Stephen Hawking Dead at Age 76

He was bigger than his body, greater than his limitations, and an inspiration to the entire world. Reknowned physicist Stephen Hawking has died at age 76, leaving us with a legacy of lessons and “… an intellectual vacuum in his wake.”

Though I’m not terribly science-minded, I’ve learned a lot from Stephen Hawking. He’s mentored and educated thousands of the brightest minds in the world. His history and research will inspire generations. It may save humanity, open up new universes, or literally change our world. For many of us though, his immediate legacy may be in the pages of his life’s story.

Defy The Odds

Stephen Hawking was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS at the age of 21, and was only suppose to live another couple of years. His condition deteriorated much slower than expected, allowing Hawking to remain mobile for many years. When he could no longer walk with crutches, he stayed active but wheelchair bound. After he lost his ability to speak, he utilized technology to speak for him, allowing him to remain vocal for the rest of his life.

Though his slow progression was a result of a rarer form of ALS, one can’t argue he defied the odds. How many certainties does life hand us, and how often do we let them defeat us? Simply outliving his diagnosis offers hope.

I try to lead as normal a life as possible, and not think about my condition, or regret the things it prevents me from doing, which are not that many … I have been lucky that my condition has progressed more slowly than is often the case. But it shows that one need not lose hope.

See: Stephen Hawking, Renowned Scientist, Dies at 76

Have a Sense of Humor

Stephen Hawking appeared in many sitcoms as himself, including The Big Bang Theory (which pay tribute to Hawking here), The Simpsons, and Futurama. He was deprecating and sharp witted, insulting other characters or society in general. In real life he was much the same, reportedly running his wheelchair over the toes of people he didn’t like. Longtime Simpsons show runner Al Jean’s tribute sums it up best: “He had a sense of humor as vast as the universe.” Actually, to be fair, Stephen Hawking sums it up best in that he died on Albert Einstein’s birthday, March 14th, also known as Pi Day. Well played, Sir. Well played.

It’s normal when you’re in a difficult situation to focus on it. It’s easy to feel sorry for yourself, and to expect others to do the same. It’s hard to laugh when you face challenges. Maybe it’s different because each day challenged Stephen Hawking in a way most of us will never face. However, employing a sense of humor can lighten that load. Laughing allows others to laugh with you, endearing you to each other.

Leave a Legacy

From mathematics professor to director of research at the University of Cambridge’s Center for Theoretical Cosmology, Stephen Hawking instilled wisdom and inspiration in the minds of literally thousands of academics. Scientist say he transformed the way they think about black holes and the universe. I don’t even KNOW what I think about black holes, but I know what I think about leaving a legacy. As the world honors him today with their sentiments, we see how many lives he touched and how many minds he inspired.

There are things I’m good at and things I’m not. I like to encourage people. So I do that as often as I can. I like to help people reach their full potential, so I often take time out of my day to coach my writers and photographers at my magazine. If I leave this planet never having written a great piece of work like Hawking’s A Brief History of Time, at least I know that I left some of my best work behind in the lives of those I invested in.

Reach for the Stars

Hawking studied the stars, stretching his mind to comprehend the universe. He figuratively reached for the stars every day.

There are things I would love to accomplish one day. You don’t get there by wishing upon a star. You have to reach for those goals every single day, with intent. We don’t do big things, we do things to reach big ends. Understand your purpose. Understand your gifts and your strengths. Use them every day to make a difference.

In the words of the Planetary Society (paraphrasing Carl Sagan), “Goodbye Dr. Hawking. Thank you for sharing your beautiful mind with this pale blue dot.”