After watching Randy Pausch's video presentation in Oprah's show (this link is on this blog topic "Live"), I was all very keen to share this inspiring topic with anyone who cares to listen. In my sharing journey, a friend loan me his book "The Last Lecture" .
I was totally taken and awed by his 40 odd years of life journey. Randy Pausch was an extraordinary person on earth and when he passed on 25th July 2008, he has done more than most people who lived a full life or is still living...... he is an icon we should introduce to our younger generations.
In this simple 6-chapter book of his, I have gathered a lot of knowledge I have not gotten in any of my readings.....
I am so taken in by his joy of life; how he carries on happily facing death, how he never give himself a moment of self-pity, sadness, depress or morose which naturally will be faced by people who knows they only have months to live. Values that he lives by .... honesty, integrity, gratitude, joy, dignity and self-esteem and achieving his childhood dreams.......
These are a few of the wisdoms he imparted..... his invaluable gift to all who reads his book.
- ~~ doing the best you can with limited resources
- ~~ if you can dream it, you can do it
- ~~ when there's an elephant in the room, introduce it
- ~~ we cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand
- ~~ "I won the parent lottery" -- having good parents
- ~~ never make a decision until you have to
- ~~ just because you're in the driver's seat, doesn't mean you have to run people over
- ~~"We know just how you feel, honey. And remember, when your father was your age, he was fighting the Germans." (this is a good one to use on complaining stress out kids... by changing the last phrase to suit the family background -- I particularly like this!)
- ~~ When you are screwing up and nobody says anything to you anymore, that means they've given up on you.
- ~~ many kids today are so coddled!
- ~~ I don't believe in the no-win scenario
- ~~ tenacity is a virtue
- ~~ The brick walls are there for a reason. And once you get over them - even if someone has practically had to throw you over - it can be helpful to to others to tell them how you did it.
- ~~ The brick walls are there to stop the people who don't want it badly enough. They're there to stop the other people.
- ~~ It's easy to look smart if you're parroting smart people
- ~~ People are more important than things
- ~~ automobiles are utilitarian devices, not expressions of social status
- ~~ No matter how bad things are, you can always make things worse; at the same time, it is often within your power to make them better
- ~~ The truth can set you free
- ~~ Luck is where preparation meets opportunity
- ~~ Ernest is better than hip
- ~~ Let's make a deal
- ~~ Don't complain, just work harder
- ~~ Treat the disease, not the symptom
- ~~ Don't obsess over what people think
- ~~ Look for the best in everyone
- ~~ You are only as good as your words
- ~~ No job is beneath you
- ~~ Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted
- ~~ Rights come with responsibilities
- ~~ All you have to do is ask
From all that I have learned from Randy and from his book "The Last Lecture" (you may get more from your different point of view), I would like to add a little of my own ....
"Go on those trips you've always wanted to take. Live in the moment, even if you or your close family do not have a terminal illness" In other words, do not wait for the inevitable before you put your dreams into action! Live and let live!
