1. PASSION, PURPOSE AND PERSISTENCE
2. LOVE AND FUN
3. AWE, WONDER AND REVERENCE
4. COURAGE AND COMMITMENT
5. ENTHUSIASM, ENERGY AND EXCITEMENT
(Sorry guys, in advance for the longer than normal newsletter this month...but I was moved to write this article and wanted to share it with all of you!!!)
What made Steve Irwin, Australia's beloved Crocodile Hunter, so popular? In fact, as I write "popular" I realize it is the wrong word - beloved is a better word. People didn't just like him - they loved him! And when he died, for many (like me) the news of his death was as if we had been struck by a stingray. It was hard to believe that someone so alive to us was no longer here physically. I wondered what it was about him that created a special place for him in the hearts of millions of adults and children, and came up with a way to remember just some of his amazing zest for life - that jumped across the screen into our hearts.
P.L. A.C.E.
Steve Irwin, the Crocodile Hunter, held a special place in our hearts and taught us some great lessons for life and leadership - and we are ALL leaders in some way, whether at work, home or in our community. Just by living we create examples of how others can live. So if you think you are not a leader - think again!
The P stands for passion, purpose and persistence. If anyone was asked what was it about Steve Irwin that made him endearing, it would be his passion for what he was doing. Teaching us to love animals - even the ugly poisonous ones! And he taught us the importance of respecting and honoring our earth and all its creatures, not just ourselves. His passion for his purpose shined through everything he did and he inspired us in the process. Every cell in his body exuded that passion - you could not help but think that deadly poisonous snake was kinda cute in some way by the time he was finished!
What in life do you have that kind of passion for? One that fuels a giant purpose that gives your life meaning and you a reason for being here? Something that makes a difference to others and the world? Discuss this with your children to introduce them to the concept of purpose and passion early on. And if you can't find one in your life, then become passionate about being the best parent, employee, partner, child, sibling, friend, earth conscious conservationist, whatever it is you can be. But be passionate about SOMETHING! If you are not, then you live life at half mast and Steve Irwin never did that. Every cell in his body lived life vibrating at the highest level! And that made us do the same - and you can have that effect on others, too!
Persistence is another quality that fueled Steve's success. When he started, his little zoo was just a tiny spot near Queensland. It couldn't have been easy to become an international star inspiring millions of others and making that little part of Australia an international destination. But he and his wife Terry persisted and I'm sure without her partnership, the road would have been much harder or impossible for Steve. Keep in mind that success doesn't always come right away and sometimes just persisting is the lesson. Never give up! So many people give up just days or inches before they reach their goal - they don't know it, but it's right around the corner. Think of the last time you or someone you know did that - just one more step, one more struggle and they would have been there, achieved their life long dream, but they gave up.
The love and awe and wonder and reverence that Steve had for all animals was so strong it was tangible. It changed our "err yuck" into "oh wow!" And you can do that too! All you need to do is reignite that childlike awe and wonder and reverence for all the new things we see in life! Children live in a world of exploration. Things are new and exciting all the time. Then we "mature" and instead of really maturing and seeing the majestic and amazing quality of everything in life, we focus in on our little judgments and petty selfish wants. (And end up becoming more childish than children!) What do you love and whom? What do you love to do? Can you find something you love to do in your job even if you don't like your job?
I don't understand how anyone could ever be bored! The world is so full of amazing things to learn, do, see and experience that it takes many lifetimes to even begin! If you are feeling bored, slap yourself and go out and help others; or take a class; or set a personal growth task for yourself at work; challenge yourself to do something new. I don't have enough room to write all the ideas that are bubbling forth about how to stop any sense of boredom!
What in life do you have reverence for? Do you treat people, children, animals and even things with reverence? Seeing in them the precious nature of life? Feeling their special part in your life? Do you just toss or throw things down on the floor or table? Or place them with care and reverence? Do you treat your friendships and relationships with the same care and attention? Or do you toss them aside or flick them away? Our hand gestures tell us a lot about how much reverence we are feeling at any time. Consider that and remember how gently Steve treated the animals and with such love.
Become aware of reverence in your life. Be reverent to your partner and children and remember they are precious! Even your job and boss and co workers - everything and everyone is precious! Perhaps "CRIKEY" can become your word to trigger reverence! It was Steve's way of saying WOW…but I like CRIKEY better!! Use Steve as your model. Be filled with awe and wonder and reverence and love. And watch your life transform - not just change but TRANSFORM!
And then to make the transformation enjoyable - have fun! Steve definitely liked to have fun. One of the most touching moments of the interview Terry Irwin had with Barbara Walters was when she asked Terry "what will you miss the most?" Now I had already been in tears several times by this point, but when Terry tearfully answered "the fun…Steve was such fun" I completely lost it! Terry herself was so courageous and full of love and passion and commitment to carry on what they both started - I can't imagine their children will be anything other than spectacular influences on the world as well. So on top of everything else, our Crocodile Hunter was great fun - which you could see anyway! It was obvious that he not only loved what he was doing but had great fun doing it. Fun and laughter will get you through life so much better than any drugs ever could!
Do you look for fun things to do? Do you look for the fun-ny things in life? Or at the fun-ny side of things? If not, then do it - on purpose! FIND the fun-ny side of a difficult situation and if you can't at this time - then say "I am going to see the funny side of this one day!" Life is not meant to be intense, serious and focused all the time. Joy, fun and laughter are critical parts of living. Joy and fun exuded out of Steve right into us from the screens.
Courage is a no-brainer when considering what our Croc Hunter did for a living! He was brave and committed - to his purpose, the animals and teaching us. His courage stood as an example for all of us - not just to be brave with animals that look scary…but with everything in life. Grab it with both hands and embrace the challenge. After all, life is all about challenges. If you don't have challenges you won't grow and you will shrivel up and wither away frustrated, bitter and angry. But it is always YOUR choice. YOU choose to take on your challenges with courage and commitment or YOU choose to give up and become a victim.
I don't know about you, but I don't like to be around people who have chosen the victim path. If you didn't hear Terry interviewed, she said "if I had to do it all again, knowing how it would end, I would not change a thing." What a wise choice she has made. What would be the purpose of becoming a victim and saying "poor me, I am all alone and it's so unfair." She is the same as Steve - courageous and I have no doubt she has all the other qualities he had and more.
What have you chosen or told yourself about things that have happened to you? Be honest. If you are seeing yourself as a victim - STOP IMMEDIATELY? You will suck the life out of everyone around you. Steve and Terry GAVE life to everyone who met them or saw them. You can do it too. Just CHOOSE to do it. Choose to learn from things that happen to you instead of being a victim. Victims are never successful at anything other than being victims and alienating others. Then it validates their poor me argument! Become a courageous energy and life giving source today - all you have to do is change your mind! And keep reminding yourself.
Lastly, do all of the above with ENTHUSIASM! Steve's crowning feature was his enthusiasm - alive, infectious, exciting, shining enthusiasm. Nothing could withstand that force. Even cynical die-hards and determined-not-to-enjoy-life-pessimists could not help but be caught up in his excitement, energy and enthusiasm. Find that enthusiasm in yourself. Did you know the word comes from the Greek - "en" meaning "in" and "theos" meaning life? To be enthusiastic means to be IN LIFE.
So many people live in terror of what others think; or in judging themselves and others; or in being scared to look silly or "an idiot." Did Steve? NO! He got out there and grabbed life (and animals!) with both hands and his whole body a lot of the time. We all loved to be a part of that excitement and zest for life.
I don't care what you become enthusiastic about, but become enthusiastic about lots - today! Even if it's the washing up!! See how being enthusiastic about the smallest thing starts to bring life into it. Be enthusiastic about your work - whatever it is. Be enthusiastic about your family, partner, children and friends. Remember the enthusiasm you had in the early days of any relationship. How much energy you had and it gave you and you gave it? How did that enthusiasm fade? And why? To be IN LIFE, you have to stay there!!! You have to consciously create enthusiasm (even if you have to fake it to start with). You will find the life forces flow into you and suddenly you ARE enthusiastic! The opposite of enthusiasm in my mind is slow death. So it's your choice…enthusiasm or slow death? I know what I choose.
And I know what Steve Irwin taught us. These are just some of the precious lessons he shared from his full, loving, wildly enthusiastic, fun, passionate life of purpose and courage and commitment.
CRIKEY MATE - GOOD ON YA! THANK YOU FROM ALL OF US WHO LOVED YOU!
