Have you ever been inspired by someone? Have you ever attended a lecture and really listened to someone else speak and been extremely motivated? Has someone else, through their spoken word, ever given you the extra drive to become something better? After attending Pete Hamill’s lecture yesterday at City Tech, motivated was hardly the word to describe it.

When the man began to speak, his words, statements and anecdotes were no doubt coming from an extremely educated man. A man who is obviously well versed in literature, religion, current events and politics. Speaking about these subjects is one thing, but it takes a very clever person to speak about these subjects in the right way where it makes you think and makes you want to go out there and take over the world. Pete Hamill is a very clever person.

I consider myself to be someone who is a “do-er”, someone who is constantly trying to do a hundred things at once. Pete Hamill made me feel as if I never did anything, and that’s not a bad thing. He made me realize that there is so much more out there then what I have already done. While I think that what I have accomplished at my age is pretty good, I now realize that there is so much more that I can do. Not in the way of accomplishment, but in the way of filling my mind with the wealth of the world.

During his lecture, Hamill said, “Go into a library as if books were food, consume them.” He also said. “Learn about every religion, travel, and live your life – all of it – not just during your youth, but throughout your life. You only pass this way once, so don’t waste the time. Read the Old and New Testament, ride with Don Quixote, spend time on Huckleberry Finn’s raft, use the library, it’s yours as much as it is mine.”

As I was hearing him speak, I realized why he is the accomplished journalist and author that he is. I felt the adrenaline rush through my veins as his ideas and suggestions were being written on my mental “to do” list. I realized that my motto in life was true, that life is what you make it and your only limitation is yourself.

I have to go now – I have a lot to do today.