Wordbird: 2008-02-28 00:40:35

says:

Although he's dying, soon, his Last Lecture is really about Celebrating Life. He cuts to the chase--having no time to do otherwise--on what's meaningful, what brings success, how to gain perspective. 

Maybe his biggest message is not something he says, but what he's doing. He's wringing the juice out of life, every last drop. He's facing death with not only physical, but spiritual and emotional, strength. For one thing, amazingly--he has apparently completely let go the fantasy he "has control" or should have had control, over illness and death. I think he's plenty angry he's dying, angry at his losses, angry to leave his children without a father--and he's using that anger to drive action, to do good, to leave something even bigger for his children. 

Very few people are able to know, and accept, I AM going to die within X time.  And still be strong physically so they can go do what they need and want to. I think it is in much part because he lived life fully before his illness, he is able to accept his coming death, and keep on living so fully. 

We do die in much the same way we have lived. We set it up before hand in some ways. Will I be surrounded by love? Will I be fairly fit? Will I have a safe home and some money? Will I be up to date with things so that doesn't have to be my focus. Will I go do what I can for treatment, and let go what I can't do anything about? Which means do I have insurance, a regular MD, did I take quick action when I realized I might be sick? 

Those are in much part all about how I have lived up to the day I find out I'm dying.  

It sounds though like he's always had a drive to live hard--live fully. To really connect deeply and laugh and love. He's also had both blessings and privileges, which he acknowledges. 

He didn't mention his wife.

Yah. Lots to think about. Thanks.

derdekai: 2008-02-28 13:40:31

says:

Thank you for sharing this!

piwackit: 2008-02-28 19:44:45

says:

seeing him screaming with his mom on the beach  : )   makes me wish I had kids. You don't  get to see peoples happy lives that  anymore.

thanks

gramma: 2008-03-04 17:33:22

says:

Thank you so much for sharing this!  And I am so glad I took the time to explore and found it. 

gramma

Pioneer760: 2008-03-09 08:31:22

says:

I have been following his extraordinary story since last November 2007.

Here is an almost complete link list:

*** The original last lecture "Really achieving your childhood dreams" and the lecture about "Time management" (each more than one hour and the first downloadable with subtitles):

http://www.randypauschsubtitles.de/41363.html 

*** Short version of his last lecture (same as Coaches Link):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tIyt8oSLVs&eurl=http://toolstolife.com/users/CoachSteele/profile/

*** His web page with current information about his situation

http://download.srv.cs.cmu.edu/~pausch/

*** abc network interviews shortly after his “first” last lecture

http://www.abcnews.go.com/search?searchtext=randy%20pausch&type=

Best wishes