Pausch

I’m a bad blogger, I admit it. It’s pretty silly really, I don’t think anyone wants to hear me spewing love filled happiness or utter despair and rage at the world. So since those two emotions (one had nothing to do with the other, you try being blissful and hate-filled at the same time! NOT EASY) have been pretty much my life the past couple of weeks I have just kept silent.

I just read a post by my good friend and great blogger Mrs. Lilac about this person and it inspired me to say my piece about him.

So I am writing about something completely unrelated to my life at the moment. Randy Pausch. This man is a good example for the love and hate filled people out there. 

I think I would think he was a great inspiration even if he didn’t have terminal cancer and six months to live. This man’s LIFE is the great inspiration. He has attempted and attained most if not all of the goals he set out to; become an imagineer, find the love of his life, and a myriad of other things. 

Pausch describes trials or tests as walls that you simply have to find a way to climb. This phrase in itself inspires me. All you have to do is find a way to fix it, it’s that simple. That’s something tangible that I can understand, most times the problem gets so huge in your head that you can’t see a way around it. This helps me to put it into perspective-every problem can be solved it’s just a matter of figuring out how.    

Pausch also speaks of his wife. At one point she broke up with him saying she just didn’t love him. This is a huge blow for anyone, especially when you know this is your person, the one you want to share your life with. He didn’t let that stop him, just another wall. He stuck by her and now they have three beautiful children and a wonderful life for however long he has left.

This is not even a tenth of the life lessons and inspiring stories Randy Pausch shares in his memoir. Warning: the last two chapters are about his family and are HEARTBREAKING. Keep tissues nearby. The book is called The Last Lecture. Go. Get. It. Now.

It WILL inspire you and touch your heart.

Go now…seriously.

I’m a Jumper.

So today a friend made an offhanded comment about how I am not cautious when it comes to dating. This is not a surprise to me, I’m not completely ignorant about myself. For some reason this stuck with me all morning. I started thinking about how, yes I am kind of a jump in with both feet kind of person.

I have really only had two big fears in my life.

1. To come to the end of my life and look back with regret. I am terrified to sit by myself when I’m 80 and think Damnit I should have done _____. I want to sit there by myself and be content with my memories, knowing I left no stone unturned.  There is a train song about looking back on your life at various points, it scares the crap out of me!

2. Having my kids think I am uncool–and them being RIGHT! I have had my ridiculous teen years and many (MANY) disagreements with my parents over the years, but I could never accuse them of being uncool. They aren’t, it’s just a fact. My parents have lived a fantastic life; owned businesses, emigrated, traveled the world, been in jail for protesting human rights, walked in the jungle with lions, had kids, grandkids and danced like fools. They are cool. I want my kids to feel the same way about me, to just know that I have experienced life and can offer them advice from that experience.

So yes I am less than cautious, in love and otherwise. As to the in love part, I have dated some wonderful and not so great people but I can honestly say I don’t regret anyone. I have always learned from the experience. I can honestly say I wouldn’t change a thing. I’ve only really been knocked on my ass one time. It was the kind of thing where you love someone so much you don’t see their faults and would move mountains to be with them. I have learned from that experience how resilient I am and that I definitely want to the movie love kind of love. It’s out there people! I see it in my married friends and parents every day. Sometimes just glimpses and its not all roses but it’s there! So yes i jump in with both feet and if I knew how to dive I’m sure I’d do that too!

I’ve made mistakes and will probably make tons more. I’ve ugly cried and laughed so hard I thought I would throw up. I’ve never stayed in a job I hate, never stayed in a relationship long after it was good just because it was comfortable, I’ve done my dream job, and had one foot in one ocean and the other in another. I’ve done some stupid things that I won’t go into, but I don’t regret them! If anything they are really funny stories! So, I’m going to continue to jump in headfirst and hope that when the time comes I will look back and be content.  

I love….

• I took this from Tipp who took it from Michelle. What a fantastic idea! Here’s the rules

“Make your own list or leave a love of yours in the comments. The only catch? You can’t include a single person you know on your list. No ‘I love the way my husband laughs’ or ‘I love hearing my little girl call for me’.”

“This particular little exercise is about stripping away everyone who defines you and figuring out what you (not his partner; not their mother/daughter/sister/friend) love.”

Great idea guys!

• I love falling into bed at the end of a really crazy day and watching reality TV for hours.

 

• I love waking up in a new bed in a new country every week.

 

• I love coming home after being away for a long long time.

 

• I love going to somewhere new after you’ve been home for a long time

 

• I love unplanned nights that turn out to be the best stories!

 

• I love going to the gym BEFORE work!

 

• I love movies that make you ugly cry.

 

• I love reading a fantastic book all night long because I can’t bear to not know how it ends.

 

• I love taking things into my own hands and doing it faster, better and more efficiently.

 

• I love Wikipedia and IMDB.

 

• I love laughing so hard I really think I might throw up or pee in my pants. or both 

 

• I love soap opera montages.

 

•  I love coke zero. A lot.

 

• I love surprise endings

 

• I love crossing off everything on my to-do list for that day.

 

• I love cake.

 

• I love speaking in fake accents

 

• I love laughing until I cry

 

• I love MY LIFE!!! (Sorry to steal Tipp, couldn’t resist!)