After watching and reading Randy Pausch’s last lecture, I believe he was able to achieve his dreams because he kept trying and also because he had a support system in place.  Randy’s parents, wife, teachers and friends were all a part of helping him accomplish his goals.  Dreaming is essential to discovering our passion and talents, and ultimately to becoming an entrepreneur.  I believe it’s important to surround myself with people who believe in my and encourage me to follow my dreams.  I want to be that person for my family and friends as well.

One of my childhood dreams was to become a dancer.  My mom signed me up for dance lessons when I was little, but after we moved to Alaska we didn’t have the money to continue them.  I remember being envious of the girls in high school who were on the dance team.  They seemed to exude confidence and grace and of course they were always the popular girls.  I am in my mid 40’s and although a career in dance might not be possible, I do believe that I can learn to dance no matter my age.  I added this dream to my bucket list for this week’s assignment.

This week in class we were given an assignment to make a bucket list of 50 items.  As I was pondering this assignment on Monday, I learned that Jim Fox, a great friend in our ward, had passed away suddenly that morning.  I was stunned and saddened by the news, but it also gave me a different perspective as I approached this assignment.  Jim was only 73 when he passed away, but he was always doing something.  He was on the golf course playing golf when he died.  He was in the process of staining his log home, and had just been called as the High Priest Group Leader at church.  Most of us have no idea when our time will be up, but life is about continually learning and growing, overcoming fears, and following our dreams.