#thelitbit - The Inspiration // The Last Lecture

My dad was a reader, and I'm proud to say that I probably got my love of books from him. He had a gazillion books everywhere in the house, with the longest excel sheet documenting all his hard copies and e-books. Unlike him, I haven't quite converted to e-books yet - just the excitement of going into a bookstore and actually flipping through a book wins me over.

[This is my Dad, hanging out in his man cave of tools and (just some of) his books. Also, Kenny G cuts were jammin'.]

What I also love about reading/holding actual books is the ability to flag a page, mark up my favorite passages, and go back to relive what I loved about a book, whether I raved about the book itself or was ready to move on to the next one. That said, my memory isn't always the greatest, so I had to figure out a way to better document these #nts and tid bits that caught my attention.

And so I introduce to you #thelitbit in honor of my dad - a monthly dose of inspirational snippets and ideas for your next reads.

Any recommendations to add to my lit list? Let me know!

The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch

A computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon, who when diagnosed with terminal cancer,  gave his last lecture on "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams". This isn't a lecture about dying but rather the opposite. Randy Pausch highlights "the importance of overcoming obstacles, of enabling the dreams of others, [and] of seizing every moment."

1. If you really want something, rise above any obstacles and storms that may cross your path - be resilient, be persistent.

2. No life is the same as another. Cherish & share yours and those of others.

"Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted. And experience is often the most valuable thing you have to offer."

3. Accepting change & cultivating your mindset. 

"We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand."

[read on]