about Respect Rx

Hey all! I'm Courtney Macavinta, co-author of the best-selling book for teen girls RESPECT and founder of Respect Rx, which is devoted to empowering girls, women and their advocates to boost self-respect, sisterhood and social change in their lives—and our world.
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Advocates, Follow Your Passions, Girls, Journaling, Women

Your Last Lecture (Essay Contest!)

When I was 15 and hating on myself and defiling myself and barfing and blacking out on the weekends—AND also having lots of fun and being free (ah the paradox)—I couldn't picture the future. The good news: I was in the "now." The bad news: My "now" was frequently hanging out in the disrespect zone. I couldn't picture who I'd be in 5 years—let alone in 5 months. I wasn't strongly attached to a vision or dream for myself. So that meant I was lost and losing myself.

And when I did meet and pursue my first big dream (going to college to become a journalist), self-respect started to bloom. And so did I. And now the world is better for it. And I can say that about myself and you should too. I say own your power because there is too much we are powerless over in the meantime.

I think when we can have a little meet and greet with our future self (who we'd like to be and already are deep inside) we can reveal our passions. Which helps us see what's important to us. Which can trigger our goals. Which allows us to move forward to create the life we want and fulfill our many callings. And it's fun.

Here's where I'm going with this (VIDEO follows!)...

Today a very beautiful person died: Randy Pausch. Randy was a Carnegie Mellon professor who I learned about when he was featured on Oprah. Dieing of cancer, with three-to-six months left to live, he delivered what has been coined "The Last Lecture." It was an assignment from Carnegie Mellon. Professors are asked to create and deliver the last lecture of their lives, the question: What would be your message?

Pausch's lecture, which would in his case be his "last", is a funny and inspiring talk about how he followed his dreams (BEFORE his diagnosis) and lessons learned. (It's also now a book.)

Watch his Last Lecture now:

When you're done watching, I want you to write Your Last Lecture. You don't need Powerpoint. You don't need to be a so-called writer (please people, I have misspelled my own name!). Here are some steps to get you started:

#1. Sit down, close your eyes, and picture yourself 5, 10, 20 years from now. What are you doing? How awesome are you? What dreams have you lived out? What's next for you? What have you learned? What's your impact on the people around you and our world?

#2. Write about your future self. How cool is she?

#3. Now that you're a bit more tapped into your greatness and abilities, write Your Last Lecture. Not into writing? Make a video or podcast message instead. What's your message to other girls, women and the world?

WIN IT! If you post Your Last Lecture below as a Comment, we'll send you a cool goody bag. We promise not to fall asleep and drool. These are some lectures we actually want to hear!

 

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commentCourtney said:
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What I speak to you of are my experiences pure and true. Each lesson I learn, I search for the value, and this is what the gift of life has taught me…
Each life is different and unique… but each life has meaning. A purpose and a place in someone’s heart. Life is anything and everything we make of it, the things we should be proud of are the things we’ve worked hard for, I’m not talking fancy cars and nice clothes, but things we’ve achieved that have made a difference in lives (including our own).
You know what I mean, our goals, our ambitions, and our dreams. We all have them- consciously or subconsciously. It’s up to us to realize them and make them reality.
If I told you to live everyday like your last I’d be wasting my time. Just life, learn and grow everyday- experience life. You can’t sit around waiting for it, if you don’t do anything you never will. No one else can do it for you; you’re the only one who can do that.
Love a little, even better, love a lot. You only get one chance, young or old; it’s never ever too late, because each day is a new chapter- a new chance.
Don’t let your fears rule you- don’t be afraid to express yourself & be who you are. Do what you want, nobody is stopping you. The more you live, the more you learn about yourself.
You must learn you accept yourself, inside and out. I’m not talking you 5 pounds thinner with a new haircut… NO, I’m talking about you right now. Yes, that’s it. The girl in the mirror you can’t see the beauty in. Even though it glows with every kind gesture and every smile.
It may be a struggle- but don’t think of it that way- it’s a challenge, another opportunity in the gift of life. Think of it as a challenge- something that will make you stronger in the end. Everyone is beautiful- I know as cliché as it may sound its true. I’ve come to learn that.
A wise person once said “To the world you are just one person, but to one person you are the world.” you have to realize that no matter how insignificant you think you are someone in this world thinks the exact opposite of you.
There’s no guidebook to see us through life, be your own guide, figure out want and do everything in your power to get there. You’re much more powerful than you think. Don’t just give up- you can be so close and not even know it.
Make your own rules, do whatever it is you want to do and don’t look back, we can only go forward.
We all have potential, if we did everything were capable of we would absolutely amaze ourselves.

July 29, 2008 8:57 PM
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commentCourtney said:
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Hahaha, that's so neat... you have the same first name as me!

July 29, 2008 8:59 PM
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