Share Your Legacy: Share Your Legacy: Prepare Your Own Last Prepare Your Own Last LectureLecture

Prepared and Presented by:Jim Messina, Ph.D.

What is the Last LectureWhat is the Last LectureRandy Pausch is a Professor at Carnegie

Mellon University where on September 18, 2007 he presented his Last Lecture: Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams for his three children Dylan, Logan, Chloe and wife Jai

There is now a published book: The Last Lecture published by Hyperion Press by Randy Pausch and Jeffrey Zaslow

Randy prepared a Second Last Lecture: Time Management, which he presented at University of Virginia on November 2, 2007

What can we learn from What can we learn from The Last Lecture?The Last Lecture?The importance of sharing with

your family how you got to where you are today in life

The lessons you want to share with your family members which hopefully will help them on their own journey in life

Leaving a Legacy for your family to draw upon for the rest of their lives even after you are gone

The Last Lecture Can The Last Lecture Can Teach:Teach:How you can overcome obstacles

in lifeHow to make your dreams and

the dreams of others come trueHow to seize the opportunity and

use every moment you have in life to the fullest

How to live out your beliefs in lifeHow to live your life to the fullest

Why do a Last Lecture?Why do a Last Lecture?

The Last Lecture can:Communicate messages of love,

forgiveness and gratitude to your family

Provide a connection for the younger generation to the older generation as well as the long gone generations

Provide a comfort to family members that you have no regrets over how your life has been lived

What if You do not Prepare What if You do not Prepare Your Last Lecture?Your Last Lecture?The message in a Last Lecture is

“meaningful” for family members and if there is no message left family members will struggle to preserve their memories of you in other ways – sometimes not exactly the way you would wish or hope they would do

The Last Lecture can Provide The Last Lecture can Provide Guidance:Guidance:Through the Last Lecture you can

provide your family with guidance on:

How to manage the transitions in life they will face

How to make life time commitments in relationships, careers and community life

How to avoid the mistakes you have made along the way

What can be included in What can be included in Your Last Lecture?Your Last Lecture?The history of your family going back

to your grandparentsCherished memories and stories Your personal history Values and beliefs which directed your

lifeLessons you learned along the wayRegrets for past decisions and/or

actions Who and what you now forgive for real

or imagined hurtsHope for the future for your familyBlessings and messages of Love

What else should be included What else should be included

in a Last Lecture?in a Last Lecture?Pictures of you and your family over the years

Videos or home moviesArt work with meaning for you, if

you dare do some art work to be included

Music which touched you over the years

So What Do You Think?So What Do You Think?What objections do you having to doing

your own Last Lecture?This is like saying: “I know I am going

to die so I better get what I need to say as soon as possible to my loved ones.”

It scares me to prepare: “My final message”

“This is so Egotistical! As if I have so much to say that others would want to hear it!”

References -1:References -1:Randy Pausch Related sites: Randy Pausch’s Website:

http://www.randypausch.com

Randy’s Last Lecture video: http://video.google.com.au/videoplay?docid=-5700431505846055184&hl=en

Randy’s Time Management Lecture: http://video.google.com.au/videoplay?docid=-5784740380335567758&q=Time+Management&ei=D9QUSNvVB4qUrgKvkNzyBA&hl=en

Randy’s Interview with Diane Sawyer: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=265263428002185148

The Last Lecture Website: http://www.thelastlecture.com

References -2 References -2 Alvarez, L. (2005) Farewell with Love and

Instructions. New York Times: Oct. 6, 2005

Baines, B. K. (2006) Ethical Wills-Second Edition. Cambridge, MA: Da Capo Press

Baines, B. K. (2001) The Ethical Will Writing Guide Workbook. Cambridge, MA: Josaba Ltd.

Elgin, D & Ledrew, C.(2001) Living Legacies: How to Write, Illustrate, and Share Your Life Stories. Berkley, CA: Conari Press Books

References - 3References - 3Pausch, R. & Zaslow, J. (2008). The

Last Lecture. New York: HyperionScott, B. (2006) Leaving a Legacy.

News-Herald.com, April 19, 2006Siegel, J. (2003) Lessons for Dylan:

From Father to Son. New York: Public Affairs

Spence, L. (1997)A Step by Step Guide to Writing Personal History. Athens, OH: Swallow Press/Ohio University Press

Websites:Websites:Aging to Sage-ing at: http://www.allaboutaging.com/ A Legacy to Remember at:

http://www.alegacytoremember.com/ Chapters of Life at:

http://www.chaptersoflife.com/index.htm Ethical Wills: Preserving Your Legacy of Values at:

http://www.ethicalwill.com/ Family Legacy Video at:

http://www.familylegacyvideo.com/ The Legacy Center at:

http://www.thelegacycenter.net/ The Legacy Guide at:

http://www.thelegacyguide.com/