Guide To A Better Life

Randy Pausch, 47 yrs old, a computer Science lecturer from Mellon University.

He died of pancreatic cancer in 2008.

He wrote a book 'The last lecture' before then, one of the bestsellers in 2007.

In a letter to his wife Jai and his children, Dylan, Logan, and Chloe, he wrote this beautiful "guide to a better life" for his wife and children to follow.

May you be blessed by his insight.

Points On How To Improve Your Life

Personality:

1. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
2. Don't have negative thoughts of things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
3. Don't over do; keep your limits.
4. Don't take yourself so seriously; no one else does.
5. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
6. Dream more while you are awake.
7. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
8. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner of his/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
9. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.
10. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
11. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
12. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
13. Smile and laugh more.
14. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

Community:

1. Call your family often.
2. Each day give something good to others.
3. Forgive everyone for everything.
4. Spend time with people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.
5. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
6. What other people think of you is none of your business.
7. Your job will not take care of you when you are sick. Your family and friends will. Stay in touch.

Life:

1. Put GOD first in anything and everything that you think, say and do.
2. GOD heals everything.
3. Do the right things.
4. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
5. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
6. The best is yet to come.
7. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
8. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.
9. If you know GOD you will always be happy. So, be happy.

While you practice all of the above, share this knowledge with the people you love, people you school with, people you play with, people you work with, and people you live with.

Not only will it enrich your life, but also that of those around you.

Chasing After A Better Life

There will come a time when we must face the truth.

Those who have taken some courses know that there will be an evaluation, an assessement or a test waiting for them.

Those who have joined a contest or a competition know that they have to wait patiently for the results to be revealed.

The moment of anticipation and the anticipated moment are not easy to bear.

The results may be as expected or may be surprising.

Some may jump up in joy, others may get angry and frustrated.

It is wonderful to see our loved ones soaking in joy, and we share their happiness.

It is heartbreaking to see our loved ones shedding tears, and we share their pains and sorrow.

Crying is usually a very good remedy for a broken heart.

Thank God for the ability to shed tears, to release all our feelings.

The company of family members, relatives and friends are also helpful in dire situations.

But ultimately we need to make sure that the suffering parties stand on their own feet.

They must face the music.

We may help them to analyze the problems at hand and to suggest some ideas or helpful solutions.

But we must leave them to make their own decisions.

Sometimes it is the lack of interests and enthusiasm that have affected the outcomes.

Sometimes it is the lack of preparation and practice...

Sometimes it is the faults of the teachers and trainers......

Sometime it is the system or the course layout...

Whatever is the problem, remedies must be found.

We must not easily give up.

Problems must be faced and tackled.

Maybe we need to show more interest and enthusiasm.

Maybe we need to develop good learning skill and strategy.

Maybe we need a good team to study together.

Or maybe we should work harder, postponing or forgoing some legitimate and less important activities.

Whatever it is, we must encourage them to stand up and face the challenges.

Who knows, by doing so, we enter into a gate for new knowledge and understanding?

Who knows that God has intended it that way to make us realise His presence and His help in our hours of need?

It's frustrating and depressing to see someone we love bogged down by challenges and competition.

But that is the nature of life - to explore and to find the meaning behind all that is to know.

It is true that no man is an island.

But equally true ia the fact that no one is to give in or to give up easily.

Challenges and struggle is part and parcel of life.

When will we get out of our comfort zone?

A life of giving without receiving in return will be boring, and we will most probably unable to enjoy our life for long.

And that is what I will do, ever seeking and working for ways and means to live life to the fullest.