Last Lecture...

Thanks for sharing this....

I can't remember where I read an article about him. But, he stated in the article that the lecture was something he wanted to do for his kids. (sorry, I haven't listened to it yet). He sounded like an incredible man--with three young kids...

They had a whole show about him tonite http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/LastLecture/ very moving. It appears that he doesn't have too long to go now--he'll make a kick-ass angel.


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I recall seeing a story on him a while back. Very moving guy, and at the same time, just a regular person with regular problems. He has just chosen to not dwell in his sorrows, and wants to share himself with his kids, who are very young, so he does it in life lessons on videos. I seem to recall him even having video clips of himself for his kids future birthdays, and major life events like graduation, getting driver's license, getting married, having kids, etc. The interesting thing that sticks in my mind is that he is living, just as each of us is living. He has been told that he has a limited time to live, and he is taking action to make sure that he is taking care of sharing his life lessons with his family. We, too, have a limited time on Earth, yet many of us forget these basic duties to our families and friends. One thing is certain, yet none of us want to admit it. We all die, and we never know when it will happen. For all we know, we could be in perfect health, and die tonight in our sleep, when Randy might live another month. (not a religious question, but) are you prepared to die? Have you told all the people all the things you need to say? Have you began to check off your list of things to do before you die? Are you waiting to retire, or your kids get out of college, before you start living, and doing the things you want to do? Why wait? For some of us, retirement may never come. Don't wait until you are physically unable, before you grant yourself the time to do the things on your to-do list. Get started right now. No time like the present, and just remember, it is never too late to start being who you want to be.

If Randy is special in any way, it is simply in the notion that he understands his time is limited, where we tend to think that we will live an average length of time for a human. Some of us will have more time than Randy, but if we don't start thinking like Randy, preparing for death, we will never be ready when the time comes to die.

The show last night had me in tears. If we all live like he has chosen to live, the world would be a much better place. He'll be sorely missed by many.

I check on Randy's website every once in a while since his Last Lecture. I saw him with Diane Sawyer last night and it was really touching. Pancreatic cancer is horriffic. Judging from the symptoms he is enduring I'd say he's close to the end of his life here. He doesn't want to be thought of as a saint so know that he's very real and human.

Something he said last night that I hadn't heard him say before was a concern for his baby daughter Chloe. A message to her for dealing with people, particularly men, was to pay less attention to what they said and to watch what they do. Maybe we should all take that to heart today. In your lifes' walk someone is watching what you do. Be the example Randy Pausch is, the world will be a little better. Now go live it up.

I lost both my parents to cancer within 3 years of each other. Both were young (early 60's) and for awhile after that, the message of living life to the fullest every day was loud and clear. But over time, you know, life happens. This detail and that detail seem so important, and you lose track of the "big picture." I'm incredibly blessed to be married to a wonderful man who shows me every day how much he loves me, and to have a beautiful 14-year-old son who we lavish affection on (but not in public, God forbid!:roll.

Randy Pausch is performing a public service far greater than any other. He is reminding us to consider why we're here, and to simply be grateful that we're here. No matter how frustrating or difficult our lives may be at any time, we are incredibly blessed simply to be. I thank him for the gentle kick in the pants that I needed.

Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift; that's why they call it the present.

I had heard of him but was really moved by what I saw on PrimeTime last night. What really got to me was the line at the end of his lecture, that he had faked everyone out: the lecture was not for them, but for his kids.

I took many things away from that report, but a couple of things stood out.

1) Tell the truth. This is becoming more and more important to me all the time. I am a huge advocate now of "keeping it real." I am not talking about being so truthful that you are hurtful to others ... just simply presenting yourself as you are is something a lot of people don't want to do (or think they can't do). Additionally, so many don't want to see the truth in whatever their situation is. This and the serenity prayer go hand in hand. I try to live by this (look at the situation, change what you can, accept what you can't) and watching him live through the most horrible truth is truly inspiring. My brother in law died of lung cancer at 39 two years ago. It was very advanced yet he never faced what was going to happen ... at least not enough to write letters to his young kids, make a video for them, or do anything of that sort. That was so sad to me.

2) His wife's decision to say to herself "not helpful" when she starts dwelling on the bad stuff. This can be applied to any number of situations! I know that sometimes I dwell on a problem until it is resolved. I need to learn to shelve those feelings while I work on resolving a problem, or work on accepting that there is nothing I can do about it.

3) As SJ so eloquently points out, we all are only guaranteed this moment. After seeing United 93 for the first time Tuesday night, and the PrimeTime special last night, I know I need to work on enjoying the "now" much more than I do. I am actually a fairly laid back person, but my goal is to someday be as laid back as SJ.

A DVD of the lecture also is available from Carnegie Mellon. I ordered that a few months ago. It's only $7.
https://www.randypauschdvd.com/

Well put Cheering, Life is short-make it count...

My Father always told me "The only thing you have left when it's all over, is what you have left behind....."

I check on Randy's website every once in a while since his Last Lecture. I saw him with Diane Sawyer last night and it was really touching. Pancreatic cancer is horriffic. Judging from the symptoms he is enduring I'd say he's close to the end of his life here. He doesn't want to be thought of as a saint so know that he's very real and human.

Something he said last night that I hadn't heard him say before was a concern for his baby daughter Chloe. A message to her for dealing with people, particularly men, was to pay less attention to what they said and to watch what they do. Maybe we should all take that to heart today. In your lifes' walk someone is watching what you do. Be the example Randy Pausch is, the world will be a little better. Now go live it up.

My Father always told me "The only thing you have left when it's all over, is what you have left behind....."

Your father was a wise man, Biff.

Thanks; he was indeed;

Your father was a wise man, Biff.

Well put Cheering, Life is short-make it count...

My Father always told me "The only thing you have left when it's all over, is what you have left behind....."

He sounds pretty special too.

from Randy Pausch. If you have not seen this already, it is a MUST see!!! A reminder to all of us about the simple rules to life!

It is a little long, but well worth it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trplwjVwt7g

They had a whole show about him tonite http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/LastLecture/ very moving. It appears that he doesn't have too long to go now--he'll make a kick-ass angel.





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Well put Cheering, Life is short-make it count...

My Father always told me "The only thing you have left when it's all over, is what you have left behind....."

3) As SJ so eloquently points out, we all are only guaranteed this moment. After seeing United 93 for the first time Tuesday night, and the PrimeTime special last night, I know I need to work on enjoying the "now" much more than I do. I am actually a fairly laid back person, but my goal is to someday be as laid back as SJ.

Glad to read that someone thought those words I was arranging was eloquent. They certainly sounded jumbled in my mind. For me, truths which I know don't often translate well into words, so I am just fortunate that I can sometimes convey that stuff that we are trained to ignore.

I know you are kidding with the comment about being as laid back as me, but I'll share with you a truth which I learned a while back. You cannot be yourself if you are comparing yourself to someone else. When making a comparison as such, you are only trying to be someone whom you are not.

(our little local book club discussion group might say that you are already laid back. You just have to get rid of all the other stuff which blocks you from realizing it.)