is a way of showing them the meaning of life. Life is not about power and money but basically about friends and relatives. Caring one another is the best way of explaining the meaning of life to an elderly. Life is all about enjoying with friends and caring one another. The elderly are of great importance since they have a long experience in life. They have come to know much more of that, we the young do not know. The elderly by giving us good advice and precaution can give us what is the meaning of life.
Analysis of quote
"Learn how to die and learn how to live." The quote meant that Morrie knew that one day he would die hence he had to use the moment he had to accomplish everything. Morrie lived a good life with people, so he had no regrets during his dying life. The quote means that as a young youth it is advisable to do what I am to do right away since life is too short to waste. It is also advisable to expect death anytime hence it is good to enjoy life now.
The other quotes "aging is not decayed but Growth"
Meant that Morrie had enough experience and knowledge, due to his experiences. Since he was diagnosed with ASL, he had knowledge and experience to teach the young. To me, the quote was an encouraging quote to the aging showing them that they were to use their experience in teaching the young but not to think they were dying.
In conclusion
The society should see that the aging as an important tool. The aged have a mandate to teach the young through their experience? It is also advisable to take care of the aged provide a touch communication. Communication is a vital thing to any living and listening is the greatest tool of communication. Listening provides the aspect of being present wholly, and the listening should be attentive. As we can see Morrie people should not fear death and aging since they will all come to your life. It is advisable to see aging as positive fact in life and use it to teach the young. Morrie story should be used to encourage the young and the aging.
References
Albom, M. (2009). Tuesdays with Morrie: An old man, a young man, and life's greatest lesson. Hachette UK.
Debrot, A., Schoebi, D., Perrez, M., & Horn, A. B. (2013). Touch as an interpersonal emotion regulation process in couples' daily lives: the mediating role of psychological intimacy. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 39(10), 1373-1385.
Rich, K. L., & Nugent, K. E. (2010). A United States perspective on the challenges in nursing education. Nurse Education Today, 30(3), 228-232
Reganit, M.C.(2012). Tuesdays with Morrie (1999). YouTube. Retrieved 12 May 2017, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGCYD_7taKA
