I realize as I am watching the Diane Sawyer program on the life of Randy Pausch what it is that makes his message so compelling to so many. We are living in a time where our political system is in shambles, our economic outlook is bleak, and many are suffering. I have asked myself what it is that has made Randy Pausch a household name. I realize now that his message is the desperate message of hope that so rarely makes the headlines. People are longing to hear what it is that is positive in this world and Randy has brought that home for all of us. He has set an example of how to live. Fully. Completely. Happily.
As I watched the show, his close friend said that he was trying to explain cancer to Randy's son after his passing and he explained that some problems just cannot be solved. He said that Randy's son told him that his Daddy taught him that all problems can be solved and that he was smart enough and strong enough to make that happen. Telling.
I am hearbroken for his wife, and am moved by her plea for him not to die for fear that the magic would die with him. I think she was wrong. His magic is touching the lives of people all over the world, and through the changes made at his request to strangers, the magic lives. I am in awe of her courage and acceptance and hope that she has strength in the next days, weeks, months to grieve.
I hope that in my own life, when I walk off the field I can say that I have done my best. I hope that have the courage to take risks to make my own dreams come true. I hope that I continue to have the kind of gratitude for all of wonderful things in my life that I do today. I am grateful to have had Randy touch my life and help me see where I am going.
I have an entire room that I have given my six-year old son permission to paint.
"The most wasted of all days is one without laughter." -E.E. Cummings
Posts
4 comments:
Jennifer,
Nice post. You expressed very well some of the same things I've been thinking and feeling since learning of Dr. Pausch's passing. I had the opportunity to see him deliver the address he gave in Old Cabell Hall last Fall, and the day was one that I'll always treasure. I'd like to think a small part of him became a small part of each of us, and that we can pass it on to our children, our loved ones, and our colleagues each day.
Hi Steve,
I was at Cabell Hall as well(sitting next to Glenn Bull on the front row). I wrote a post about that day in April. It was the day that I decided to pursue my Ph.D.--powerful.
Hi Jennifer,
Enjoyed your post. I read it after first reading your post on social media. It made me think that without all the social media and the www, many of us probably would never have heard of Randy.
I ditto Steve's comment about your expressing very well some of the feelings that I (and others) have been feeling. I downloaded Alice the day after Randy died and am contemplating introducing it to kids at school in September.
All the best,
Laurie
p.s. Am attending another brain conference later this month, put on by the Connecticut Association of Independent Schools. Will definitely blog about the sessions.
Thanks Laurie. So good to hear from you. I think you are one of my 5 readers! I am jealous about your brain conference. I think about something that I learned there nearly every day. Almost finished with Ramachandran's Phantoms in the Brain--good. I have start about 5 others, but finished none. No,no ADHD here.
Post a Comment