It's not about the cards you're dealt, but how you play the hand

Randy Pausch was a Carnegie Mellon professor who was unfortunately diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer and given a ‘months to live’ diagnosis.  He delivered a very famous “Last Lecture” at Carnegie that has been viewed 20+ million times on YouTube.  While facing his own death, the lecture focused on LIVING – HOW to live and achieve your childhood dreams.   

He admitted that dying from cancer was not what he wanted.  He said we need to determine IF we are a “Tigger” or “Eeyore” (from Winnie the Pooh).  He decided he was a Tigger, and he will live with energy and have fun with the precious time he had left.

He encouraged US to think back to our childhood and remember OUR childhood dreams – at a time when life was easy, and everything was possible.  A time of fun and wonder.

He delivered the now famous card-playing piece of advice:

It’s not about the cards you’re dealt, but how you play the hand

So, a few questions to ponder – How are you living your life – are you a Tigger or an Eeyore?   How are you playing the cards you’ve been dealt?   What would YOUR “Last Lecture” Include?

The Last Lecture addressed pursuing your childhood dreams, the need for good parenting, and how to play well with people.

Dr. Pausch shared that his childhood dreams were to play in the NFL and work as an Imagineer at Disney.  He admitted that he didn’t make it into the NFL, but with the PUSH from some committed coaches he tried hard – summarizing it this way:  Experience is what you get IF you don’t get what you want.  He proudly told how, through his 15 years of research at Carnegie on Virtual Reality, he was finally able to collaborate with Disney Imagineers on the Aladdin Magic Carpet experience – an example of persistence and karma.

Dr. Pausch expressed the need for GOOD parents.  Parents that are engaged and like to have fun.  Parents that ‘LET ME paint my own room while it would be better IF the room was pristine.’    He was thankful that his parents taught him to appreciate PEOPLE over THINGS – illustrating with a story.  He told how, when he was with some young kids, he purposefully spilled a full can of soda in his brand new car to ease the kid’s fears of getting the car dirty (as kids tend to do!).   Stressing that a car is JUST a THING!  It’s the PEOPLE that truly matter.

He stressed playing well with people based on the following:

·        Integrity – tell the truth

·        Apologize – say I’m sorry, it was MY fault, how can I make it right

·        Gratitude – humble appreciation

·        Don’t Complain, work harder

He stressed that IF you live your life the right way – through Karma, your dreams will come to you.

I leave you with the same questions to ponder:  How are you living your life – are you a Tigger or an Eeyore?   How are you playing the cards you’ve been dealt?   What would YOUR “Last Lecture” Include?