Friday, September 17, 2010
This American Life: Mike's Life Blog
In 10-15 sentences, please react to Mike's life from class on Friday, 9/17. How did learning about Mike affect you? Did it make you feel differently about your situation? Please pick a subject that is relevant to Mike's story, expand it to a theme, and discuss how that theme might directly apply to your life. This may involve some empathy or sympathy: you decide which one.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
It made me realize how lucky I am. I was not born with a disability. And how precious life is. That it is very lucky that any of us could have had a disability. Some slight issue when we were in eutoro could have cause us to be completely different then who we are today. It also shows me the resilience one human being can have. It is sad to realize how i believe my life can be over if i cant find something to wear, or i friend is being me, or god forbid my parents dont understand me. If Mike can led a basically normal life then I can definitely not take for granted the life which i have been blessed to have.
ReplyDeleteWatching Mike's life made me really appreciate my life and the way I was born. It definitely made me feel differently about my life. It really made me realize things that I had never realized or thought about it. It's just sad because people take things for granted so much and they don't realize that there are more important things going on in the world. There are other people out there that have it much worse off than us and we just sit around and complain about the stupidest things that really don't even matter in the long run. This show kind of woke me up and made me realize I really need to make a change and be more appreciative of everything I have. There are people like Mike who have disabilities and are dealing with really difficult things in their lives and we just need to realized that.
ReplyDeleteTo be alive is the greatest gift in the world. To not take advantage of this gift is equivalent to not living life to the fullest. As Mike said, it's okay to be all "puppies and flowers" because he is right, the world is an awesome place and it needs to be taken advantage of. Freshman year I carpooled with a friend and his dad to school every morning, and it was something I resented. But by the end of the year, it was no longer something I resented but enjoyed. Shyon's dad was always so happy and so thankful for everything in the world. It would be thundering outside and he would comment on how it was such a beautiful day. He would tell us stories about when he was a child, along with stories about what was going on in his life right then. His mother was sick, and when she passed he said it was the most beautiful day. During her sickness he sat next to her bed every morning, evening, and night; spending all the time he could with her. He told us she died happy and in peace. Driving to school with them every morning taught me something different about myself, that I should love every moment, the good in the bad, because you never know when it will be your last. And when it is your last, will you regret how you acted in the past?
ReplyDeleteMike created a great deal of love for my own life. I have always loved my life, and was happy to be alive, but he forced me to love it even more. He informed me that the ability to move and to speak is something I take for granted, when it is an absolute privilege.
ReplyDeleteHowever, Mike found a way to slither into the pit of my stomach and enrage a small part of me. Mike has a terminal disease and constantly refuses to accept aid from the only woman who ever loved him since birth. He wants to breakaway from her, when that possibility is not really an option. He needs to realize the severity of his situation prevents him from living the life of his brother. Mike would put his life in jeopardy if he were to attempt to do so. This then poses the question for Mike: Is internal happiness worth putting your life on the line for?
mike made me think of how lucky i am to live a healthy life. i take advantage of all the normal things i am able to do that i do not think twice about. mike's outlook on life is this: he want to be normal in all ways possible. i hope that one day mike is able to live alone because i know that he is capable and would make the most of it. mike is a mind trapped inside a flawed body. mike needs to decide whether or not risking his life is worth fighting for his dreams.
ReplyDeleteIt gave me hope for the future of humanity. If this severly disabled person can try his damnedest to live a normal life, then perhaps there is hope for all the people who complain about not being able to update their facebook, myspace, or whatever their form of bondage may be. This man should be looked on as a hero; he had nothing, but overcame his disabilities to go on with life. In mind, he is the ideal person.
ReplyDeleteThe show begins with showing the obstacles Mike must face daily. It is quite evident that he is unhappy and depressed. This was no shock to me because sometimes I have those feelings and I do not have any disabilities. As the show continues, Mike is able to overcome those obstacles and start living live to the fullest of his abilities. This made me realize that if he can find happiness, than everyone should be able to as well. He has showed me that even if you are scared, sometimes taking a risk can have very positive outcomes. He has showed me that I need to stop taking life for granted and start living because life it short. I realized that people should not look down on him because he is handicap, but look up to him as a role model. We should all strive to be more like Mike and live every day like there’s no tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteWatching Mike makes you think about your own life. I look back and pray and appreciate the gifts that god has blessed me with. I didn't even know that a person can even live a life like that, with that type of disease. Also that he wants the same life as any other man, wanting to venture out and be on his on, his will is strong. It really makes you think about your situation, and how lucky you are not to be born in those types of circumstances. Mike wants to do the things that come with living. He wants to growing up and move out. To be able to drive a car, have his own girlfriend. He risks his life doing things that come normal to us. People should be looking up to Mike for his courage to stand up and say no to doing just the things people say he can do in his position. He should be able to do all he can, and they should want to help him, the technology is there so I don't see why not.
ReplyDeleteThese are wonderful comments. I appreciate the thoughts and kind words of empathy you all bring. Good stuff!
ReplyDelete