So you're dying, now what?
 

Randy Pausch, the Carnegie Mellon professor who became a YouTube phenomenon with his "Last Lecture," recently died. The guy was 47. Couple quotes from his "Last Lecture:"

"Never underestimate the importance of having fun. I'm dying and I'm having fun. And I'm going to keep having fun every day because there's no other way to play it."

"We can't change the cards we're dealt, just how we play the hand. If I'm not as depressed as you think I should be, I'm sorry to disappoint you."


To me these words really ring true. We're all dying, just at different rates of speed. Life's not only sexually transmitted but it's also fatal. I've been saying that years. I'm sure I heard it somewhere, I'm thinking Carlin? I'm sure I'm not witty enough to think of it on my own. Whoever said it, it's true. Pausch's passing (and doing so with such class) got me thinking about life, death and what we do in between. I'm currently on a mission to be as happy as possible, see as much as possible and enjoy as much of life as I can. I'm also interested in volunteering (firm believer in Karma, plus helping others makes me feel good. I like feeling good) where and when I can. I'm not looking to pass anytime soon, but no sense waiting around for some guy in a white coat relay bad news, IMHO. I was wondering what others here think about Pausch's lecture and if thinking about life and death changes your outlook on life? Somewhere around here there's a "bucket list" thread, so not really looking for that. More of an in general- where are you at in life, are you where you want to be, if not what are you doing to get where you want to be?

Here's a link to the article in USA Today:

'Last Lecture' professor, Randy Pausch, dies at 47 - USATODAY.com

I literally watched this three days ago. It was funny, well planned, certainly thought provoking, and I can tell he inspired several upon several people. Personally, I think my age and lack of experience dealing with terminal illness kind of left me sort of disconnected (I know that sounds horrible but it's honest) but I did find it interesting. His life story is kind of astounding alone, and I can understand doing it for his kids. I don't know if he's Ghandi but he is definitely a really good man and that's not something to discount. It's sad that he passed but he held on for a lot longer then most do with pancreatic cancer.

Personally I'm in one of the best positions in my life, and because of that my attitude is similar to yours. I've been accepted to an incredible program in a field that I thought for a long time wouldn't ever be more then a distant passion; I left political science to become an actor. Responsible. I just got out of a somewhat restricting relationship that allows me to move freely in my life and make decisions based on my own wants and needs which is fantastic. I am dating, getting out a lot, meeting droves of new people, hell, I am even starting to love where I grew up, which, for the record, I spent most of my life resenting. Hell, I like myself even, and I've spent even longer resenting that.

What I want is to work for a company that gives teens and adolescents proper training and professional experience in a small town environment. There used to be a company call "Characters Incorporated" here when I was very young and my mentor ran it. He gave it up a few years ago, and since I've been doing theatre I've always wanted to work at reviving something similar.

Like I mentioned before at my age everything seems so disconnected; hell, I'm still a baby, and I'm well aware. Death is such a hard thing to comprehend; and even in comprehension it's impossible to analyze it. You could say "I understand the power of death, what it means" but can you really say "I know with a certainty what it means to me". On the other hand I might have little to no idea what the fuck I'm talking about. So at this point in my life, no, it hasn't really made a difference as to which way I sway, or in some cases, don't sway.

I'm working on it.
I decided a few years ago that since I wasn't going to be famous, I was going to be useful. Thus I put into motion going back to school and getting into a tough PA program. It's high enough level that I get to do a lot of the fun stuff, and low enough level that I can still go home and sleep at night. I chose it specifically because I wanted to *do* something with my life that I feel good about. Where I can go home and say "yep, I was useful today."

I'm almost 30, and usually feel much older at the same time I'm feeling much younger. I do want to have kids and all of that, and I would be pretty upset to die now and not have those experiences. So all I can do is put things into motion to put myself where I want to be. Which of course... is retiring somewhere in Hawaii on a rocky beach with the surf surging up the sand. (hm, alliterative, too!)

What I have done... is found an amazing partner, and some amazing friends. So I'm still working on career life, but at least I have Q. I did something right. I am also passionate, and outspoken, and I tell you (all of you) the truth. I don't waste my time on bullshit. I am glad about that.

What's my point? Hm, what IS my point? ... Oh yeah.

I am already trying to live life on my terms. It's not easy, but I think it's worthwhile.

Desiring to live life to the fullest is one thing.

Feeling good enough to find the motivation to do so is a different beast altogether.

Just to clarify...

PA= Physician Assistant?

Yessir.

That can be a circle...

Being motivated can lead to feeling well and vis-a-versa. One step can lead to two, which leads to four, then eight. Well, you see where I'm going with this.

Well, I've been told that my life is like a novel--and I take that as a compliment. I consciously want to live it that way, as far as I am able. I would rather live in regret of what I did, than in regret of what I feared to do. That has been a driving force in my life for some time now. It is something I will carry with me until I die, I think.

I know that I've been very lucky (and simultaneously very unlucky), but I feel that I have taken full advantage of all the luck that has landed in my lap, and ran as fast and hard as I could with it. Occasionally I run out of steam, but it's never for more than a few months... I can't bear to sit around and wait for the next big thing. I have to go out and get it. (That's why sticking with this PhD has been getting more and more difficult--but I'm settling back into it, now.)

I think a lot of all this is because my father died so suddenly, accidentally, when he was just 31 years old--I've always been very conscious of the fact that I (or anyone I love) could die at any minute, and that therefore, I've got to live a life that I can look on with pride and satisfaction--even if I died tomorrow. There are still a few areas where I struggle with this (namely, in settling things with family members--I still hold my tongue too much with them), but for the most part, I live with no regrets. I see too many people holding themselves back, not taking risks, not sucking the marrow out of life--and it bothers me.

So I guess I can see where this Last Lecture guy is coming from--just from the sheer fact of mortality being a central part of my life, before I was even born.

that's why i try to enjoy every day as if it were my last.

upright and vertical is 1/2 the battle. ambulatory and cognizant is the other 1/2.

Since I have no control over it, today is a good day to die.

ive always said "live life to the fullest" for a reason.

you never know when your going to kick the bucket. Hell, in the short time ive been alive ive done so much. While people were going to high school i was road tripping to mexico, austin, new york, jersey, detroit, shipping myself off to the Bahamas, ext ,ext.

i knew education was important, but i also knew that one only lives once.

I feel like I've gained more knowledge traveling then I ever did in a classroom. Though sometimes that knowledge is simply that I really don't know all that much.

That said, I think the classroom is important too.

I guess I'm leading the good life. Respectable job that pays well. Nice car. House in the 'burbs. Enough stuff for 3 families. Already lived well past what I thought I would in my youth. (Self-destructive streak as a teen/20something)

I find myself sitting on my deck somedays thinking "Now what?".

Today is the last day of your life, that is how I lead it everyday. Not the first day of the rest of your life.

That would get too hectic.

I think it was my very first thread at TFP that asked Is Happiness a Goal?. Many people disagree that happiness is a viable goal, seeing it as a result or effect. For me though, happiness is a goal. This doesnt mean to say that I am always happy, but its something I strive for and that I keep in mind. As Ive said before, Ive changed my life for it. I take my joy, and yours, seriously. If you want to have a relationship with me, bring happiness and fun to the table and I will try return it to you 10 fold. I kind of look at it as my most important job.

I remember cyn putting up this vid a ways back.

Sometimes when things are flowing too smoothly, I actually relish the stubbed toe,
that brings me screaming into the present tense.

I love having my breath taken away.

I love seeing stars.

I don't think I could live life everyday like it was the last day. That would be exhausting.

More important for me is to keep my eyes open for new experiences. To try new things on a regular basis. I do not want to be someone that settles for status quo. To this I would also add that I also see my legacy as my children so I want to live the kind of life that inspires them and makes them proud because they will be here long after I am gone.

I can see what he means, but living every day as if it were my least would mean one thing for me: my own special brand of project mayhem. That's simply not viable if I want to live with my family and have a career. It's more of a last resort.

I live each day with the knowledge that while it could all end quite suddenly, living in a manner which treats life as an adventure that could end at any moment like that isn't pragmatic or comfortable.

If you'r Buddhist like me, you wouldn't be worried about it, I have to think about death everyday that Its has come for sometime, I would be clam.... but.... I cant !! :)

Just living self-aware and living in this point in time. What comes, comes. Living in my area of influence and not in my area of concern. When I can make that happen.

I'm not waiting for death, nor am I living like there will be no tomorrow.

Life has taught me to take the time to relish every moment so I grab every opportunity, appreciate the small things I used to take for granted, laugh and cry whenever possible. For me, it's always been about the journey. Pushing yourself up from the bottom of an abyss is a helluva rush.

What's that cliche dancing thing? (I had to look it up :orly:) This pretty much summarizes how I feel about life and death.
Work like you don't need money, love like you've never been hurt, and dance like no one's watching.

I actually think most people don't live life as if it were their last day on earth. Are you telling me that what you did/are doing today is what you'd do if you knew it was the last day of your life? I know that what I did today is a far cry from that. That doesn't mean I don't feel that I had a good day or that I wasn't useful or happy or kind. Makes me think what I actually would do if it were the last day of my life.

I think if it were the last day (or days) of my life, I'd look back and be happy enough. Not thrilled and ecstatic but happy. I don't feel I have wasted my life and time, I have done several good things, forged many good relationships, and felt very happy in moments. Of course there are things, there are always things, that I didn't get to do. That is not too bad for me.

I do try to live my life the best way I can...some days I feel it's good enough. Some days I feel like I should do more. So much more. And every dayI try to push it a little further. But I think so far, I feel serene about the choices made. That's the best way I can put it.

Death is the only certainty in life, right? Well, other than taxes.

I'm in my mid-20's. I've got financial stability. I've got an IRA, of all things. I'm planning on living for at least 60 more years, I hope, but tomorrow always brings a risk that terrible stuff could happen. Have I lived my life to the fullest so far? Probably not, but I'm reasonably happy with it. I just need to do everything I can to live the life I want. It's my own psyche that's preventing me with being satisfied with my life state right now. I have enough in savings, and yet if I die tomorrow... how can I say I really lived? It's this balance between living life to its fullest now and making sure I don't piss away my future that I constantly struggle with.

Most of what I want to do before I die will involve traveling. I really, really want to see every corner of this world before I move on.

Don't really know you that well, but what I know I like.