On the last lecture & week 48 of 52
asking ourselves, asking others
You’re on stage and not the least bit nervous. You take a deep breath and release, feeling your shoulders soften and cheeks lift. You zero in on a face in the crowd and see how eager this person is to hear what you are about to say.
Your message encompasses the essence of your deepest insight. It is the message that will best support others.
You begin to speak…
One of my students recently wrote about The Last Lecture, a book by the late Carnegie Mellon professor, Randy Pausch. My student’s paper was moving (and relevant) enough to make me not only buy the book but also watch Randy’s last lecture. It was about how to lead your life in a way that feeds, rather than depletes, dreams.
“Better three hours too soon than a minute too late.” — William Shakespeare
The concept of someone having a last lecture to deliver may be one that particularly appeals to professors and teachers, but I invite you to personalize this one.
Imagine: It’s your last story, your last book, your last meditation, your last words, your last conversation with a friend … your last lecture. What do you say?
This question sparked my creative inspiration after a short lull. The piece I’m working on now feels urgent and necessary. To answer for yourself, I recommend tapping a strategy I teach in my leadership courses: define your why and write it out—create a mantra.
These change over time, so I feel it’s always a valid exercise, even if it’s one you’ve done before. If you’d like an example, here’s mine (today).
To live, create and teach from a place of compassionate inquiry, finding ways to connect with and love others for who they are, always looking beyond the surface and pretense. I uncover new ways of seeing what I think I see. I explore on the page and share on the stage. I trust in the purpose of my life without needing to define or limit it. I have fun, and I share what works.
