Thread: Lessons I'm Leaving Behind

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Recently Halloweenking posted a thread entitled "Before I Die". The thread lists things people would like to accomplish before they die. Today an article was published in our Sunday paper about a young college professor who knows he is dying from pancreatic cancer. In his last lecture at Carnegie Mellon University he addressed the things he wants to tell his children. It is an excellent article and his full lecture can be found on the website below.


http://www.parade.com/articles/editi...y_Last_Lecture


In summary here are the messages Randy Pausch wants to leave for his children (ages 6, 3, and 1 yr old.)

Always Have Fun: I came to an early realization. Each of must make a decision, best captured in A.A. Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh characters. Am I a fun-loving Tigger or a sad-sack Eeyore. I won't let go of the Tigger in me....I could pack a lot of fun into 30 years. If that's not to be, I'll pack fun into the time I have.

Dream Big: Give your self permission to dream. Fuel your kid's dreams too. Once in a while, that might even letting them stay up past their bedtime.

Ask for What You Want: Ask. More often than you'd suspect, the answer you'll get is, "Sure."

Dare To Take a Risk: Experience is what you get when you don't get what you wanted. And it can be the most valuable thing you have to offer.

Look for the Best in Everybody: In the end, people will show you their good side. Just keep waiting. It will come out.

Make Time for What Matters: Time is all you have. And you may find one day that you have less than you think.

Let Kids Be Themselves: My wishes for them are very exact and, given that I won't be there, I want to be clear: Kids, don't try to figure out what I wanted you to become. I want you to become what you want to become. And I want you to feel as if I am there with you, whatever path you choose.

My eyes misted over when I read thru this.. truer words were never spoken.. I remember:

Live life to the fullest,
always say please and thank you,
hold the door open for someone else.
Smile even if you have nothing to smile about,
always have a "no-thank you please" portion, who knows, you might like it,
always offer a hand, a shoulder, an ear, you may need one someday yourself.
It is better to give than recieve. It is better still to give and not expect to receive.
Others are not put on this Earth for your enjoyment, you are put on this Earth for theirs.
Be kind to those on the way up, they will smooth the road on the way back down.

Simply put, be excellent to each other..........

Madame T. Thank you for this. This was truly beautiful.

This, right now, is hitting a little too close to home I'm afraid. So once again I just want to thank you for bringing to our attention what is truly important

Originally Posted by Spookilicious mama

This, right now, is hitting a little too close to home I'm afraid. So once again I just want to thank you for bringing to our attention what is truly important

No matter how much time we think we have to enjoy life, or spend time with loved ones, the day comes around that changes our perspective. The lucky ones are those who always take time to keep life and relationships in order. For the rest of us, it's good to be reminded now and then. I hope this post brought you "some" peace of mind and not more pain. Feel free to send me a PM if you want or need to talk.

Originally Posted by Spookilicious mama

This, right now, is hitting a little too close to home I'm afraid. So once again I just want to thank you for bringing to our attention what is truly important

Friendship is one of the "truly important" and that is a wonderful list. You know I've got your back, front and whatever else you need.

Me too, spookie, you know where i am if you need ANYTHING, I am there for you.

Most of us live life in the fast lane and don't take time to smell the roses !

Do unto others !!! Thats probably the one thing that I always remember my mom telling me.
Be how you would like others to be !

The first time someone sent me this video I said uh oh its Okra! Then after watching and listening to this man words this old ghoul broke down and cried! Just yesterday a very good friend called me to say another of our friends has died. Knock, knock, knocking on heavens door, he was only 60 years young. Then I think back over the years how many friends and family I've watched die. To many, way to many, so what does it all mean other then heaven is here and hell is what you make it while your alive, so live life to the fullest each and every day because you only get one time at bat. That is unless your a Buddhist!

That is unless your a Buddhist!

You always have a way to work a smile into any situation. It must be the Tigger in you.