Read Gerri's Leaf Story
ON THE PATH...
thoughts along the way
How many times must a man look up Before he can see the sky? How many ears must one man have Before he can hear people cry? How many deaths will it take till he knows That too many people have died? The answer my friend, is blowin’ in the wind The answer is blowin’ in the wind
Peter, Paul and Mary
I picked up the phone today and called my friend Eileen to wish her a happy birthday. I sang to her in my happiest voice. She was so delighted! As we talked she told me that she was going to be going to California soon and needed to book her flight. A childhood friend, Bernie, had passed away recently. She told me that people tend to forget those who are left behind, so she planned on going there for a week to be supportive to Brenda, Bernie’s wife. Bernie and Brenda had been married for 50 years. In celebration of their anniversary, they went to Hawaii. While there, they did what they loved to do, went to a golf clinic and played a lot of golf. Eileen, Gordy, Bernie and Brenda remained good friends throughout the years. Bernie’s strongest desire had always been to go to Israel. So Bernie and Brenda flew to Israel for a long awaited vacation for two weeks. They enjoyed every minute even though it was very taxing on Bernie’s heart. When they returned, Bernie went to the doctor complaining of chest pains. He ended up having emergency bypass surgery. One week later, after having lunch in his hospital room with Brenda, Bernie closed his eyes to take a rest and died in his sleep. Bernie had done everything he wanted to do in life and died with no regrets. We do not stop playing because we grow old, We grow old because we stop playing. The other night I was watching 20/20. Diane Sawyer was interviewing a man who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He was given only a few months to live. As I watched, I noticed how vibrant and alive he was. He told of his plight with cancer and all that he had been through. Randy Pausch is now 47, married with three adorable children. He was talking about living out his childhood dreams. He had a very happy childhood, always smiling and dreaming. He told Diane, “We need to have fun and be in wonder all the time... that spirit should never go away. I never want to grow up. Just because you can’t see fairies, doesn’t mean they don’t exist. Anything is possible.” Randy talked about how his parents were always very supportive of him. When he was a little boy, they lived in a ranch home. Randy asked his mom and dad if he could paint his bedroom in whatever way he wanted. His parents allowed him to release his creativity. They gave him permission to do whatever he wanted with his bedroom. So Randy got out his paints and immersed himself in creativity by painting rocket ships, dolphins and even an elevator on the walls. He laughed as he explained the reason for painting the elevator. He knew he was going somewhere in life, yet he didn’t know where. He has always been connected with the Disney energy and childlike wonder, carrying it on throughout his adult life. Another passion is that Randy loves to get the sewing machine out and make cuddly stuffed animals in colorful shapes and sizes and give them away, bringing joy to others. As the interview continued, he told Diane, “It’s not about death, it’s about how to live. I can’t control the cards I’ve been dealt. It’s how I play the hands I’ve been dealt that matters... I don’t tell people how to live their lives. I tell them stories. They will work through things and figure it out themselves.” Randy is a respected professor of computer sciences and also has co-authored several books. When he gave this last lecture to his students at Carnegie Mellon University he stated that it was ironic because this was “literally” his last lecture! His students loved it and started to share it with others. This last lecture became an overnight success as thousands of people watched his poignant message over the internet and passed it on to others. Randy was so excited as he talked about the book that came as a result of this talk. The Last Lecture officially launched on April 8, 2008 and is in bookstores everywhere. The book gives more of his philosophy on how to live life to the fullest. In the lecture, he passionately declared to his students, “I’m dying soon and I’m choosing to live and I’ll have fun today, tomorrow and always. If you live your life right, your dreams will come to you. The key is to find your passion for something and run with it.” Randy continues living consciously and has a zest for life even in the face of death. Diane asked, “When will the children know you are dying?” His answer, “When they see me lying down in my bed and not able to get up anymore. Then we will tell them that daddy’s body has given up and it’s time for him to leave now. That’s when they will know. They will remember the good times they had together with their daddy.” How we think is how we behave, and how we behave is who we are. Bernie lived his long life to the fullest. Randy is living his short life to the fullest as well, with no regrets and with aliveness, creativity and love. Randy exemplifies an inner strength that springs forth from within. His last lecture is an inspiration to all of us. It teaches us valuable life lessons that will remain long after he is gone. We never know when our time is up. It’s the quality of how we choose to live right here and right now, while we are still alive that counts. I pondered the thought...If I only had a short time left to live, how would I live each day? How would you live each precious day? How many times must a man look up Before he can see the sky? The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind The answer is blowin’ in the wind. For more information, Randy’s website is www.randypausch.com
I picked up the phone today and called my friend Eileen to wish her a happy birthday. I sang to her in my happiest voice. She was so delighted! As we talked she told me that she was going to be going to California soon and needed to book her flight. A childhood friend, Bernie, had passed away recently. She told me that people tend to forget those who are left behind, so she planned on going there for a week to be supportive to Brenda, Bernie’s wife. Bernie and Brenda had been married for 50 years. In celebration of their anniversary, they went to Hawaii. While there, they did what they loved to do, went to a golf clinic and played a lot of golf. Eileen, Gordy, Bernie and Brenda remained good friends throughout the years.
Bernie’s strongest desire had always been to go to Israel. So Bernie and Brenda flew to Israel for a long awaited vacation for two weeks. They enjoyed every minute even though it was very taxing on Bernie’s heart. When they returned, Bernie went to the doctor complaining of chest pains. He ended up having emergency bypass surgery. One week later, after having lunch in his hospital room with Brenda, Bernie closed his eyes to take a rest and died in his sleep. Bernie had done everything he wanted to do in life and died with no regrets.
We do not stop playing because we grow old, We grow old because we stop playing.
The other night I was watching 20/20. Diane Sawyer was interviewing a man who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He was given only a few months to live. As I watched, I noticed how vibrant and alive he was. He told of his plight with cancer and all that he had been through. Randy Pausch is now 47, married with three adorable children. He was talking about living out his childhood dreams. He had a very happy childhood, always smiling and dreaming. He told Diane, “We need to have fun and be in wonder all the time... that spirit should never go away. I never want to grow up. Just because you can’t see fairies, doesn’t mean they don’t exist. Anything is possible.”
Randy talked about how his parents were always very supportive of him. When he was a little boy, they lived in a ranch home. Randy asked his mom and dad if he could paint his bedroom in whatever way he wanted. His parents allowed him to release his creativity. They gave him permission to do whatever he wanted with his bedroom. So Randy got out his paints and immersed himself in creativity by painting rocket ships, dolphins and even an elevator on the walls. He laughed as he explained the reason for painting the elevator. He knew he was going somewhere in life, yet he didn’t know where. He has always been connected with the Disney energy and childlike wonder, carrying it on throughout his adult life. Another passion is that Randy loves to get the sewing machine out and make cuddly stuffed animals in colorful shapes and sizes and give them away, bringing joy to others.
As the interview continued, he told Diane, “It’s not about death, it’s about how to live. I can’t control the cards I’ve been dealt. It’s how I play the hands I’ve been dealt that matters... I don’t tell people how to live their lives. I tell them stories. They will work through things and figure it out themselves.”
Randy is a respected professor of computer sciences and also has co-authored several books. When he gave this last lecture to his students at Carnegie Mellon University he stated that it was ironic because this was “literally” his last lecture! His students loved it and started to share it with others. This last lecture became an overnight success as thousands of people watched his poignant message over the internet and passed it on to others. Randy was so excited as he talked about the book that came as a result of this talk. The Last Lecture officially launched on April 8, 2008 and is in bookstores everywhere. The book gives more of his philosophy on how to live life to the fullest. In the lecture, he passionately declared to his students, “I’m dying soon and I’m choosing to live and I’ll have fun today, tomorrow and always. If you live your life right, your dreams will come to you. The key is to find your passion for something and run with it.” Randy continues living consciously and has a zest for life even in the face of death.
Diane asked, “When will the children know you are dying?” His answer, “When they see me lying down in my bed and not able to get up anymore. Then we will tell them that daddy’s body has given up and it’s time for him to leave now. That’s when they will know. They will remember the good times they had together with their daddy.”
How we think is how we behave, and how we behave is who we are.
Bernie lived his long life to the fullest. Randy is living his short life to the fullest as well, with no regrets and with aliveness, creativity and love.
Randy exemplifies an inner strength that springs forth from within. His last lecture is an inspiration to all of us. It teaches us valuable life lessons that will remain long after he is gone.
We never know when our time is up. It’s the quality of how we choose to live right here and right now, while we are still alive that counts. I pondered the thought...If I only had a short time left to live, how would I live each day? How would you live each precious day?
How many times must a man look up Before he can see the sky? The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind The answer is blowin’ in the wind.
For more information, Randy’s website is www.randypausch.com
Gerri Magee is director of advertising and public relations and assistant to the editor of phenomeNEWS. She continues to share her thoughts “On The Path” in this column. She can be reached at gerri@phenomenews.com.
