Friday, March 21, 2008

Get To A Place Where You Can Cry

Twisted sent me this clip from the Oprah show. I know, I know, but Twisted does live in Chicago and if you don't watch Oprah there, you get sent to jail. Sometimes for a first offense they send you to a reeducation camp. It isn't like Oprah can actually take credit for what he says. I am warning you right now, it is moving. Guys say moving when we don't want to use the word cry. Guys are only allowed to cry when when watching Rudy and Brian's Song. All other times we say it was moving, which is a manly thing to do, so used in this context gives us some breathing room. I realize many of you may have seen this, but for those of you have not, you really should watch it.




28 comments:

  1. I saw this link, I don't even remember where, a few months ago.

    If you get a free hour and fifteen, the whole thing is worth watching, too.
    http://youtube.com/watch?v=ji5_MqicxSo

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  2. Thanks for posting this, EL. I've watched it a few times, and cry every time I do.

    Kim, I also viewed the longer version a couple of nights ago. Very powerful stuff.

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  3. The speaker is Randy Pausch. I watched his lecture at Carnegie Mellon online a while back, and I don't think I have ever been as moved as I was that day. What a very special person he is; despite white lies ahead for him, he stood on that podium and gave the most awe-inspiring speech, like he said, for his children.

    Godspeed Randy. And thanks twisty (& Enty) for sharing this with everyone.

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  5. Oh, lawdy, I'ma crying.

    While I don't think going on Oprah would be one of the things I would do if I knew I was dying, I'm glad that it was on his list. He has an amazing outlook on life (and death). I've always tried to live my life based on the Karmic principles, thanks to my father's teachings, but sometimes my smart mouth gets me in trouble. I need to work on that complaining point he made.

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  6. good parenting is undervalued in our society and almost nonexistent. we need more people like this inspirational man and his wonderful parents. TWIS - thanks for bringing this lecture to my attention again, i could revisit it every year.

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  7. Guess I'm an Eeyore. This didn't do much for me.

    It fits along side "Dr." Phil and The Secret. Every time you feel bad, it's your own fault. Great. Tragedy is self determined. Give me a break.

    Oprah wants an excuse not to care about anyone. These long-winded bores, shaking their fingers at us, give her lots of support.

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  8. I saw Randy on Oprah back in October, and though I know it was meant to be somehow uplifting, I spent the rest of the day depressed. That said, this is one incredible man and I applaud him and his valiance. Also, I have recently converted to 'Oprahism'. I think she's sincere about wanting to help and inspire, a far cry from the shows she used to do. I like her, don't care if no one else does, but the thing is, complaining and being cynical, two of my formerly favourite things, is such a bore. It really does nothing.

    Oprah's cool, she doesn't profess to be more than she is and frankly, I like being 'moved' occasionally.

    Maybe I'm getting old.

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  9. Alpine, she only invited him to reprise the speech he gave to the students at Carnegie Mellon (Kim links to it above). It had gotten millions of hits in the weeks following, that she invited him to reprise it in a shorter version. Being on her show wasn't on his list.

    Plot, he's not saying that at all. He's saying when bad things happen it's up to you to determine what your approach to it will be. I could have bitched during chemo, but my gal pals and I laughed our asses off so much the nurses were always coming in to see what was going on.

    If you're negative by nature though (and that's not a dig), then you probably would hate the happy talk.

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  10. twisted (ya know I love ya, right?)

    I don't see that at all. I see a superior jerk, evidenced by his "pouring coke in the car" story. He wants the reins, to dramatically negate everything his sister says - not with words, but with an arrogant action to curry favor with his nephew. Cool Uncle! Bad Mommy! I'd expect my brothers to crown me if I pulled crap like that with their children.

    Your positive attitude during chemo is laudable. It would be my nature to deal with it alone, privately. I couldn't share that way.

    Nonetheless, when assh...men like this preach to us, do pushups on stage, about the superiority of their perfect approach, I want to vomit. Who in the hell are they to say what Life is? Why isn't Mr. Perfect Parent spending his last bit of life with those 3 little children rather than touring the country with his message?

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  11. Thanks so much for this one! Twisted and EL - I've been working online today trying to find inspirational; and or funny things to send to my sister in law who is also dying of cancer - they've given her 6 months - and I think this came along at sucha perfect time that I have to wonder about the coincidence. i had never seen or heard of Randy before this. I will be sending it to her and hope that it brings to her the peace & positivity she needs right now. ugh crying now - thank you so much again!

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  12. Plot, we'll have to agree to disagree. He wrote it for his children, and gave it as a Last Lecture - a practice at the university where a professor comes up with a last lecture if he found out he only had a short period of time to live. These are HIS life lessons he's passing along to his children who are too young to understand them now. I could never take the cynical road with someone like this, but that's just me.

    Irishstayc, I'm so sorry about your sister in law. There are no words...

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  13. Twisted --

    I didn't really mean that I thought it was on his list of things to do before he died, though I guess I kind of worded it that way. What I meant was, as powerful as she is, I would turn Oprah down if she asked me to spend a last day on her show. Like Plot said, I would be home with the kids. Taking them on a vacation. Going to their classrooms for lunch. He could have recorded this for his kids at home while they were asleep one night.

    I understand why he went on the show and, as I commented before, I was "moved" by it, so I was glad he shared. It just wouldn't be my choice.

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  14. PS. As Cap said, good parenting is underrated. If you have one (or two), thank them. If you are one, know that you mean the world to someone.

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  15. Got it, Alpine, thanks. Well, I can't judge what another person does in his situation. He must have thought it would help someone, and he does sound like a person who gives, so, I can see why he would want to be on the show.

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  16. I don't get it. The man is dying, and some of you guys are criticizing him for taking 15 minutes of the time he has left to give an inspirational message to those of us left behind, as well as leaving a video legacy for his kids? What's the deal here? Is it because it was Oprah? Can't wrap my mind around this.

    And Irish - so sorry about your sister-in-law.

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  17. Pinky --

    I thought I had explained that I wasn't criticizing. It's just not what I would do. I said I was moved and was glad he shared.

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  18. More for Plot than for you Alpine.

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  19. irish - best wishes for you and yours.

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  20. Thanks pinky and twisted - i still can't get over the coincidence factor on this ... I am trying to offer her comfort in any way i can and distraction seems to work well right now - that and lot's of I love you's.

    I'm gonna have to wait to watch the whole hour long one though - and BTW - I've sent her the link to CDAN so I'm hoping she gets hooked ..she's the queen of snark so I know she'll love EL

    Happy Easter everyone!

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  21. I didn't cry until the last sentence, and then I was blubbering.

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  22. I have been lurking for months. Love the posts, love the snark. I don't have much time myself, and I like this guy's candor. Thanks for the post.

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  23. Wait - Taffy, are you saying you're shuffling off this mortal coil soon??

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  24. Yikes, Taffy, I'm so sorry to hear that. Once again I must say, there are no words...

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  25. Thanks, guys. This man has the right words, even if the presentation reminds me of those motivational speeches we used to get when I worked. Best way to handle it is to focus on your kids and how well you will be remembered. That, to me, is your immortality.

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  26. Taffy, you have a great attitude, too. Having kids, they're everything, no matter what you're faced with and it sounds like that's the way you're living your life, too.

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  27. This is so moving. Thank you for this.

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