Most of us live like time is unlimited. We say later. We assume someday. But Randy Pausch gave his final lecture knowing his time was running out, and instead of talking about dying, he talked about how to live. So here's the question that changes everything: what if you treated every day as a gift instead of a guarantee? Today we're talking about purpose, gratitude and what really matters. Before life forces the lesson on us. Hello and welcome to Uplifted Living, the podcast for Living Uplifted. I'm Nick Gilbert and I want to thank you for tuning in today. As a lifelong learner in the field of education, I aspire to acquire and share knowledge that inspires, so I hope you're ready for today's episode. When people hear about The Last Lecture, they often assume it's a farewell. But that's not what Randy Pausch intended. He was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Yes, but his lecture wasn't about fear or loss. It was about gratitude, about childhood dreams, about showing up fully while you still can. Randy didn't speak like someone who had run out of time. He spoke like someone who finally understood its value, and that's what makes his message so powerful. He reminds us that purpose isn't something you save for later. It's something you live now. Time feels different when you stop feeling entitled to it. One of the quiet truths in The Last Lecture is this, gratitude deepens when you realize time isn't promised. Most of us don't mean to be ungrateful. We're just unaware. We rush, we complain, we postpone joy, not because we're careless, but because we assume there will always be more time. Randy's awareness stripped away that illusion, and without entitlement to time, something beautiful happens. Every moment feels sharper, every relationship matters more. Every ordinary day becomes meaningful. Purpose isn't found. It's practiced. Randy didn't wait for clarity to live purposefully. He didn't say, once I figure everything out, then I'll live well. He lived with intention inside uncertainty. That reframes purpose entirely. Purpose isn't a destination. It's not a job title or a single calling. It's how you treat people, follow through on what matters most, stay curious, keep your integrity intact. Randy's purpose showed up in how he taught, loved, encouraged, and played even when life was unfair. Gratitude is something you express, not just feel. One of the most moving aspects of Randy's message is how openly grateful he was while he still could be, he thanked mentors, he honored teachers. He acknowledged the people who helped him become who he was. Gratitude doesn't reach its full power when it stays internal. It changes lives when it's spoken, and that raises an important question for us. Who are you grateful for but haven't told yet? Waiting too long is one of the quiet regrets people carry. Randy didn't wait. Take a moment and ask yourself. Where have I been postponing joy? What would I appreciate more if I stopped, assuming I had unlimited time? What would change if I treated today as something borrowed not owed? This isn't about fear or urgency, it's about presence. A simple shift that changes everything. Here's a simple practice inspired by Randy's message. Each morning, ask, if today were a gift, how would I use it? That might look like being more patient, saying thank you out loud, choosing curiosity over bitterness, spending time where it actually matters. Purpose lives in these small, intentional choices. Living before the wake up call. The Last Lecture reminds us of something we often forget. You don't need a diagnosis to live deliberately. You don't need a crisis to be grateful. You don't need a final lecture to start paying attention. Time is already a gift. The question is whether we'll treat it that way, now, while we still can. In closing, if you have not done so already, please remember to subscribe. Like the video, turn on the bell for notifications. Share this episode with someone who might benefit from it, and leave a comment down below. If there is a book that resonates with you and you would like to see it in a future episode, share it with me because I would love to hear from you. Until next time, keep striving to learn and grow and make it a priority to uplift both yourself and those around you.