00:00Billy and Georgia, these words are for you.
00:04I tried.
00:07I stumbled sometimes, but I tried.
00:11Overall, we had a blast, didn't we?
00:15I remember all the times we spent at the beach,
00:19the two of you, me and Mom, in Malibu, Santa Monica.
00:30Santa Monica, Hawaii, Mexico.
00:33I see you now playing in the ocean for hours, my water babies.
00:40Those days, pun intended, were heaven.
00:45I want to tell you four things I've learned from this disease,
00:49and I hope you won't just listen to me.
00:52I hope you'll hear me.
00:55First, live now.
00:59Right now.
01:00Right now.
01:01In the present.
01:03It's hard, but I learned to do that.
01:07For years, I would wander off mentally,
01:09lost in my head for a long chunk of time,
01:13wallowing in worry and self-pity, shame, and doubt.
01:18I replayed decisions, second-guessed myself.
01:22I should've done this, I never should've done that.
01:25No more.
01:28Out of pure survival, I am forced to stay in the present.
01:33But I don't want to be anywhere else.
01:36The past contains regrets.
01:39The future remains unknown, so you have to live now.
01:45The present is all you have.
01:49Treasure it.
01:50Cherish every moment.
01:52Second, fall in love.
01:56Not necessarily with a person, although I do recommend that as well.
02:01But fall in love with something.
02:03Find your passion, your joy.
02:07Find the thing that makes you want to get up in the morning.
02:11Drive you through the entire day.
02:14I fell in love for the first time when I was about your age.
02:18I fell in love with acting.
02:19That love eventually got me through my darkest hours.
02:24My darkest days.
02:27My darkest years.
02:28I'm tired.
02:30I still love my work.
02:32I still look forward to it.
02:33I still want to get in front of a camera and play my part.
02:38My work doesn't define me, but it excites me.
02:42Find something.
02:45Find something that excites you.
02:48Find your path, your purpose, your dream.
02:52Find it.
02:53Then go for it.
02:55Really go for it.
02:58Third, choose your friends wisely.
03:03Find your people and allow them to find you.
03:07And then give yourselves to them.
03:10The best of them will give back to you.
03:13No judgment.
03:15No conditions.
03:16No questions asked.
03:19I'm so thankful for my very close family and friends.
03:23Every single one has stepped up.
03:26I can't do even the little things I used to do.
03:30I can't drive around town, go to the gym, get coffee, hang out.
03:35I've learned to embrace alternatives.
03:38My friends come to me.
03:40We eat together, watch a game, listen to music.
03:45They don't do anything special.
03:46They just show up.
03:48That's a big one.
03:50Just show up.
03:52And love your friends and everything you have.
03:57Hang on to them.
03:59They will entertain you, guide you, help you, support you,
04:05and some will save you.
04:10Finally, fight with every ounce of your being and with dignity.
04:16When you face challenges, health or otherwise, fight.
04:23Never give up.
04:25Fight until your last breath.
04:29This disease is slowly taking my body, but it will never take my spirit.
04:38The two of you are different people, but you're both strong and resilient.
04:45You inherited resiliency from me.
04:49That's my superpower.
04:51You knock me down, I bounce right up, but I keep coming back.
04:56I get up again and again and again.
05:00Marxism like a cat.
05:02Except a cat has nine lives and I'm on number 15 easily.
05:09So when something unexpected hits you and it will because that's life,
05:14fight and face it with honesty, integrity, and grace,
05:18even if it feels or seems formidable.
05:22I hope I've demonstrated that you can face anything.
05:26You can face the end of your days.
05:28You can face hell with dignity.
05:32Fight, girls, and hold your heads high.
05:37Billy and Georgia, you are my heart.
05:41You are my everything.
05:44Good night.
05:45I love you.
05:47Those are my last words.
Comments