Do the Right Thing

Spirit, science, and health.

by Thomas Plante, PhD

Everyone should give a "Last Lecture"

A Last Lecture is likely good for your physical, mental, and spiritual health.

Published on March 22, 2010 by Thomas G. Plante, Ph.D., ABPP in Do the Right Thing

You may be familar with the "Last Lecture." It has gotten a great deal of press due to the life and death of Randy Pausch, a computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon (and classmate of mine at Brown University, class of 1982) who died of cancer in 2008 and initailly gave his "last lecture" talk in 2007.

The "Last Lecture" series has been popular on college campuses for many years. Professors are asked to give what would be their last lecture. Randy's story was so compelling because he was young, smart, and vibrant with a lovely family including two young daughters. Yet, he was dying of terminal cancer. His "last lecture" went viral on YouTube, he repeated it again on national television shows such as Oprah, and his story and "last lecture" became a best selling book.

In reflecting on the whole notion of a "last lecture," I would suggest that everyone write one. Yes, everyone! I tend to think that everyone should have the opportunity to write a last lecture that they would want others (family, friends, but also strangers) to hear before they pass away. I think that it would be wonderful for both mental and spiritual health to do so. You may or may not actually give the lecture to a live audience (hopefully you will somehow) but at least may I suggest that you write it and share it with others.

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My wife recently asked her 84-year-old father (my father-in-law) to record his life story and then she would write it up. They set up many sessions to record his story. It was a wonderful gift that she gave to him to be able to do this and a wonderful gift he could give to his younger relatives. It also put a spring in his step and a sparkle in his eye. It wasn't exactly a "last lecture" but it was a variation on the theme.

So, try writing your last lecture. If you can, give it orally to your community. Pehaps your book group, church group, bowling group or whatever group you're in might take turns sharing each others' last lecture. See what it might do for your physical, emotional, and spiritual health. I'd bet it would give you (and others) a boost.