The Last Lecture..
It was a couple of summers ago when I watched The Last Lecture on YouTube for the first time. I have to say it was one of the inspiring talks I ever watched.. As I always do when I’m into something I’ll talk about it endlessly so here I am to talk about it.
This year when I knew that the book was out, I was excited to purchase it. Got me a copy and decided to read it whenever I found myself on the low mood and need a boost to keep me going.
I finished reading the book a couple of days ago.. It was a great journey to go through every morning on my way to work and the last thing I end my day with when heading home.
I was impressed with Randy’s positive outlook towards life after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. In the course of a few years back I had encountered a lot of patients diagnosed with cancer. Some wowed me with their strong faith that everything is going to be alright and they are happy with what they already have in their lives. And some were living in dispair and I can’t blame them.. There are three patients I remember vividly in my mind who ended up with three different outcomes.
One (an old lady) had passed away after shutting everything and everyone out of her life.. May she rest in peace. The second (18 years old) left the hospital on her terms and refused to get treated, don’t have any idea where is she now. The third (a lady who’s above 80 years old) is living her life to this moment without any regrets after undergoing treatment. I know there are certain factors that will impact the prognosis of cancer. What I’m talking about is the state of mind and general outlook towards living after being diagnosed with a fatal disease.
The other day I was thinking of how I was always wondering what I’ll be doing in five years from now.. Ten years.. Twenty years.. Will I be fulfilling my dreams and aspirations.. And it hit me! Why should I wonder as long as I’m working on fulfilling them.. And I’m talking about the things that I have a direct influence on.. Not the things I don’t control and they are actually part of the journey. ;-)
Here are some quotes from the book that I loved:
“I sometimes think I got more from pursuing that dream, and not accomplishing it, than I did from many of the ones I did accomplish.”
“When you’re screwing up and nobody says anything to you anymore, that means they’ve given up on you.”
“The brick walls are there to stop the people who don’t want it badly enough. They’re there to stop the other people.”
“People will show you their good side. Almost everybody has a good side. Just keep waiting. It will come out.”
“Experience is what you get when you didn’t get what you wanted. And experience is often the most valuable thing you have to offer.”
“Loyalty is a two-way street.”
