The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch video snippet gives you an idea of  Randy Pausch's purpose in giving this Carnegie Mellon "Journeys" lecture.   I bought this book having seen the lecture on the Oprah Winfrey show and I knew my Mom was dying.  I thought this might help us identify what Mom would /could do before her demise. I start with the elephant in the room he mentions.  My Mom, 80, just died from lung cancer.  We will be laying her to rest this week.  She died with hospice help and without complaining.   I just completed chemo therapy Jan 25th and finished my heart medication in April from a breast cancer battle that started Sept 2008.  I am glad we got that elephant on the table.  In business, that is no problem. In my personal life, that is the most difficult for me.  But if you know that you are loved and you are loving, I suppose the elephant in the room can be introduced.   He covers the importance of achieving childhood dreams and the experiences he recalled from his life that formed his dreams.  He talks about adventure and that every day is a beautiful day.  I know the glass is full (not half full).  Do you?   I know I need more work in the dreams category.  How about you?  I am very clear on dreams for my kids; they find their own paths to what THEY want to become and I will be with them enthusiastically every step. Part of his adventure was pouring soda in the back seat of his car to demonstrate that a brand new car was just a thing and what was important was the relationship. It's not about returning the rental car to the airport with no pancake syrup when your 8 year old wants breakfast from McDonalds. You stop and buy the pancakes and eat them at the airport, but you don't drive through and not buy them because you are worried about syrup in the car! He talks about brick walls are there for the other people.  If you want something badly enough, you will get through the brick wall. I have always believed this and think there is no such word as can't.  You just have not figured out the way to accomplish what you want.  Today, I am tired and getting through the wall takes more effort.  I know that focusing on what I want will help attract it to me. He also imparts that time is finite, should be spent on the right things and managed which is essential and hit home to me.  My children of course are immortal and don't get the idea that when they say they will accompany me to the Eatern Market Sunday, I think of this as a committment because it may be our only/last chance of doing this.  So if they wake up and say they would rather sleep in, I understand.  But I know that that instant is gone! He addresses complaining vs. applying the same energy to problem solving.  My business coach Bob Corcoran gets credit for this mantra " Focus on the positive, focus on the solution" and this has revolutionized my focus.  The only whining allowed is a glass of Resiling. So I relish Pausch's point. When dealing with people, I did learn a technique from this book. Instead of "I think we should do A or B", try "What if we did A"?   This allows collaboration vs. defending and is worth noting. Another take away from this book is when a loved one dies, a part of you dies and goes with the person who just died according to spiritual leader Krishnamurti.  I guess it is a two way street.  I know I have a part of my Mom with me and I believe she has taken us with her.  She and we are not alone.  And while I am crying as I write this, it is comforting. I suggest this book be read and shared with family members before you need it; it is a class in grace, optimism and hope that has impacted me and thousands of other people.  See Randy Pausch in action.