Book Review: The Last Lecture

"Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted"

I recently just finished the book that follows up on the "last lecture" by fellow proud nerd, Randy Pausch, nearly a decade after his death (he passed in July 2008), and a decade to the day after the now famous lecture. I've been getting knee deep in death lately (which seems to be a trend, especially with some of my movie reviews). I've been watching The Leftovers, where coping with loss is a major theme. The Last Lecture is the dream scenario for many in that show, where someone knows the end is coming, and is more able to cope and prepare, and tell the people around him the impact they've had on him, as well as the future he hopes for.

The book expands on the speech, and reflects on it. I had always heard about this video, but never really delved into it. I sat down to watch it after I read the book and in preparation of this post. I'm glad I did. It's nice to look back long after he has passed to keep moving his message on. It's a simple, positive one that cuts through a lot of the cynicism and negativity around us. While I can certainly acknowledge his upbringing gave him a lot of benefits, simple advice sometimes helps to affirm what we all as humans should strive for.

I love the quote above, as it is something I'm currently grappling with and have had to come to terms with in the past. I look forward to the clarity of hindsight as I move forward (if only it was given to us in the moment).

As I said, I've been watching The Leftovers, which deals with loss, and I think we should all also be a lot more grateful for the time we have with those we care about, and we should tell them what they mean to us. I got married when it may have been sooner than some were expecting. But I was ready to marry my wife when I proposed, and I didn't want to wait any longer to be her husband.

I encourage you to give the video another viewing if you haven't seen it in a while. It's a simple, pure, and will help you to reflect on where you are, where you've been, and where you want to go. It will also help to honor a man who loved life, and lived it fully.

Movie Review Monday: Beginners

Welcome to another awesome edition of Movie Review Monday!

This week's movie comes to us via Netflix, and it is 2010's Beginners from writer/director Mike Mills, starring Ewan McGregor & Christopher Plummer.

The basic synopsis of the film is that Plummer plays McGregor's father, who at the age of 75, becomes terminally ill as well as comes out as gay to his son. Hal (Plummer) then seeks to makes the most of his final years, enlightening Oliver (McGregor) to some major life lessons and to reflect on his life growing up with his father and mother. This movie is a semi-autobiographical story for Mills, who father came out as gay after his mother died.

Beginners is an emotional, dry, slow, but poignant movie about who we decide to be in our lives. We see Oliver's life through disjointed flashbacks and learn of his father's life hiding his secret from his son until his final few years, where he could finally be himself. Hal then is able to enjoy this time to the fullest, never looking back and doing what makes him happy. Plummer's performance is fantastic, and quite worthy of the critical acclaim it garnered.

I had this movie recommended by a friend of mine and I never would have known of it or actually taken the time to see it if she hadn't put it forth. I'm doing that for you all now to check out this movie. It's worth your time and will make you think, as all good movies should.

You can check out Beginners, streaming right now on Netflix.

Thanks for stopping by!