I suspect that many of you have heard about Randy Pausche, the Carnegie Mellon professor who is dying of a pancreatic cancer. His last lecture, a professorial tradition at the school for retiring teachers, took on extraordinary meaning. Recorded on September 18, 2007, this wonderful discussion about fulfilling your childhood dreams and living a life to be proud of has become an internet sensation.
I try to avoid preaching here, but am posting it anyway as a gentle reminder that very often what matters in life has little to do with one’s possessions. This is a blog about men’s clothing and having a nice lifestyle; things that are in many ways quite transient perhaps even frivolous.
But they are still things that matter to me. They are the nuances that make life an interesting adventure. A well made pair of shoes, a beautiful wristwatch, a well ordered closet, are to me small all pieces of my life’s puzzle. Such objects can be family treasures, represent important moments in time or mark a personal achievement. As possessions they are expressions of quality and devotion to craft that will, hopefully, outlast me.
After watching Randy’s video and hearing him talk about life from the perspective of someone who knows to a certainty that he will never see his two small children grow up, I am reminded that intangibles like family and love always trump things, no matter how cherished.
With my first son’s birth right around the corner, these sentiments have more meaning than ever before.
So, take a few minutes to watch Randy’s lecture. Even if you’ve seen it before, have another look and think about what else you want to do in your own life.