I woke up this morning and with my morning coffee, set out to check out the news online. I was shocked by what I found.
Just a few days ago an acquaintance told me about Randy Pausch. A university professor whose last lecture made him world famous, Randy is witty and whimsical and frankly his last lecture is inspiring. In it he speaks of zero gravity and captain Kirk, among other things, helps listeners reconnect with their childhood dreams, and learn how to make them reality.
This talk got him coverage in the Wall Street Journal, which made him an internet sensation. And with good reason. In just the first few minutes of hearing his lecture, I wanted to hear more. Despite being diagnosed with a short time to live due to pancreatic cancer, Randy spoke with energy, enthusiasm and levity. His attitude with regard to his fatal condition is surprising – in the talk he gleefully asks the audience to excuse him if he is not depressed and morose about his plight and apologizes if that disappoints anyone. Randy is proof that losing your health doesn’t have to mean losing your happiness.
When it comes to achieving your dreams, the topic of Pausch’s last lecture, Randy had some good advice. We all come up against brick walls and according to Randy, those walls aren’t there to keep us out, but rather to stop “the other people.” They are there so we can prove how badly we want things. I was glad to find out that all those walls will be stopping the others because I will be scaling them.
Randy’s unique wisdom is evident in his talk, his book, and even on the Wikiquote page, a page dedicated to his most ingenious remarks.
I found out today that on July 25, Randy succumbed to his condition. When I heard him speak with such lightheartedness, he seemed invincible. Indeed, I think he was in spirit.
The name Randy Pausch will live on and so will his legacy. His empowered response to a debilitating condition and his time spent awakening others to their potential will continue to captivate people around the world and his inspiration will continue to spread as more and more people check out his last lecture on YouTube and buy his book, The Last Lecture.
Here’s to Randy.
