If you haven't read or heard this lecture, I highly recommend you do. It is touching and extremely valuable whether you read or watch it. It is about Randy's life and the lessons he wishes to offer to the world before he dies. He has only a few months to live and he is leaving this lecture as a message to the world.
What I find extremely interesting about this book is Randy's optimism. This man is dying and what he chooses to focus on for the remainder of his life is helping others. I think this is truly impeccable. Randy remains positive and courageous. His words are so inspiring, and believe it or not, they aren't incredibly dismal either.
I would love to believe that if I were ever in Randy's position that I would behave in a similar fashion, but I honestly don't think I could. Although I would try to be positive, I see that as a nearly impossible task. Even though Randy doesn't have false hopes, he is still enjoying life and making the most of not only his life, but the lives of those around him.
How does Randy stay so positive? How does he even bring himself to spending so much of the end of his life writing this book? I think Randy is perhaps one of the most brilliant and wisest human beings on earth. His book is filled with insight, humor, beauty, and strength. He is relatively selfless and someone who everyone can look up to. To be honest, I can't wrap my mind around how he is who he is. I believe part of his ability to stay positive comes from his family as well as his colleagues and students. Even with all of these components, I don't know many people who would deal with Randy's situation like he has dealt with it.
How is Randy so genuine? His book is so honest and raw. His voice is so clear that although I know this book was written for his children, I still feel as though he is talking to me and wants me personally to learn these lessons. I believe that part of what makes Randy so inspiring is his honesty. He is true to who he is as a person. He acknowledges the mistakes he's made and is able to critique himself. I'd like to think that this idea of authenticity is something that people will cherish after reading his book. Although the point may be to live life to the fullest, Randy has so many other valuable lessons to teach; one of which is most certainly the power of having integrity and authenticity.
Randy's book offers the reader so much to take away from it. I suppose someone could see this as too hard to believe. That someone who is terminally ill could be this happy, this positive. I too had trouble accepting this at first, but Randy has really made me believe in the beauty of humanity. Although I encourage everyone who reads or hears The Last Lecture to take whatever they want or need to away from it, I think the message that the general public will receive is pretty much the same.
Everyone needs to slow down and appreciate the world around them. It's never too late to improve yourself and realize how wonderful everyone around you truly is. This world has so many opportunities, and everyone owes it to themselves to follow their dreams.
1 comment:
I watched the highlights of his lecture on youtube, and I nearly cried. What he says... it's right. Glad to hear that someone else discovered him too :). Though I didn't realize that he wrote a book... I'll have to look into that... if I have time XD.
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