The Last Lecture

Another lesson filled with so many inspiring words. I was thrilled to see “The Last Lecture” as one of our readings in this lesson. I remember when Randy Pausch gave that speech. I think I heard about it from the news and then looked up the video of the lecture to watch and listen to. It was so moving and was one of those talks that you never forget. Because of its popularity, It was printed as a book and I bought it as soon as I saw it at Costco. The book still sits on my bookshelf waiting to be read again. So I am grateful that this lesson brought it back to mind. Now that my kids are older, I think it would be a good thing for me to share with them.

In reading the chapters in Mastery, I was awakened to the concept of the Dabbler, the Obsessive, and the Hacker. Oh boy, I am definitely a Dabbler! I love the newness of things and get bored when the newness wears off. I am experiencing it now in the part-time job I have. I was so excited to start this job and really enjoyed going to it so much so that I wished I was able to work more hours than they were giving me. I was learning something new every day and feeling accomplished and successful at the day’s end. Now that I have been doing it for about four months, I am already bored of it and ready to move on. There are still things that I can learn from the job, but I’m not ending each shift feeling fulfilled like I was in the beginning. I’ve hit a plateau and am feeling like moving on. After reading chapter 2 in Mastery, I have come to realize that I think I’m feeling this way because the newness has worn off and now I’m feeling like I’m stuck in the hamster wheel doing the same thing, day after day.

♣ Why do you think Randy Pausch was able to achieve so many of his childhood dreams? I think Randy Pausch was able to achieve so many of his childhood dreams because he never believed that he couldn’t. He didn’t let the setbacks he experienced to cause him to doubt himself. He kept working hard and setting goals and truly believing that when you do the right thing, good things will happen.
♣ Do you feel that dreaming is important? Why or why not? I believe dreaming is important. It’s what makes us try something we may not have otherwise. It spurs within us desires to make that dream come true. They give us the drive to keep going and help us to persevere through the hard times.
♣ Discuss at least one of your childhood dreams. Explain why you believe you can or cannot achieve this dream. One of my childhood dreams was to be an Olympic gymnast. Every 4 years, when the summer Olympics come around, I am reminded of this dream. Unfortunately, this is a dream I will never be able to achieve because, for one, I am too old now, and two, about 6 years ago, I was diagnosed with a form of Muscular Dystrophy. So this will always just be a dream and I’m okay with that. I look forward to the day when my body will be perfected, and just maybe, you will see me tumbling and doing cartwheels all over the place.

Fire burning

I have been so inspired by the videos we watched and the articles we read this week! In the back of my mind, I have always thought that I wanted to own my own business and this week's study material has really stirred something within me to really go for it! At this point, I have no idea what that business will be, but I am looking forward to discovering more about myself, finding out my talents, skills, passions, and creating new habits that will help me to progress toward where I want to be. As Jeff Sandefer said in "Living Life as an Entrepreneurial Hero", "Don't let not having a big, crystal-clear goal keep you from moving forward."

"The Start-Up of You" video, helped me to see that the challenges I face might be an opportunity for me to turn things around and create something out of it instead of seeing it as an obstacle in my way. President Hinckley's words give me hope that I have something to offer. He said, "The work of the world isn't done by geniuses. It's done by ordinary people, who have learned to work in an extraordinary way." I'm an ordinary person, I just need to learn how to work in an extraordinary way! My hope is that this class will help me to do so!