Stay Foolish, Stay Hungry..

Randy Pausch

Just over a year ago, a colleague of mine posted me a link to a youtube video of a certain gentleman by the name of Randy Pausch. He's a PhD holder by the way, so it's Dr. Randy Pausch. After I watch the video, I was a bit overcame by my emotion (nope, I didn't cry.. :) ). I was really touched and inspired on how strong this guy was, both physically and mentally. Physically strong for being able to with stand the everyday pains and suffering of having to live with Pancreatic Cancer (it's one of the most fatal type of cancer with one of the highest fatality rate) and mentally strong for being able to live out the remainder of his life in such jovial and with such bright outlook on life, eventhough his own is coming to an end. 

What I saw in the video clip is actually one of his last lecture in Carnegie Mellon University before his passing. He's still unbelievably positive on life and what it has to offer. He finally succumbed to Pancreatic cancer on the 25th of July 2008 after battling cancer for close to 2 years (the Doctor quote that he's only got another 3 months to live). 

What I have learned from him is that, life is a beautiful thing. Embrace it and take in everything that comes with it. Be it good or bad. If it's good, then we'll keep it in our memories. If it's not so good, well, there's always a lesson to be learned. 

Here's part of his final speeches that I find inspiring:

"..Passion, and you will need to find your passion, many of you have already found it, many of you will find it later, many of you will not find it until you are in your late 30s or 40s but don't give up finding it. Because if you do, then all you're doing is waiting for the Ripper.

Find that passion and follow it and if there's anything that I have learned from my life, you will not find that passion in things and you will not find that passion in money because the more things and the more money you have. The more you will just look around and use that as a metric and there will always be someone with more. Passion is something that must come from the inside."

In short, we need to live our lives to the fullest and not live our lives based on other's expectations. As long as it's not wrong in our own perception. That would suffice. Never stop chasing your dream and never stop looking for your passion. As the motto of an innovative publication called "The Whole Earth Catalog" that was published in the late 60's, which was later famously quoted by Steve Jobs goes... "Stay Foolish, Stay Hungry"

A short clip about Randy Pausch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIysXLiA5s0&feature=related

R.I.P Randy Pausch and may god bless your soul.

P/S: Steve Jobs suffered from Pancreatic Cancer too but was later cured.