Wednesday’s “Watch This”: Last Lecture

Astute readers will note this is actually going live on Thursday.

Yesterday was spent dealing with a snow storm, attending a funeral and then spending the rest of the day with my daughter.

It was the first funeral I attended since becoming a dad. And accompanied an unfortunate realization that the majority of funerals I have attended have been for those under 25. So I instead of writing a blog post I came home and held my daughter.

I am fortunate to know what I want to do with the rest of my life. Even more fortunate to have the means to do so. The post below from Seth Godin today talks of the opportunities we all have (if you are reading this you are part of that we). yesterday’s funeral was the result of a car accident. No warning, no time to say good-bye, no expectation that there’d be no chance to say or do anything together again.

I almost wish there was a class in high schools teaching students how to be grateful. We have so much going for us. Even when all my plans backfire or blow up in my face, I shut down a business, money is tight – I still have little if anything worth complaining about.

And all that time complaining needs to be directed to important (to you) work. Because we have no idea when our chance to keep doing that work ends. It is Thanksgiving in the States now – but where ever you are reading this, I hope you take a moment to be grateful for all you/we have.

A great way to give thanks…for the privileges we’ve got is to do important work.

Your job, your internet access, your education, your role in a civilized society… all of them are a platform, a chance to do art, a way for you to give back and to honor those that enabled you to get to this point.

For every person reading this there are a thousand people (literally a thousand) in underprivileged nations and situations that would love to have your slot. Don’t waste it.
- Seth Godin

Randy Pausch Last Lecture: Achieving Your Childhood Dreams