Randy Pausch

I imagine many blogs are buzzing about the death of Randy Pausch, a Carnegie Mellon University computer scientist whose “last lecture” about facing terminal cancer became an Internet sensation.

Pausch was diagnosed with incurable pancreatic cancer in September, 2006. His lecture focuses on his choice to live the life he had always dreamed of instead of concentrating on his disease. He wrote the lecture with his children in mind, but millions of hits to his video prove how many others saw value and truth in what he had to say.

If you haven't seen it, take some time with it: share it with your significant other, and your children. We all know these lessons already- but oh how easy it is, in the repetition, the duty and doldrums of daily life to forget the important stuff. The things that matter.

My favourite part is when he describes when he was finishing his undergraduate degree, and discussing with his mentor his next step. Randy was thinking about entering the workforce, and his mentor, Andy van Dam, urged him to consider going to graduate school, and become a professor. When Randy asked him why he said "Because you are such a good salesman, and any company who gets you is going to use you as a salesman, and you might as well sell something worthwhile, like education".

Thank you for the reminder Randy Pausch, it is a beautiful tribute to a life well lived. A life well loved.