Questions: If you were giving your last lecture, what would your lecture be titled and why? Are childhood dreams somehow more important than our current dreams? Are you more interested in pursuing your childhood dreams or your current dreams? What piece of advice or accomplishment would you leave as your legacy? Erica says... I think that childhood dreams are important, but not necessarily more important than current dreams. I thought it was kind of funny that in his lecture, Randy Pausch specifically mentions that he won’t be talking about family and that family is way more important. He also stated that he would not be talking about religion. To me those statements almost felt like, “So before I begin my last lecture, I just want you to know that the things I’m talking about are not the top things that TRULY matter.” For this reason, it appeared to me that his childhood dreams were secondary to his current dreams- which are about spending time with his wife and kids. (Based on videos I watched of him being interviewed in his life following the last lecture.) By the end of his lecture, and by reading his thoughts and feelings expressed in his book concerning the lecture, you realize that his family is the “why” behind the actual lecture. To me, the “why” of his lecture was more significant than the lecture itself. He gave his lecture for his three kids, not for the hundreds of people seated in the lecture hall. He wanted to leave a record for his children, who would probably barely- if at all- remember their father. Knowing this gave his words more significance to me. I think his lecture was less about giant stuffed animals and Disney imagineering than it was about expressing his love for his children, and his desire to connect with them. He wanted to leave them a piece of himself- everything from his personality quirks to some of his most profound life lessons. From what he said, the thing that most stuck with me was about brick walls. He claims there is a reason for brick walls in life, and that the reason is to prove how badly you really want something and how hard you are willing to work for it. It’s also to weed out the people that want it less badly than you and aren’t willing to go to the lengths you will go to. He was willing to go to great lengths in order to experience the magic of fulfilling his dreams. I’m much more interested in pursuing my current dreams than my childhood dreams, but in reality I think they somehow tie together. From what I can remember, my childhood dreams had a lot to do with animals. I think I wanted to be a veterinarian at some point. I wanted to ride horses. I wanted a dog. As an adult, I still love animals, love riding horses, and dream of being around more animals in the wild- like elephants! But if I look at those childhood dreams and connect them to my teenage dreams and adult dreams (which revolve around everything from music, animals, family, faith, language learning, travel, etc), I can tie them all back to one “why.” That “why” is that I want to both feel God’s love and share it with others. I want to create a positive connection between people (and even between people and animals). Being around animals makes me feel a deep connection to my Creator. Creating music and listening to music makes me feel connected to both my Creator and the people all around me. Nurturing my family relationships is one of the most significant ways I feel connection and love and am able to show love to others. Learning a language allows me to more deeply understand, love, and be connected to people of other countries and cultures. That dream of creating loving connection is the dream I am most interested in pursuing. If I were to give a last lecture, I would title it “Why?” and talk about finding the deeper connection and purpose between the many life dreams we have. I think that fulfilling this deep purpose, our “why,” will bring greater fulfillment than simply checking off a list of “dream to-do’s”. For example, I find more fulfillment by focusing on building connection through language learning, raising children, and being around animals, than I would if I was simply checking off a list of things to do (even though I would be doing the same things). The dream to-do’s all contribute to fulfilling something deeper and more meaningful. It seems like Randy Pausch’s childhood dreams and current dreams have something to do with finding the fun and magic in life- whether by winning a giant stuffed animal, creating fun computer software that educates, or by spending simple moments at home with his family. My dream to-do’s (like experiencing new cultures, learning languages, being around animals, raising my family, and having an awesome marriage) all tie into my ultimate goal of creating loving connection in the world. Danica says... My Favorite Moments From The Book
What would I leave as my legacy if I only had a few months to live and what would I title it? Title: Discovering My Path and the People Who Helped Me Outline: Intro My Childhood
Christine says... The Last Lecture Childhood Dreams vs Current Dreams Randy Pausch had a lot of very specific childhood dreams and was able to achieve most of them in some form or another in his relatively short life of 47 years. When I think if my childhood dreams, I don't have a distinct list that comes to mind. I had a very general childhood dream to get a good education and to be successful in life. I didn't have a specific vision of wanting to be a doctor or nurse or engineer or astronaut. So when I think of my life dreams, they developed more in my later teenage and adult life than in my childhood. As I was an older teenage I began to dream of having a great family with positive relationships. I dreamed of going to college and being well-educated following the example of some of my older siblings. As I became older, I began to develop more dreams regarding owning a home so our family could have a nice lifestyle and spend time together. I had dreams of a rewarding career but in a flexible way that allowed me to keep my family a first priority. In more recent years, I have dreamed of starting my own business that would make a significant impact for good in the world. Leaving a Legacy: Randy struggled with how to leave his legacy for his children when he knew his life was ending soon and he would not be around for most of their growing up years. He was faced with the choice of doing a more personal last lecture directly to his children and doing a more public last lecture. Although for the last lecture he opted for the public appearance, he had also done lots of personal family videos and messages for his children as well. Randy has a strong ego and a bit of arrogance and enjoyed being on stage lecturing to his students at Carnegie Mellon University. For him, getting on the stage of the lecture hall was one last opportunity to be in his natural element and a way for him to say goodbye to hundreds of people at once that likely he wouldn't have time to say goodbye to one by one. Also, this more public version of his last lecture was a way for him to leave a lasting legacy not only for his children but for many others - his students, his faculty peers, and since then millions of others who have watch his last lecture on video and/or read his book. He truly has left a lasting legacy as he gave so many of us pause to think about how we want to live this life and how we want to leave this life. Randy's lecture and book gives me the opportunity to ponder what "legacy" I would want to leave when my life is coming to an end. The first thing I think of is that I would want my family to know how much I love them and how much I believe that we are a family in this life and in the life after this one. I would hope to leave a legacy of living a life of integrity, peace, love of God, and service to others. My ambitions to start a business someday would be an opportunity to express these values in a physical organization and this goal is more about leaving a legacy than any worldly success. I also hope to leave a legacy of service and strive to serve others regularly and hope someday to serve as a full time missionary with my husband to serve people throughout the world. If I was remember for these qualities I would feel that I have left a lasting legacy.
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The Highly Sensitive Person
"Elaine Aron defines a distinct personality trait that affects as many as one out of every five people. According to Dr. Aaron's definition, the highly sensitive person (HSP) has a sensitive nervous system, is aware of subtleties in his/her surroundings, and is more easily overwhelmed when in a highly stimulating environment." -hsperson.com Response Ideas: Do you feel like you have any highly sensitive traits? If so, describe them. Did this book help you understand anyone around you? Do you feel like the research and explanations were valid and convincing, or did her ideas seem like a stretch from reality? Assignment: Pick the question(s) that most interest(s) you
Is our society too focused on the individual? What is the ideal balance of individual and community? What lessons did you learn from Equality 7-2521's journey? Were you satisfied by the book's ending? What other endings could you imagine happening? Christine says... Is our society too focused on the individual? As a whole, our society is more focused on the individual than community and is a bit out of balance toward the individual. However, I believe each person inherently wants to help others and benefit their community but there is a lack of social structure to provide these opportunities. When opportunities to help others arise in times of need such as after a natural disaster or a neighborhood tragedy, I have found that most people are genuinely concerned and willing to step up and fill those needs. The key factor in these circumstances are some community members stepping up to take on the leadership roles on behalf of the community and organize the service. What is the ideal balance of individual and community? The ideal balance between the individual and community is when the life of the individual raises the quality of the community and the life of the community raises the quality of life of the individual. When the community lowers the quality of life of the individual it has overstepped it's role and visa versa. What lessons did you learn from Equality 7-2521's journey? That listening to our inner voice will lead us to a path of happiness, service to others, and lifetime fulfillment. Some call this inner voice our conscious. Some call it the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Some call it the Universe. Regardless of the name we choose for it, this inner voice when headed will lead us to a higher level of living and serving. Were you satisfied by the book's ending? What other endings could you imagine happening? I was happy that Equality 7-2521 was able to follow his inner voice, discover his individuality, and begin a new life for him and The Golden One. Sean says... I liked the book. I thought that the message was important and relevant today. The theme of the problems of collectivism was very strong and well-conveyed. One thing I appreciated was Ayn Rand's determination to be concise. As much as I enjoyed reading it, I felt the storyline was a bit predictable. I also felt that the ending was a bit rushed. One thing I did appreciate was how the lightbulb symbolized individualism, creativity, and progression. It served as a major hinge in Equality 7-2521's journey. On a different note, one quote that I liked was from chapter 12: "But what is freedom? Freedom from what? There is nothing to take a man's freedom away from him, save other men. To be free, a man must be free of his brothers. That is freedom. That and nothing else." Overall, a very enjoyable and well-written book. Erica says... Equality 7-2521 and his journey teach me about the unconquerable spirit of men and women. Throughout history we have seen oppression, dehumanization, selfish leaders who hunger for power, and so much more. Yet humankind continues to fight for equality, freedom, and the pursuit of joy. While there will always be forces who fight for power and dominion, there will also always be those who fight for the joys of freedom and equality for all mankind. Through Equality’s journey, he learns to be kind to himself. He learns to let go of false beliefs that had been deeply engrained in his mind by society. These false beliefs caused him to struggle with feelings of self betrayal and denial. But while the other individuals in his society submitted to the false ideas, Equality hungered for greater understanding and refused to completely deny his true self. The ending of the book leaves me hopeful for Equality 7-2521, who names himself Prometheus. Yet it also always leaves me with questions. I find Prometheus’ statements about individualism to be a bit extreme. Because he was raised in such an extreme collectivist society, it seems only natural that Equality’s shift to individualism should also be extreme. By the end of the book, his statements about individualism are so extreme that it is sometimes uncomfortable to me. Rather than feel his newfound pride and ego with him, I feel that the story is incomplete and that the journey ahead is still long. I think this perspective comes from my religious beliefs. I grew up learning that as a Christian, I should love other people as much (or more) than I love myself. My personal background combined with Equality’s statements about doing everything only for his own joy, his own purpose, etc (and making statements about being like god and bringing truth to other people) can leave me wondering- where is the balance? I think that Equality’s feelings are completely justified and are incredible and insightful, seeing that he grew up in such a dark world filled with false ideas. And I think I need to learn, like he has, to find more joy in being true to myself and being an individual. But will the new Prometheus really find joy by doing things centered on these new ideals? I believe the answer lies in the paradox of individual free choice and putting others before one’s self. Although Equality lived his former life in the servitude of his brethren, he -and they- were miserable. He wasn’t serving them by free choice, but rather because he was forced to. Thus there was no joy in living for someone else. And his brethren received no joy by being the recipients of his service. On the other hand, he chooses to love and serve the Golden One. And I assume he will choose to love, care for, and sacrifice for his child. I think that the end of the book is just the beginning of Prometheus’s journey to finding true joy. I think his joy will only increase as he continues on the path he has set, and as he experiences sacrificing for others because he chooses to, rather than because he is forced to. Perhaps the difference between being a slave and being a Christian all comes down to free choice. This makes it more clear to me why my faith teaches that God values individual agency so much. To be forced into servitude is misery and slavery. To have complete freedom, and then choose to love and serve others, brings profound joy. Danica says... Things I learned from Anthem: Fear is one of the most powerful and evil ways to persuade. Equality sees his roommates and their different reactions to the constant stress they feel. One of them screams, one of them cries. “A word steals into our mind, as we look upon our brothers, and that word is fear.” The people in this dystopian world have their souls crushed into submission. They are forced watch those who disobey burn alive and are constantly lectured on how vital it is to work for the collective along with the evil of any sort of individuality: “What whip lashed them to their knees in shame and submission? The worship of the word ‘We.’” Peace comes when we are true to ourselves despite other’s expectations. When Equality starts learning, even though learning anything new is deemed evil, he expresses, “In our hearts there is the first peace we have known in twenty years.” He also demonstrates the shift in how he views himself when he starts doing what he truly wants to do, versus following random strict laws: “Equality 7-2521 are glad to be living. If this is vice, then we wish no virtue.” The epitome of beauty is complete confidence and trust in one’s self and one’s purpose. I loved when Equality was running away into the Uncharted Forest and saw his reflection in the stream. He said: “...we saw our face for the first time... our face and body were beautiful...and we thought we could trust this being who looked upon us from the stream, and that we had nothing to fear with this being.” Reading this reminded me of my eight-month-old daughter Chloe and how she has a huge smile every time she sees herself in the mirror. I remember when I used to seeing myself, because I was so self-critical of my outward appearance and who I was inside. I couldn’t trust myself to be kind and compassionate. Now I’m not afraid to see my own reflection, and am happy with how I look and who I am. I would like to get to a point where I see myself and can do a big cheesy grin like Chloe and think about how beautiful of a person I am the way Prometheus does! I loved when he says, “Whatever road I take the guiding star is within me; the guiding star and the loadstone which point the way. They point in but one direction. They point to me.” The deepest, most meaningful friendships begin to develop when we discover our true self and true purpose, and don’t hide it. Equality is shocked when the Golden One has followed him into the woods. She expresses, “We shall follow you wherever you go. If Danger threatens you, we shall face it also.” The Golden One saw Equality for who he truly was, along with the importance of what he was doing. She was willing to follow him and support him no matter what. "We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand." ( Randy Pausch)
A lot of professors give talks entitled "The Last Lecture". Professors are asked to consider their demise and to ruminate on what matters most to them. And while they speak, audiences can't help but mull the same question: What wisdom would we impart to the world if we knew it was our last chance? If we had to vanish tomorrow, what would we want as our legacy? When Randy Pausch, a computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon, was asked to give such a lecture, he didn't have to imagine it as his last, since he had recently been diagnosed with terminal cancer. But the lecture he gave - "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams" - wasn't about dying. It was about the importance of overcoming obstacles, of enabling the dreams of others, of seizing every moment (because "time is all you have...and you may find one day that you have less than you think"). It was a summation of everything Randy had come to believe. It was about living. In this book, Randy Pausch has combined the humor, inspiration and intelligence that made his lecture such a phenomenon and given it an indelible form. It is a book that will be shared for generations to come. ********************************************** The video of Randy Pausch's last lecture: https://youtu.be/ji5_MqicxSo ********************************************** Questions: If you were giving your last lecture, what would your lecture be titled and why? Are childhood dreams somehow more important than our current dreams? Are you more interested in pursuing your childhood dreams or your current dreams? What piece of advice or accomplishment would you leave as your legacy? What is the most important moment in the book for Sophie? What lessons from Sophie’s journey relate to your own life? Erica Says... In the beginning of the book, Sophie seems to feel like a victim of life’s circumstances. She believes false ideas about her being the eldest daughter, and thus having a dull future ahead of her. She allows others to make decisions for her about what direction her life will take. When she becomes an old woman, she begins to develop a sense of confidence in herself, and begins to stop caring what others think of her. She becomes more true to herself little by little, until in the end she is truest to herself, acknowledges her love for Howl, and transforms back into her young self. Somehow becoming an old woman allowed her to start the process of letting go of false beliefs and letting go of other people’s control over her life. At first, she thinks that being an old woman suits her, since she sees herself as dull and boring anyways. But she gradually gains confidence in who she is and in charting her own life’s path. After gaining this confidence, she becomes comfortable with herself, and ultimately turns back into the beautiful young woman she is. For these reasons, I think the most important moment is when she is turned into an old woman! I relate to Sophie’s journey of learning to think and act for herself. I’m someone who very easily puts other people’s opinions over my own. I’ve had to learn to think for myself, trust myself, and chart my own life path. I also relate to Sophie’s personality mixture of being practical but also craving adventure and new experiences! Danica says... The most pivotal moment for Sophie in Howl’s Moving Castle was when the Witch of the Waste cursed her to become an elderly woman. Although, her new age was a curse, it was the best thing that could have happened to her. By taking on a new identity, she let go of any preconceived ideas that others had of her. This freed her from concealing thoughts and ideas that others would find out of her character. As she journeyed into the waste and met Howl, Micheal, and Calcifer, she was able to be her true self around her new found friends in a new and strange place. When Sophie and her new friends relocated to the old hat shop, her struggle was apparent. She felt conflicted being somewhere that brought her to her recent past. Sophie’s change of appearance and her change of setting and friends led to the greatest period of change and growth in her lifetime. I related to Sophie’s experience of leaving past societal expectations behind through a new appearance, friends, and location, when I served as a Latter-day Saint missionary. Suddenly, I was wearing blouses and skirts everyday with a black tag that said “Sister Greenall - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints” and in Dallas, Texas, where I had never been before and surrounded by completely new people. Those 18 months left me a completely changed person. Not a new person, but a more open, honest version of myself. I went from being extremely shy to more talkative. I suddenly I didn’t have to stay the “shy girl” that people expected me to be. Sophie was cursed with an old face. I was blessed with a black name tag. We both experienced taking on a new persona that led to living more honestly and more vulnerably. Anthem was first written by Ayn Rand in 1937 and was published in England, but was refused publication in America until about ten years later. It is referred to as a prose poem or even a hymn. Anthem is the story of a man who rediscovers individualism in a world completely focused on collectivism. What is this man's name? What is his story? You'd better jump into the book to find out!
Assignment: Pick the question(s) that most interest(s) you Is our society too focused on the individual? What is the ideal balance of individual and community? What lessons did you learn from Equality 7-2521's journey? Were you satisfied by the book's ending? What other endings could you imagine happening? An average girl, destined to inherit her late father’s hat shop, is about to have her life changed forever by a charming heart eating wizard named Howl...
Assignment: What is the most important moment in the book for Sophie? What lessons from Sophie’s journey relate to your own life? Bawbee Books is an online book club that anyone is invited to join! Our club is called "Bawbee Books" because we want this to be a low to no cost book club. Each week we choose a book to read together. This can be any type of book, as long as it is reasonable to read in a week and is available to buy online in some form at an inexpensive price. Along with reading, we will have some sort of assignment connected to each book. These assignments are meant to make the reading more fun! The assignments are flexible, so members can spend as much or as little time completing them. Each week we post our response assignment about the previous book as well as the new book we will be reading.
You can follow the blog and read along and make comments, or you can become an official member! As a member, you will be featured on the "Community Page", post your responses/assignments on the blog, and be in the rotation to choose which book we read next with a response assignment! Send us a message on the home page to become a member! |