Some times some unknown people touch your heart. They give you the lessons of life which one knows but somehow fails to value them. This is a tribute to one such person, I came to know oflate. I don’t know him personally but my prayers go for him and wishes for the well being of his family.
Randy Pausch
Professor of Computer Science, Human Computer Interaction, and Design
Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburg, Pennsylvania.
b. Oct 23, 1960 d. July 25, 2008
Yes, I am paying my tribute to Randy Pausch. For the man he was, for the inspiration he gave others and for the life he lived.
In August, 2006, Randy was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer is one of the most deadly cancers, with only 4% 5-year survival rate. But I came to know him only when he delivered “The Last Lecture” at his university in Sep, 2007. Basically, Last Lecture is modeled after an ongoing series of lectures where top academics are asked to think deeply about what matters to them, and then give a hypothetical "final talk," i.e., "what wisdom would you try to impart to the world if you knew it was your last chance?" He also commented on the irony that the "Last Lecture" series had recently been renamed as "Journeys": "I thought, damn, I finally nailed the venue and they renamed it." Amidst a lot of media hype and his critical condition, the doctors had given him 3 – 6 months of life max. And he gave this lecture, when he was already past 1 month. To have a sense of humor at a time when your personal life is in shambles is an incredible feet and I am in complete awe.
So did he sob in the lecture? Did he state his sorrows there? Did he question God for why He chose him? Did he look flustered? No. Imagine a person who knows his death is just around the corner, to still be happy and live every moment. Cherish it because he doesn’t know how many of these moments are left. My words can’t describe the lecture he delivered but all I admire is the sense of humor of the man, who is in his death bed. The clock is ticking every second and here he is cracking jokes and spreading optimism. Unknowingly, inspiring so many others to celebrate life and live every moment. Enabling others to achieve childhood dreams for there is nothing grander than being able to accomplish something dreamt in childhood.
I have to admit that after watching that lecture last year, I had forgotten about this kind and spirited soul. I went on, getting lost in the daily chores of life until, last week, when he was again in the news. But this time, only because he wasn’t alive anymore. He passed away on July 25, 2008 and I watched the video again. His wife, Jai, was interviewed couple of months back and she said she was at peace with the circumstances even though she didn’t like what was happening. But she had come to terms after days of crying as their kids were still oblivious to the fact.
Randy mentioned “You cannot change the cards you are dealt. Just how you play the hand.” Of what I read of him now, he truly lived by this quote. He couldn’t change what destiny had in store for him but he made sure that he would spend all his time left happily with his family. Do all those crazy things with his children which he hadn’t. Create sweet memories that they would cherish all their life. Love his wife every minute and make her feel special. And all of this without crying and bickering of what is inevitable in the near future.
“Experience is what you get when you didn’t get what you wanted”.
“Don’t bail; the best gold is at the bottom of barrels of crap.”
“Find the best in everybody; no matter how you have to wait for them to show it.”
“Be prepared: “Luck” is where preparation meets opportunity.”
“The brick walls are there for a reason. They are not there to keep us out; the brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something. They are there to stop the people who don’t want it badly enough.”
These are all excerpts from his lecture. Ever since the lecture was posted on you tube last year it has already been viewed by millions of people and the last 2.5 million in the past one week since his death. Very few people can live smilingly after knowing the certainty of their life. The certainty of how the next moment you might not be there. Randy was prepared and prepared his family too. I also finished reading his book “The Last Lecture” today which is simply an extension of the lecture he gave. One small story in the book which moved me was that recently he had gone to a grocery store and how when he swiped the credit card on the self scan aisle for 16$ worth groceries, it didn’t register and he didn’t get any receipt. He swiped the card again and this time he got 2 receipts, meaning his card got swiped twice for 32$ worth groceries. So now he had a choice to make – whether to bring this up with the store manager and get his 16$ crebited or walk away to be with his family. He chose the latter simply because his time was ticking. He knew he’d rather spend those 15 minutes more with his family than bickering with the store manager over 16$.
Now when he is gone, I can only hope and wish that may his soul rest in peace. May God give the strength to his family to go through this ordeal. To his wife, Jai, who had been his pillar of strength for the last 2 years ever since the diagnosis. To his 3 lovely children (Dylan, Logan & Chloe aged 6, 4 & 2 yrs respectively), who would live the rest of lives listening to stories about their father. I feel sad for them, being deprived of the love from their father at such an early age, who was a true inspiration for so many alive today.
Sometimes, we take everything for granted. We don’t realize the worth of time gone by. One realizes the importance only when one doesn’t have enough of it. I feel amidst all the mayhem, ambiguity and distress, what we forget is the moments we are losing out on. The moments of sheer bliss, the fortune of being alive, the hope for realizing our dreams. Randy’s spirit only makes me realize that not everyone is lucky enough to be alive even if they are kind and angel like. And I think for the rest of my life I will always be reminded of what he said in the commencement ceremony in CMU, Pittsburg in May 2008:
“I waited 39 years to get married because I had to wait that long to find someone where her happiness was more important than mine. And if nothing else, then I hope that you can find that kind of passion and that kind of love in your life”.
And love these ending words from the Lecture:
"It’s not about how to achieve your dreams. It’s about how to lead your life. If you lead your life the right way, the karma will take care of itself, the dreams will come to you."
Randy ensured that he lived every moment, cherished every memory he was creating for his family, plan his time well which was cut short by far too many years. Now he is gone, leaving others inspired to celebrate life for we are still ALIVE.
Randy Pausch
Professor of Computer Science, Human Computer Interaction, and Design
Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburg, Pennsylvania.
b. Oct 23, 1960 d. July 25, 2008
Yes, I am paying my tribute to Randy Pausch. For the man he was, for the inspiration he gave others and for the life he lived.
In August, 2006, Randy was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer is one of the most deadly cancers, with only 4% 5-year survival rate. But I came to know him only when he delivered “The Last Lecture” at his university in Sep, 2007. Basically, Last Lecture is modeled after an ongoing series of lectures where top academics are asked to think deeply about what matters to them, and then give a hypothetical "final talk," i.e., "what wisdom would you try to impart to the world if you knew it was your last chance?" He also commented on the irony that the "Last Lecture" series had recently been renamed as "Journeys": "I thought, damn, I finally nailed the venue and they renamed it." Amidst a lot of media hype and his critical condition, the doctors had given him 3 – 6 months of life max. And he gave this lecture, when he was already past 1 month. To have a sense of humor at a time when your personal life is in shambles is an incredible feet and I am in complete awe.
So did he sob in the lecture? Did he state his sorrows there? Did he question God for why He chose him? Did he look flustered? No. Imagine a person who knows his death is just around the corner, to still be happy and live every moment. Cherish it because he doesn’t know how many of these moments are left. My words can’t describe the lecture he delivered but all I admire is the sense of humor of the man, who is in his death bed. The clock is ticking every second and here he is cracking jokes and spreading optimism. Unknowingly, inspiring so many others to celebrate life and live every moment. Enabling others to achieve childhood dreams for there is nothing grander than being able to accomplish something dreamt in childhood.
I have to admit that after watching that lecture last year, I had forgotten about this kind and spirited soul. I went on, getting lost in the daily chores of life until, last week, when he was again in the news. But this time, only because he wasn’t alive anymore. He passed away on July 25, 2008 and I watched the video again. His wife, Jai, was interviewed couple of months back and she said she was at peace with the circumstances even though she didn’t like what was happening. But she had come to terms after days of crying as their kids were still oblivious to the fact.
Randy mentioned “You cannot change the cards you are dealt. Just how you play the hand.” Of what I read of him now, he truly lived by this quote. He couldn’t change what destiny had in store for him but he made sure that he would spend all his time left happily with his family. Do all those crazy things with his children which he hadn’t. Create sweet memories that they would cherish all their life. Love his wife every minute and make her feel special. And all of this without crying and bickering of what is inevitable in the near future.
“Experience is what you get when you didn’t get what you wanted”.
“Don’t bail; the best gold is at the bottom of barrels of crap.”
“Find the best in everybody; no matter how you have to wait for them to show it.”
“Be prepared: “Luck” is where preparation meets opportunity.”
“The brick walls are there for a reason. They are not there to keep us out; the brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something. They are there to stop the people who don’t want it badly enough.”
These are all excerpts from his lecture. Ever since the lecture was posted on you tube last year it has already been viewed by millions of people and the last 2.5 million in the past one week since his death. Very few people can live smilingly after knowing the certainty of their life. The certainty of how the next moment you might not be there. Randy was prepared and prepared his family too. I also finished reading his book “The Last Lecture” today which is simply an extension of the lecture he gave. One small story in the book which moved me was that recently he had gone to a grocery store and how when he swiped the credit card on the self scan aisle for 16$ worth groceries, it didn’t register and he didn’t get any receipt. He swiped the card again and this time he got 2 receipts, meaning his card got swiped twice for 32$ worth groceries. So now he had a choice to make – whether to bring this up with the store manager and get his 16$ crebited or walk away to be with his family. He chose the latter simply because his time was ticking. He knew he’d rather spend those 15 minutes more with his family than bickering with the store manager over 16$.
Now when he is gone, I can only hope and wish that may his soul rest in peace. May God give the strength to his family to go through this ordeal. To his wife, Jai, who had been his pillar of strength for the last 2 years ever since the diagnosis. To his 3 lovely children (Dylan, Logan & Chloe aged 6, 4 & 2 yrs respectively), who would live the rest of lives listening to stories about their father. I feel sad for them, being deprived of the love from their father at such an early age, who was a true inspiration for so many alive today.
Sometimes, we take everything for granted. We don’t realize the worth of time gone by. One realizes the importance only when one doesn’t have enough of it. I feel amidst all the mayhem, ambiguity and distress, what we forget is the moments we are losing out on. The moments of sheer bliss, the fortune of being alive, the hope for realizing our dreams. Randy’s spirit only makes me realize that not everyone is lucky enough to be alive even if they are kind and angel like. And I think for the rest of my life I will always be reminded of what he said in the commencement ceremony in CMU, Pittsburg in May 2008:
“I waited 39 years to get married because I had to wait that long to find someone where her happiness was more important than mine. And if nothing else, then I hope that you can find that kind of passion and that kind of love in your life”.
And love these ending words from the Lecture:
"It’s not about how to achieve your dreams. It’s about how to lead your life. If you lead your life the right way, the karma will take care of itself, the dreams will come to you."
Randy ensured that he lived every moment, cherished every memory he was creating for his family, plan his time well which was cut short by far too many years. Now he is gone, leaving others inspired to celebrate life for we are still ALIVE.
“Kabhi kisi ko mukammal jahan nahi milta;
Kahin zameen toh kahin aasman nahi milta”
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