Filed under: Crocodile Hunter, Life, Our Purpose, Steve Irwin, Terri Irwin, free hugs
On a news website, I recently read a bit of what would be Barbara Walters’ “exclusive” interview with Terri Irwin. And that’s the interview that I just finished watching. I wandered from the living room to my parents’ room, and back, where the TV in each told the story of Steve Irwin and how his wife will carry on his legacy, and some might say, his purpose.
Gosh, I thought to myself as Terri fought with the tears that tumbled recklessly down her rosy cheeks. How will she go on?
“I’m Mrs. Steve Irwin,” she said to Barbara. “I’ve got a lot to live up to.”
I turned off the TV, moved by what I’d seen, but not showing it. That’s when I got the email: a YouTube video from Sarah featuring Juan Mann giving free hugs on a city street to the tune of All the Same by a band called Sick Puppies. And that’s when the floodgates opened. And good gosh, it felt great.
Look at Steve Irwin, I thought as I cried and watched Juan Mann hug strangers on the street. And I thought about what Terri said: that Steve didn’t sweat the little things; he saw the big picture. He had fun. He cared about something other than himself and he changed the world, according to many. Look at Juan Mann, I thought as more strangers got and gave hugs on the video. He cared about something other than himself.
Now, giving hugs and consorting with crocs aren’t the same, or even comparable ways to serve someone other than self. But I think both Steve and Juan would agree that life is short, and everyone’s serves a purpose. I guess I’ve always sort of known that my purpose probably has to do with caring about something other than myself. Terri mentioned that Steve was never interested in “five-year business plans,” or in making plans to carry out later. If something needed to be done, or if there was something he knew he should do, he did it; no hesitation.
And I find that incredibly inspiring.
