MONDAY MUSE (29 March 2010)
LAST LECTURE
The Carnegie Mellon University had an academic tradition where top academics
were invited to deliver a hypothetical ‘last lecture’. The speaker had to
share the pick of his wisdom with the world as if it was his last chance!
However in 2007, when Randy Pausch stood up to speak, it was no hypothetical
situation as he was actually facing death!
A month before the lecture, Randy’s pancreatic cancer, after a year of surgery
and chemotherapy, was confirmed to be terminal. However, in his ‘last
lecture’, Randy shrugged off pity. He didn’t speak about death; he spoke about
life and of living a more fulfilling life, by simply achieving childhood
dreams. He offered insights from his childhood and important lessons he wanted
his kids to learn. He reiterated the need to enjoy everything we do and to live
life to its fullest before it ends.
On 25 July 2008, Randy succumbed to pancreatic cancer, but his book based on
his last lecture continues to inspire. He said that he would rather have cancer
than be hit by a bus. After all, if he died suddenly, he wouldn't have had the
time to spend as much possible time with his family and getting their life
ready for his death and beyond. Knowing that he was going to die resulted in
enhancing his remaining life.
To be better at living the life that we really want to live, we must put
together our ‘last lecture’... our thoughts if we knew we had few days to live.
We need to reconnect to our childhood dreams that lie hidden in the maze of
complexities that are created by our desperate dash towards materialistic
goals. When we envision our ‘last lecture’ and allow it to align with a
mission, we will find true meaning to our lives.
Our last lecture can truly be our guiding mission...
To BE BETTER at living life in sync with our vision!
- Pravin K. Sabnis
PRAVIN SABNIS conducts UNLEARNING UNLIMITED outbound workshops. MONDAY MUSE is
based on JCI-India’s National President’s theme: Touch To Transform (2004), We
Are The Future (2005), Speak Through Action (2006), Develop New Dimensions
(2007) & the JCI theme – BE BETTER (2008 onwards).
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