When Steve Irwin died suddenly ten years ago, many tributes flooded the airways and world wide web.

What a fantastic man to have left the world a better place than he found it. He was the change he wanted to see in the world, and his passion was contagious. As a parent, I would see Steve Irwin on TV, and I would think he was so colorful that he could not be real. He was so over the top with his passion. I mean really… Crocodiles? Who cares? But then you watch, and your view changes. Crocodiles are pretty amazing. He was the epitome of a “what you see is what you get kind of guy.”  By all accounts, he was in private, as he was in public, and at one point he wanted to change his persona to better fit television. He was told not to change because his producers felt that he had a gift to give the world.  His gift to the world was the unbridled passion for wildlife.

Sit an hour with Steve on a mission to save the crocs, and suddenly the teacher has gained the interest of the student. Passion. It is in those moments that you realize what true passion is. Energy like no other, and at the end of Steve Irwin’s life, we can see and feel his passion for the preservation of wildlife. The trees he grew for the koalas. The zoo he allowed the three most beautiful elephants I have ever seen roam. On and on…. what a tragic loss. Maybe during his life, you did not pay much attention to the eccentric Steve Irwin. But in his death, to learn about his life is to learn about passion.

I watched his memorial service on television with my family. There were the usual eulogies that one hears at a funeral, laced with a few tears and a few laughs. What was most touching during this service is that although a formal state funeral was offered, his family chose to honor Steve in the way he would have loved best. At his Australian Zoo. With all of his staff and”best mates” holding his animals. It was fantastic; sad, happy, and most of all, memorable.

It is just when you think you can not take one more look at his grieving widow; his sweet daughter Bindi takes the stage. CRIKEY! This kid is all of eight years old with the poise and grace of a seasoned newscaster. As she reads her tribute to her dad, you could see her little finger follow along on the paper so as not to lose her place. This little bundle of cuteness that was in her dad’s back pocket every step of the way stands up with pride telling everyone how much she loved her dad. She was not crying, and she was not nervous. She was paying tribute to a life lived with no regrets. She is stable and secure. A gift from both of her parents. Immersed in their wildlife passion, but without compromise on the home front. Bindi knew precisely who her dad was because she was always part of what he did.

The gift of Steve Irwin was that he did not wait until tomorrow, or until they were old enough to share his life with his children. He shared his passion with them the moment they left the womb. He showed them an experience like no other; a life his parents shared with him. His love for his family was apparent. He left nothing to chance when it came to them. He knew his mission could be dangerous. I don’t think even he would have predicted the cause of his demise. As with all warriors, it was clear that he was willing to die for his passion. Because of that, I believe that he left very few things unsaid. The death of his mother ripped him to shreds, but right there on tape for his kids to cherish forever are his own words about losing someone you love. “You owe it to their memory to move on and to do even better.”

It could be that he knew he would die young. Who can know? What I do know for sure is that the gift he left behind to his beloved children and wife is priceless. They will never doubt for one minute how much their dad loved them. His family was unselfishly part of his passion. His passion was contagious and touched millions of viewers. How lucky we were to have shared in his life mission, if only on the television.

Life is short, and sometimes it is gone in the blink of an eye. More so than anyone in your life, make it, so your children know how much you love them. How much you cherish them. Share your stories, and share your passions. Live without regret. Do it for yourself and do it for your children.